PSAs for Nameplate Applications

• environmentally friendly

• economical and convenient

Nameplates for Industry (NFi), produces custom screen-printed products like nameplates, faceplates, membrane switches, decals, overlays and tamper-proof seals. Using pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) not only attaches plastic nameplates but also forms a tight protective seal against liquids or other environmental threats. “The ease of use and dependability of PSAs complement the already increasing popularity of plastic nameplates,” says Don Rudnick, president of NFi.

“We’ve seen the need to expand our line to include products made specifically for high-temperature resistance, bonding to low surface energy plastics, and aggressive, high-tack applications,” says Bill Jones, technical marketing manager at MACtac.

Rudnick explains, “The popularity of powder-coated paint is leading to similar surface finishes that will be difficult to bond. We were facing a problem bonding to low-surface-energy plastics and powder-coated paint finishes, a challenge because solvent-based liquid adhesives are traditionally used in these applications. However, they pose a potential threat to the environment.”

Rudnick chose MACtac’s IB-2120 double-sided tape. The first side is applied to the printed nameplate. The second side features an aggressive, general-purpose adhesive to bond to the final low energy substrate. NFi eliminated any environmental risk caused by fumes from liquid adhesives and obtained excellent adhesion.

One customer, Contemporary Controls, located near Chicago, IL, uses NFi overlays featuring IB-2120 in its line of plastic surfaced industrial Ethernet hubs and switches. “We apply the overlays to traditionally difficult surfaces, so the ability to adhere without worry is advantageous,” says Bennet Levine, Contemporary Controls’ senior electronic engineer. NFi’s overlays also met the need for Contemporary Controls’ products to perform in harsher environments than usual. “Factory temperatures can vary more than a climate-controlled room where networking connections are usually placed,” says Levine. “With the chance of a plant quickly heating up or cooling down, we wanted an overlay that could resist these temperature changes.”