Processing & shelf life of self-adhesive products

When processing all self-adhesive materials, it is essential that the surface of the backing is free of grease, oil, solvents or other release agents. It must also be ensured that the surface is absolutely dry and as far as possible dust-free. For cleaning, we recommend the use of pure, oil- and grease-free petroleum ether and lint-free cotton cloths. After cleaning, the substrate should be rubbed dry and left to dry for at least 30 minutes to ensure that any cleaning agent residue is removed. Other cleaners can be used if the same cleaning effect is achieved and it is ensured that no residues of the cleaner remain on the substrate. Before cleaning painted or plastic surfaces, check the compatibility of the cleaning agent.

Bonding to untreated metal surfaces, e.g. galvanised sheet steel

Apart from the above-mentioned cleaning, no further measures are normally necessary. It is important that the galvanisation is abrasion-resistant and adheres firmly.

Bonding to painted metal surfaces

The lacquer must be fully cured before bonding. The paint manufacturer's instructions on drying times must be observed. This also applies to repainting and repairs.

Bonding to plastics

Due to the large number of plastics available on the market, no general statement can be made. We therefore recommend carrying out appropriate application tests before bonding. In this context, it is important that the plastics do not contain any components (e.g. plasticisers, release agents and processing aids) that could migrate into the self-adhesive layer and destroy it.

Additional mechanical fastening is always advisable if special circumstances such as high dead weight, substrate properties, expansion, head bonding, mechanical, thermal or other exceptional loads occur that overtax standard bonding. Special safety considerations may also require additional mechanical securing.

After removing the masking paper or film (depending on the size of the component and the work process), the self-adhesive material must be applied without stretching or tension. It is then applied to the substrate, ideally with the aid of a pressure roller, over the entire surface and with even pressure. Air pockets, poorly adhering areas and contamination of the adhesive layer must be avoided. The adhesive should be applied immediately after the backing material has been removed. Prolonged storage of the unprotected adhesive layer in the air can lead to reduced adhesion. Correction is normally no longer possible after the first application, as the adhesives have a very high initial adhesion. The substrate and self-adhesive material should preferably be at the same temperature, which should be between 18 and 25 °C. Bonding below 15 °C should not be carried out under any circumstances. The bond created by bonding may only be subjected to mechanical stress after 2 hours, as the adhesive strength increases during this period. A dwell time of at least 24 hours should be observed before applying a thermal load below +10 °C and above +35 °C. In specific cases, we recommend the production of test samples to check the planned bonding. We are happy to provide samples.