Application and Preparation Instructions for Acribond Acrylic Foam Tapes.

Thes instructions are provided courtesy of Husky Tape Converting as the importer of Acribond Tapes in Australia.

1 / SURFACE PREPARATION
Once the surface has been tested and deemed suitable for use with adhesive tapes, clean the two surfaces to be bonded with a suitable solvent such as IPA/water or a similar cleaning agent to remove any surface contaminants. Acribond Prep may be required if there is oil or grease, a mould release agent, or similar present.
Both substrates should be abraded with a heavy duty scourer or sander to remove any corrosion, oxidation, surface protection/treatment or any contamination that would hinder the adhesive’s performance. This step also increases the available surface area to bond to. Both surfaces need to be wiped down again with cleaning solvent to remove any loose particles, using a clean lint free cloth, and wiping across the surface in one direction.
Porous materials need to be sealed before the tape is applied.

2 / PRESSURE
Acribond VST Tapes, like most adhesive tapes require pressure to achieve a bond between the tape and the substrate. Pressure of approximately 100kPa (15psi) is adequate in most applications.
This can be achieved ideally using either a roller or flat surface tool.

3 / TIME
Although one of the benefits of Acribond is it’s high initial adhesion, (approx. 50% after 20min), with time, the adhesive continues to flow onto the surface and ultimate bond strength is not realised until after approximately 72hrs, depending upon ambient temperatures.

4 / TEMPERATURE
If the temperature is comfortable for you, then it is ideal for applying the tape. Acribond is best applied between 21deg and 35deg C. This temperature range allows the adhesive to ‘flow’ and achieve optimal contact with the substrate. Acribond A3000 series has been developed to work well at cooler temperatures.

5 / TAPE WIDTH AND AMOUNT
To support a static dead load, you must use at least 55 sq. cm of Acribond tape per kg of weight. An industry standard to determine the width and length of tape is by using the trapezoid rule. You must also take into account any environmental stresses such as wind load.