Which fastening solutions for metal surfaces? Adhesive tapes

Until recently, fastening solutions for metal surfaces were rather limited. Today, thanks to the development and perfecting of several new adhesive products for metals, there are interesting alternatives to welding or fastening through screws or rivets, which also allows for the reduction of time, noise, and vibration levels during production. But that’s not all, as using metal adhesives makes it possible to have more freedom of design, as it avoids visible welding, as well as to minimize the weight of the products. It is, therefore, worth discovering the most modern adhesive solutions for fastening metal surfaces.

Choosing the best fastening solutions for metal surfaces

There are still several companies that, while being aware of processes such as casting, stamping, bending, wiredrawing, and welding, know little or nothing at all about modern fastening solutions for metal surfaces by means of adhesives. It is, thus, important to note that it is very often possible to replace classic mechanical fastening systems, mainly represented by rivets, screws, and welds, with high-performance double-sided adhesive tapes, resealable fastening systems and specific adhesives for fastening metal surfaces. In this article, we will focus specifically on the description of the main double-sided adhesive tapes for metals and transfer tapes offered on the market by 3M, a company that, it is well-known, makes of constant research and innovation in manufacturing of the best adhesive products its main mission.

The characteristics of double-sided and transfer tapes for metals

·         3M™ VHB™ GPH-110GF: a very high-performance 3M adhesive tape designed to be used as a long-lasting permanent fastening method, with high strength. It can be used on ferrous and non-ferrous metal surfaces, such as steel, zinc-plated steel, stainless steel, galvanized steel, and aluminium. For use on metals treated with powder paint, epoxy varnish, or polyurethane varnish it is advisable to use a primer (such as the Universal UV primer for 3M tapes). Among its strongest features is certainly a great resistance to high temperatures, making it perfect as a gluing solution before procedures involving heat. Grey.

·         3M™ VHB™ 5952: a double-sided adhesive tape perfect for gluing and fastening steel, stainless steel, aluminium, galvanized steel, painted metals, as well as sealed wood, ABS, and so on. It is particularly suitable for powder coated metals. Black.

·         Scotch® ATG 926: a strong transfer double-sided tape that can be used on virtually any metal surface, regardless of treatment, as well as on PP, PE, ABS; acrylic, nylon, and polyester, without needing to use primer. Very resistant to high temperatures, stands out thanks to its high adhesive strength.

·         3M™ 9485PC: a transfer adhesive tape similar to the ATG 926, very versatile, very resistant to high temperatures, with great sealing performance.

·         3M™ 9473PC: a third transfer adhesive tape excellent for fastening metals, different from the two previously listed 3M transfer adhesive tapes because it must be used with primer on metals treated with powder paints, epoxy paints, and polyurethane paints.

Whereas metal double-sided adhesive tapes are 1.1 mm (0.4 in) thick, transfer adhesive tapes are almost negligible in their thickness; in the case of Scotch® ATG 926 and 3M™ 9485PC, the sizing only measures 0.13 mm (0.005 in) while, in the case of 3M™ 9473PC transfer adhesive tape, the last fastening solution described, it measures 0.26 mm (0.01 in). They are all acrylic based adhesives, and all transfer adhesive tapes are transparent.

Other fastening solutions for metal

The ones we have outlined here are just a few of the modern solutions for gluing metal by means of adhesive products. In addition to high-performance adhesive tapes and transfer adhesive tapes, there are special resealable fastening systems as well as acrylic and epoxy adhesives for high impact adhesion on different types of metals. 

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