The Best Types of PSA Tapes for High Temperature Applications
Pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes are no strangers to high temperature applications. From industrial uses to products like ovens and stoves, many different applications require PSA tapes to withstand extreme heat generated by high temperatures or open flames. But not all PSA tapes are able to withstand these temperatures. Some types of tapes will fail quickly, while others will lose adhesion over time. Choosing a PSA tape that can withstand high temperatures requires a thorough understanding of the options available and how well they perform.
How Temperature Impacts PSA Tape Performance
Temperature is one of the many environmental factors that impact bond strength and adhesive longevity of PSA tapes. Both low and high temperatures can cause issues in an application. Low temperatures can cause problems that include:
PSA tapes becoming firm and brittle
Reducing the adhesive tack of PSA tapes
Increasing the shock sensitivity of PSA tapes
High temperatures can cause issues that include:
Softening adhesives
Reducing the adhesive strength of PSA tapes
Reducing the cohesive strength of PSA tapes
Accelerating adhesive aging
Which types of PSA tapes are ideal for high temperature applications? There are several common products that can be used.
Silicone PSA Tapes
Silicone PSA tapes are widely used in high temperature applications because they have some of the highest levels of temperature resistance (often up to 500° F). They also offer excellent open flame resistance as well as resilience to mechanical fatigue, making them ideal for industrial applications in environments that are hot and exposed to flames. These applications can include high temperature gasketing applications, insulation, and spacers for products exposed to extreme heat sources. Silicone PSA tapes also bond well to silicone materials like foam, sponge, and rubber.
There are a few drawbacks to using silicone PSA tapes, which may or may not impact your decision to use them. Silicone PSA tapes can have a short pre-application shelf life, limited total adhesive strength, and a high price tag. They bond best with silicone, but if you need them to adhere to another type of material, you can use double-coated differential PSA tapes that have silicone on one side and a non-silicone material like acrylic PSA on the other.
Acrylic PSA Tapes
Acrylic PSA tapes are also a good option for high temperature applications because of their high temperature resistance (often up to 300° F) on top of their excellent durability and bond strength that builds over time. These types of PSA tapes are some of the most reliable long-term bonding solutions for many applications. They also have a respectable shelf life and a lower cost than silicone PSA tapes.
If you need acrylic PSA tapes with very high temperature performance, there are firmer acrylic options that bond well to most high surface energy substrates and can withstand up to 350° F long term.
Adhesive Transfer Tapes
Adhesive transfer tapes offer some of the highest temperature resistance because they are self-wound thin tapes with pressure sensitive adhesive laminated directly onto a removable liner. This means they are not reliant on the pressure sensitive adhesive anchoring to a carrier. Adhesive transfer tapes come in a wide variety of options that include silicone, acrylic, and rubber, allowing you to choose a tape that fits your applications and the surfaces you are bonding together.
What PSA Tapes Should You Avoid?
In most cases, rubber PSA tapes are not the best option for high temperature applications. While rubber PSA tapes are ideal for short-term, non-critical applications because of their immediate strength and initial tack, they will ultimately fail in higher temperature applications.