3M™ VHB™ Tape

What is 3M™ VHB™ Tape?

In the world of adhesive bonding tape, one solution stands above the others: 3M™ VHB™ tape.

Very High Bonding (VHB) tapes, introduced in 1980 by 3M, are very durable, improve a product’s appearance, and create a permanent bond, becoming almost indestructible after 72 hours. VHB tape is a fully cured pressure sensitive adhesive tape made with a viscoelastic acrylic polymer foam, which is energy-absorbing. Since 3M VHB tape was introduced, similar bonding tapes have entered the market: Ultra High Bonding (UHB) tapes and Acrylic Foam Tapes (AFT).

The Benefits of VHB Tape vs. Other Bonding Options

For years, when engineers needed to permanently bond substrates, they used mechanical fasteners, rivets, screws, bolts, welding, or liquid adhesives. These traditional materials work for some projects, yet they’re often heavy, messy, from an uneven bond, create vulnerable stress points, or disrupt the assembly process.

IMPRESSIVE STRENGTH

With recent innovations, some self-curing adhesives create bonds that are nearly as strong as the components to which they’ve adhered. VHB tape is 10x stronger than rivets and outperforms other traditional bonding solutions.

STRESS DISTRIBUTION

Traditional solutions create concentrated stress points. VHB tape strips spread stress loads across the entire area on which they’re applied. This high-performance, permanent bond holds up better against shear stress.

VERSATILITY

VHB tape is available in many thicknesses, widths, and colors, so it matches the exact specifications and performance the product requires, including being a lightweight permanent bonding solution. It can also be converted and die cut to custom shapes and sizes.

EASY APPLICATION

Many traditional bonding solutions are challenging to apply, especially using primers, which slow down production and expose employees to harsh chemicals. Not all VHB tapes require the use of a primer. By hand or using machine automation, VHB tape is easily applied and creates smooth and clean bond lines.

APPEARANCE

VHB tape creates a tight, seamless bond without adding unsightly bulk, protruding fasteners, or weld burns. On product designs where graphics and exteriors are highly visible, this is extremely important.

Top VHB Applications

When thinking about possible uses of VHB tape, it’s easiest to consider every possible product on which you would typically use a traditional bonding material: weld, rivet, mechanical fastener, etc. Simply replace those with VHB tape, a permanent bond that doesn’t negatively impact a product’s performance. That process has been embraced by engineers and product designers for thousands of different applications.

Yet, applications benefitting from VHB tape go further, especially when it comes to using VHB’s conformable nature to apply to curvatures and irregular surfaces. Demanding industries in which VHB tape excels include construction and manufacturing solutions, automotive products, outdoor signs, medical devices, aerospace applications, electronics, and more.

While traditional options typically bond metal-to-metal or plastic-to-plastic, VHB tape can create secure bonds between two or more different surfaces. Material examples include: