November 2007
Question: I am looking for an adhesive that, when coated
on a rubber or plastic back device, will attach itself to a canvas, metal,
wood, or plastic surface. The glue area should be covered with a film that is
resistant to the adhesive, and the adhesive must be permanent. Do you have any
suggestions?
Answer: It sounds like you need a good general-purpose
pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) coated on your back device along with a
release paper. Pressure-sensitives are defined as adhesives that, when dried or
fully cured, are permanently tacky and will adhere to surfaces when applied
with pressure. The adhesives can be based on several technologies (e.g.,
rubbers, block co-polymers, polyisobutylene, ethylene vinyl acetate and
acrylics). I would suggest that you talk to PSA suppliers and tell them any
other key properties you might require, such as temperature resistance or
humidity resistance.
Question:
We want to bond an aluminum part (heat sink) to the wall of a stainless-steel
tank. We need a flexible adhesive with resistance to temperatures ranging from
-30°F to 140°F. After curing, the adhesive must provide a watertight seal with
no leaks, and must also have FDA/NSF 51 standard compliance.
Answer: The only adhesives/sealants that seem suitable
for your application are RTV silicones. They should have all the properties
that you require. These are the only adhesive products that are certified to
NSF Standard 51, and you can find a list of suppliers at
www.nsf.org under
“Food Equipment” materials.
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