Tape for plastic substrate (3M VHB LSE)
- Jun 9, 2021
Johan van der Stok /Online Marketing Specialist
To find out more about the 3M LSE VHB tape, we phoned the experts at Tapir. We phoned Stefan Wijnands, Stan Themme and Dimitri Schukkink who have covered the Netherlands from top to bottom in terms of their area of work. Officially, their business card says, ‘Account Manager’ and that sounds like the fast guys from sales. They are certainly fast, but their technical know-how is crucial for the various questions they receive every day.
Let’s start with the 3M specs of this tape:
- Fast and easy-to-use permanent tape for an extraordinarily strong and long-lasting bond for both indoor and outdoor applications.
- High initial adhesion at low temperatures on frost-free surfaces up to 0°C.
- Pressure-sensitive adhesive bonds on contact, for immediate processing strength
- Virtually invisible connection for a smooth surface
- Tape with modified acrylic adhesive and highly conformable acrylic foam core
- For bonding materials with low surface energy without primer
- Alternative to mechanical fasteners (rivets, welds, screws) or liquid adhesive: no need for drilling, grinding, finishing, screwing, welding or cleaning
- High dynamic pressure absorption reduces the force effect of vibrations and impacts
- Forms a permanent sealing against water, moisture and similar influences
Stefan, LSE VHB, it seems like you are speaking in secret code!
‘Haha, yes, I can imagine. But we like to share our secrets. 3M LSE VHB tape is suitable for difficult to bond substrates. VHB stands for Very High Bond and LSE for Low Surface Energy. LSE materials such as plastics and composites play an important in today’s production process. Unfortunately, adhering these materials can be difficult, and this tape was developed specifically for that purpose.’
Dimitri, that sounds good! Is this the ‘Superman’ among the different tapes?
‘Superman? Only one coming from marketing could have come up with that, but okay. The 3M LSE-tape is capable to adhere directly. I’ll give you an example: A HEMA clock with an acrylic dial on an aluminium base. If you fix this with glue or sealant, you should not touch the plate for a while. First of all, this tape requires no primer and has an immediate processing resistance. Therefore, you can immediately pick up the dial, move on to the next station and continue with the assembly. This tape is also suitable for construction applications where a force is exerted on the connection. And, last but not least, this tape adheres even at low temperatures! This is quite unique and truly a ‘cool spec!’
Stan, have you used the LSE tape on a large project?
‘That’s right! Last year we received a request from a large academic hospital in the Randstad area. A large medical centre with a lot of equipment. In order to find out exactly where the equipment is located, they introduced a tracking system. It involved different types of machines, with different materials, but especially many types of plastic. LSE had just been introduced and we immediately sent some samples and made test reports. The initial bond is excellent and after 72 hours the compound reaches its final strength. The trackers are round and after the successful test phase, we customised over 2,000 round stickers. The most important step for a successful application: A proper cleaning of the surface to be glued. Deep cleaning is the key. Everything falls smoothly into place. But it will actually not fall…’☺
Free LSE sample!
- Make sure you are logged in or create an account.
- Make sure your VAT number is filled in.
- Choose one of the three different thicknesses of LSE tape and click on the blue button “request sample” and then click on the “order” button
We can’t make it any easier than that!
3M VHB Tape LSE-060 WF White thickness 0.6 mm 19 mm x 3 metres
3M VHB Tape LSE-110 WF White thickness 1.1 mm 19 mm x 3 metres
3M VHB Tape LSE-160 WF White thickness 1.6 mm 19 mm x 3 metres
Processing
Download processing instructions and production tolerances
For optimal adhesion, good cleaning of the surfaces beforehand is particularly important. We have compiled clear instructions especially for our clients.
The 3M ™ VHB ™ Tape LSE series includes indoor and outdoor use, commercial and consumer applications such as:
Construction parts: signage, lighting and windows.
Transport: trucks, buses, campers and trams
Household appliances: small appliances such as robot vacuum cleaners, kitchen / cleaning tools
Plastic consumer products for household use: network hubs, IoT sensors, cameras and thermostats
Medical: output devices, scanners, accessories
Signs & Displays: illuminated signs, restaurants, hotels, shops
Push boundaries. Unlock potential.
Design for an ever-changing world.
Plastics, composites and other LSE (low surface energy) materials are an integral part of the future of production.
Unfortunately, bonding these materials with glue can be tricky and often requires the use of a primer or adhesion promoter.
The 3M ™ VHB ™ Tape LSE series is a double-sided acrylic foam tape specially developed for LSE substrates such as polypropylene (PP), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE) and thermoplastic olefins (TPO), to create a long-lasting, strong bond without use of a primer or promoter. Now you are free to choose the material suitable for your design.
Versatile plastic application
- Resilient
- Comfortable
- Sustainable
Designed for plastics. Designed to work.
Choose the latest adhesive technology.
Substrates with low surface energy are difficult to fix or bond.
Our 3M VHB Tape LSE series performs differently, enabling long-term bonding with virtually any material and realizing your most advanced design.
Features of the 3M VHB Tape LSE series
- Very high bond strength in a light tape
- No primer required for plastic to plastic
- High durability outside
- Greater design flexibility
- Very precise production
- Lower production costs
- Reduced production time
Rethink how you design.
Eliminate visible fixings such as screws and bolts.
Improve aesthetics and push the boundaries of shapes, LSE material combinations and textures to create breakthrough designs faster and with more durability.
Rethink what you are gluing.
In addition to many LSE materials, the 3M ™ VHB ™ Tape LSE series can also be combined with a wide range of high and medium surface energy materials, including aluminum, steel, glass, plastic and painted surfaces.
The 3M ™ VHB ™ LSE series offers resilient bonding solutions for just about anything you can imagine.
- LSE substrates: polypropylene (PP), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic olefins (TPO)
- MSE substrates: polycarbonate, impact resistant polystyrenes (HIPS), acrylic, nylons, ABS
- Composites: glass-reinforced plastics (GRP) / glass fiber, carbon fiber
- Polyester paint
Rethink how you build.
Increase the flexibility of the production line. Eliminate complicated screw fasteners. Save on welding costs and (post) processing steps when welding. Skip primers. Create a different bond that will only get stronger over time.
In addition, the 3M ™ VHB ™ Tape LSE series can be used for a variety of application methods, from manual application to semi-automatic or robotic assembly.
Rethink your environment.
Made for outdoors. Resistant to heat, cold and cyclic temperature, UV light, moisture and solvents. Sealing of environmental conditions. High initial tack at low temperatures on frost-free surfaces down to 0 ° C.
Ideal for bonding at low temperatures in:
- Unheated processing locations
- Outdoor power equipment
- Sports equipment
Rethink how you compete.
It's time to disrupt the status quo. The industry's top talent uses plastics and smooth surfaces to reinvent their designs and surpass the competition in assembly, finish and looks. Now you can too. You will be surprised.
Are you considering gluing, ultrasonic welding or mechanical fixings for permanent plastic assembly?
This is why you should consider using the 3M ™ VHB ™ Tape LSE Series:
The benefits of 3M ™ VHB ™ Tape LSE series vs.
The benefits of 3M ™ VHB ™ Tape LSE series vs. |
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| Glue | Ultrasonic welding | Mechanical fasteners |
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Immediate strength for faster assembly |
Glues incompatible materials or delicate substrates |
Glues dissimilar materials or delicate substrates |
| No messy connecting lines |
Conquer parts with a challenging shape |
Beautiful appearance |
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No tearing or cracking of substrates |
No investment in ultrasonic welding equipment |
Reduce most of final assembly |
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Ensures consistency of delivery quantities |
No incremental investments in horns and luminaires |
Water resistant |
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Ability to pre-tap parts |
No steps / equipment after welding required |
Decrease mounting time |
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Less waste through open / unused packaging |
No highly trained workers required |
Tape provides a safer application |
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Tape provides a safer application |
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PS | We are just saying that technical know-how is crucial and that the 3M LSE VHB is the 'Superman' among the tapes. We would like to emphasize once again that the achievements of Team Tapir are realized daily by a 'Super Team'. Check out our social channels for a small impression of how our employees responded to the theme 'Superman' and how they gave it their own interpretation.…. :)
