Non-conductive acrylic adhesive tapes resist high temperatures

Few sectors of industry have witnessed the rapid and sustained growth that electronics has experienced over the last three decades. The demand for improved performance from electronics has had to be matched with a concurrent need to produce devices in ever greater numbers, as they find their way into more and more items used by millions of consumers worldwide.

Despite the many technical innovations and advances that the sector has triggered, the fact remains that the generation of heat in electronic packages and platforms still presents tough challenges for designers and manufacturers. Of necessity, they must make their components and boards continue to perform effectively as ambient temperatures rise, and at the same time continue to deliver to consumers the assurances they demand as to the integrity and long-term durability of the products they buy.

Recognising the need for a new generation of bonding and sealing tapes capable of operating in these sustained high temperature applications, Lohmann Technologies has introduced the DuploColl HCR range of electrically insulating, non-conductive acrylic-based adhesive tapes. The entire range is tested and proven to a constant operating temperature of up to 200degC, and all types and versions of the new tape are guaranteed to perform right up to short-term peaks as high as 270degC.

Concurrently with the development of these high temperature resistant tapes, Lohmann noted that many emerging industrial applications also require tapes that are capable of operating in chemically hostile environments. So, the new DuploColl HCR range has also been designed and produced to provide OEMs with guaranteed chemical resistance to a variety of agents, including engine oils, gear oils, detergents and soldering fluids. As a result, design engineers now have an additional and significant extra advantage in a single product. As proof, all DuploColl HCR tapes are chemically tested to FINAT 17 FTL1 Standard to deliver absolute assurances to users and of note to some engineers will also be the excellent resistance that DuploColl HCR exhibits to UV radiation.

Colin Theaker, Lohmann Technologies Electronics Industry Manager, observes: "Additionally, DuploColl HCR is an acrylic-based tape, so, unlike silicone based products (which can contaminate substrates and negatively affect their performance), it is ideal for use in industries such as the automotive, medical electronics and consumer goods sectors, which are keen to become silicone free."

Recent examples of DuploColl HCR usage include the bonding of a printed circuit board directly onto the aluminium casing of an emissions sensor widely used across the automotive industry, and the bonding of cooling elements onto the interior of an AC electric motor casting. In each application, the customer was provided with pre-prepared die-cuts that arrived on the factory floor ready to apply. In the case of the electric motor mounts, these were circular die-cuts that had been precision punched in the centre to provide washer-shaped adhesive mounts with an OD of precisely 7.5mm and an ID of 3mm, with repeatable accuracy. The tape also passed an interesting thermal shock test with flying colours when the manufacturer concerned heated the complete motor assembly to a stable 140degC and then dropped it into a 5 per cent saline solution at 0degC.

DuploColl HCR tape has also found applications in a wide variety of other environments, including gas sensors, flexible printed circuit boards, solar energy and engine electronics.

Lohmann's DuploColl HCR acrylic tape range is available in a variety of thicknesses, including 0.16mm, 0.20mm and 0.35mm, to suit most electronics applications. The tapes provide excellent peel and shear strength (tested to DIN standards EN1943 and EN1939 respectively) and, as indicated previously, can be supplied to customers as precision die-cuts, ready to install. Lohmann have technical data sheets available for all DuploColl HCR products, which include the relevant test results. Go to www.lohmann-tapes.co.uk to learn more.