Market research suggests that less than 1% of all tape produced globally is formulated using silicone adhesives.¹ Silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) fill a small but important niche in the world of adhesives. Their properties, which stem from the flexibility and stability of their silicon-oxygen bonds, give them unique performance capabilities.

High- and Low-Temperature Performance

Surface Energy

Resistance

This basic understanding of how silicone PSAs are used in tape applications provides a context for understanding the silicone PSA market.

Figure 1. Total global sales of pressure-sensitive tapes by geographic area

Market Dynamics

Figure 2. Pressure-sensitive tape market segmentation

Figure 3. Non-packaging segment - global demand for silicone PSA vs. non-silicone tapes

Figure 4. Silicone PSA demand by region

Demand for silicone PSAs continues to grow faster than the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP). There are several trends driving this growth. Most notable is the increased global demand for electronic devices, which has fuelled the Asia market for tapes used within and to produce these devices. As electronic devices become increasingly smaller and run hotter, silicone PSAs play a vital role, offering adhesion at high temperatures. The excellent electrical properties of silicone PSAs - such as dielectric strength and arc and corona resistance - make them a logical choice for electronics applications. Increased production of printed circuit boards also leverages silicone adhesive tape demand, because masking tapes are used during plating, wave soldering, chemical etching and treating operations. Silicone offers excellent temperature and chemical resistance, and removes cleanly from surfaces once processing is complete. Novel applications within the apparel sector are also contributing to an increase in demand.

U.S. and European markets for silicone PSAs are also growing at higher than GDP rates. Growth in these regions is driven by the tendency to replace mechanical fasteners with adhesives, growth in the aerospace sector, an increasing need for chemical resistance, and rising operating temperatures, such as for under-the-hood automotive applications.

Platinum-catalyzed PSAs are a niche market within a niche market, and offer exciting possibilities for continued market growth. The remainder of this article will focus on the chemistry, capabilities and opportunities for platinum-catalyzed PSAs.

Figure 5. Silicone gum polymer

Silicone PSA Cure Chemistries

Figure 6. MQ resin molecular model

Two curing systems encompass most of the silicone PSAs currently sold into the tapes market: peroxide-catalyzed free radical cure (BPO) and platinum-catalyzed silicon hydride to vinyl addition cure.

Figure 7. Effect of composition on PSA properties

The BPO cure system requires a multi-zoned (or staged) oven. The first stage is for solvent removal, which occurs at lower temperatures (60-90°C [140-195°F]) to ensure the peroxide does not inadvertently cure solvent into the PSA matrix, which results in reduced performance and poor temperature stability. The second stage (130-200°C [265-390°F]) decomposes the catalyst, forming free radicals that complete the crosslinking reaction.⁹ The primary benefit of the peroxide-catalyzed system is the ability to control PSA properties by changing the catalyst addition level. The tape producer has the flexibility to use 0-4% peroxide. The additional curing with peroxide increases crosslink density, resulting in a more tightly cured PSA. Some of the disadvantages of peroxide-cure PSAs include the handling of volatile solvents, generation of peroxide byproducts, the need for more sophisticated curing ovens and the need to prime certain substrates to improve adhesive anchorage.

Figure 8. Platinum-catalyzed reaction

An alternative curing mechanism, platinum-catalyzed addition cure, is commercially available for silicone PSAs. These adhesives are cured by a platinum-catalyzed reaction of silicon hydride to vinyl. Even though platinum-curing systems are supplied in hydrocarbon solvents, they can be cured in a single-zone oven at lower overall temperatures (100-150°C [212-300°F]). As shown in Figure 8, the platinum-catalyzed reaction occurs as the solvent evaporates, without the generation of byproducts.¹⁰

Figure 9. 180° peel adhesion

Figure 10. Polyken probe tack

Platinum-Cure Silicone PSA Properties

To compare the performance of commercially available platinum-cure PSAs with commercially available peroxide-cure PSAs, four adhesives were evaluated.

1) A solvent-based, peroxide-cure, dimethyl silicone PSA

2) A solvent-based, peroxide-cure, diphenyl silicone PSA

3) A solvent-based, Pt-cure, dimethyl silicone PSA

4) A solventless, Pt-cure, dimethyl silicone PSA

The peroxide-catalyzed adhesives were prepared at 50 wt.% solids in solvent using 2% benzoyl peroxide based on silicone solids. Figures 9-10 show the peel adhesion (PSTC-1) and the Polyken probe tack performance (ASTM D 2979) for each PSA on polyester and polyimide substrates.¹³

A second important point is that platinum-cure PSAs offer formulation customization that can be used to expand the range of tack and adhesion options for silicone PSAs. For example, platinum-cure PSAs can be formulated as high-adhesion "permanent" adhesives or as very low adhesion, self-supporting adhesive films. Platinum-cure PSAs can be formulated without solvent and still exhibit similar performance to solvent-based dimethyl adhesives.

Market Growth/Platinum-Cure Benefit Links

Single-Oven Cure

As stated earlier, curing the peroxide-catalyzed silicone PSA is a two-stage process requiring a multi-zoned oven. A platinum-catalyzed PSA, however, can be cured in a single-zone oven at lower temperatures. Employing a platinum-cure silicone PSA allows for higher line speeds with less initial capital investment. Coaters in Asia typically operate at speeds ranging from 3 to 10 m/min for most silicone adhesives. Platinum-curing silicone PSA coaters typically operate at speeds ranging from 10 to 30 m/min, and have demonstrated speeds up to 100 m/min - a 10X increase over the top speed of a BPO cure system! The ultimate speed was not limited by the adhesive curing, but was limited by the supporting equipment, dryers and winding equipment. Initial capital investment can be further reduced by using a solventless PSA and avoiding the costs associated with solvent collection, incineration, and handling. Investment costs can be reduced as the oven residence time is used for curing rather than solvent evaporation, and the ovens do not need to be engineered for flammable vapor service.

Lower Temperature Cure

As stated above, platinum PSAs can be cured at lower temperatures than peroxide-cure silicone PSAs. Typically, silicones are used in high-temperature service requiring heat-resistant materials like PET or polyimide (PI). Curing these tapes at lower temperatures can result is less shrinkage of the PET or PI substrate. Minimizing shrinkage is important in LCD or plasma display applications. Platinum-cure PSAs are the only option for coating low-temperature substrates like polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (OPP). Use of PE and OPP with silicone PSAs is limited, but several inquiries have been made for coating silicone on OPP or PE for low-surface-energy adhesion or masking applications where temperature resistance is not required. Solventless silicone PSAs can also be used to avoid damaging the OPP and PE during tape production, as can happen when these substrates are exposed to solvents at higher temperatures.

No Generation of Peroxide Byproducts

At temperatures below 150°C (300°F), benzoyl peroxide can volatilize in the second oven, and without proper ventilation can condense in confined spaces, potentially building to explosive levels.¹⁴ Adequate oven temperature, good manufacturing practice and alternative peroxide catalysts can prevent accidents from ever occurring. Asian tape producers who have tried platinum-curing PSAs for their performance benefits have been pleased to avoid peroxide volatility and supply problems.

Figure 11. Double-sided tape construction

Silicone adhesive double-sided and self-supporting transfer tape applications have grown in Asia. These applications require adhesion between dissimilar components operating at elevated temperatures with the minimum thickness of tape. Making these complex tape constructions with silicone PSA typically requires wet lamination (casting) of the adhesive onto a fluorosilicon-coated release liner (see Figure 11).

Only a few peroxide-cure silicone PSAs can release easily from a fluoro liner after wet lamination; most platinum-curing PSAs will release easily when wet laminated onto a fluoro liner. This allows tape producers more flexibility in adhesive properties and more opportunities for product innovation.

The demand for silicone adhesive tapes in Asia is growing at more than 10% per year. The demand for acrylic adhesive tapes in Asia is also growing quickly, and long lead times are often not tolerated. Production flexibility is vital to the Asian tape producer. Because platinum-catalyzed silicone PSAs cure at temperatures similar to acrylic adhesive systems, delays due to oven temperature adjustment are avoided. Use of platinum-cure silicone PSAs also may eliminate the need to chemically treat or prime certain substrates prior to adhesive coating. No priming and no oven adjustment allows for greater operational flexibility and shorter lead times.

Low Migration (Removes Cleanly with Very Low Residue)

This attribute is the strongest driver for the growth of platinum-cure silicone PSAs in Asia. Innovative platinum-curing silicone PSAs function as well as BPO-cure adhesives at temperatures above 260°C (500°F) with very little residual silicone left on the surface after removal. Low migration is a valuable capability in printed circuit board (PCB) applications. Some tape customers in Asia have been able to use low-migration masking tapes to eliminate washing steps in the PCB production process.

Solventless

Another benefit of the platinum-catalyzed silicone system is the fact that it does not inherently need the hydrocarbon solvent for anything other than viscosity control. Solventless silicone PSA users can reduce their HAP emissions, potentially reducing them to below maximum achievable control technology limits. Most of those seeking solventless PSAs desire the performance properties of silicone PSAs but do not have the investment in equipment and facilities to handle solvent-based adhesives. Sales of solventless silicone PSAs have significantly increased over the past year. This growth has been relatively balanced among the three geographic regions. It is conceivable that a new entrant to silicone tape production could join the market with a much lower initial investment in equipment and facilities and produce silicone tape at high speeds using a solventless silicone PSA. Such an operation could be developed in any geographic region, but the pressure-sensitive markets in China or India are more fragmented and more likely to have new entrants.

Addition Cure System Requirements

Supplier Involvement

Peroxide-cure silicone PSAs offer users the flexibility to alter properties by increasing or decreasing the catalyst concentration in the formulated adhesive. For platinum-cure PSA systems, changing the catalyst level has little to no effect on tack or adhesion properties of the cured adhesive. The formulation itself must be altered. From a robust manufacturing perspective, formulation insensitivity is a benefit. With platinum-cure PSA systems, open and honest communication between the tape producer and the adhesive supplier is the key to success. By sharing their application needs and performance requirements, producers can obtain the optimum product for their intended application and ensure that minor reformulations can be completed within their window of opportunity. For the silicone supplier, this means developing customized products, which requires a flexible and nimble supply chain.

Proper Equipment Cleaning Procedures

In a perfect world, the tape producer would be able to move seamlessly between peroxide- and addition-curing silicones. Unfortunately for both the silicone supplier and tape producer, this is not the case, as platinum catalyst can be contaminated by residual peroxides, leaving it unable to complete the curing reaction. Good manufacturing practice and thorough cleaning procedures are required to effectively switch between silicone systems. The tape producer can manage campaigns to minimize cleaning frequency or avoid it altogether by utilizing multiple, dedicated adhesive coaters.

Platinum Catalyst Is Expensive

Platinum metal prices have reached record highs over the last few months. Increasing demand in the automobile catalyst sector is driving up the price of platinum metal and, hence, the price of silicone-formulated platinum catalysts. The impact of platinum on the bath cost of a silicone PSA has the effect of a 5-15% increase in bath cost when compared to BPO systems. The added cost is certainly a factor to consider before adopting a platinum-cure silicone PSA, however the value captured by novel tape solutions, such as the lead-free soldering application, typically outweighs the additional adhesive costs.

Asian tape producers are adhering to these requirements; as a result, platinum-curing silicone PSAs continue to grow in Asia, delivering the innovative solutions the market demands.

Figure 12. Demonstrating clean removal of platinum-cured silicone PSA

Novel Applications Made Possible with Silicone PSAs

Masking tapes made with silicone PSAs are used to protect surfaces during soldering operations. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive passed in Europe places limits on certain hazardous chemicals and effectively forces electronics producers to move away from lead soldering. Lead replacement materials have increased the temperature of the soldering operations of 250-260°C (480-500°F) to 270-280°C (518-536°F). At these higher temperatures, BPO-cure silicone tapes retain their adhesives properties and protect temperature-sensitive components, but tend to leave silicone residue upon removal. New innovations in platinum-curing silicone PSAs complete the protective function just as well as BPO-cure adhesives with very little residual silicone left on the surface after removal. Figure 12 shows how the platinum-cured PSA leaves behind much less silicone. In this case, the tapes were placed on the SUS plate, heated to 280°C (536°F) and then held for 2 hours. The tape was then removed at 180°C (356°F) at a peel speed of 300 mm/min.

Figure 13. Composition of a back-light unit

Platinum-curing silicone PSAs can be formulated to achieve moderate tack with very low adhesion, allowing for easy peel. This particular unit utilizes an acrylic-type PSA. However, this same concept can also be used in high-temperature environments, like a kitchen range top, using platinum-curing silicone PSAs. Such silicone PSA films could be cut into patterns and used for masking applications. The clarity and temperature resistance of silicone PSA films could also be useful in the diffusion film found in back light unit assemblies, as depicted in Figure 13. Back light assemblies are commonly used in notebook computer monitors and LCD screen televisions.

Summary

For more information on PSAs, visit Dow Corning at http://www.dowcorning.com/psi .

Acknowledgements

Loren Durfee

Rob Ekeland

Komei Fukuma

Jim McVie

Ivan Mini

Peter Vert

Youngsoo Woo

Takateru Yamada

Alan Yu

Links

• Dow Corning