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Silicone vs. Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

Pressure-sensitive adhesives provide vast utility in applications ranging from the built environment to automobiles to consumer electronics. When these adhesives are coated on backings typically made of plastic films or cloth, they are known as tapes. Given the breadth of applications tapes can be used in, several pressure-sensitive adhesive chemistries have been developed over the years to provide optimal performance depending on adhesive application requirements, such as operating temperature, environmental conditions, and chemical exposure, to name a few. Two types of pressure-sensitive adhesive chemistries dominate the market today: silicone and acrylic.

To assist with selecting the right adhesive, ChemPoint has prepared the content below to compare the properties and strengths of silicone and acrylic chemistries. In general, if an application does not require the advantages silicone pressure-sensitive adhesives offer, it can likely do well using an acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Silicone and Acrylic Adhesive Comparison

Silicone Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

 

Operation in extreme temperatures

  • Performance from −175°F to 500°F, compared to a range of −40° to 250°F for acrylics

Better resistance to environmental stress 

  • Exhibits maximum resistance to water, sunlight, extreme weather, and attack from fungus and mildew 

Greater chemical resistance 

  • Provides better resistance to strong acids and bases and solvents such as hydrocarbons, ketones, and alcohols 

Adhesion to difficult-to-bond substrates 

  • Adheres well to various low–surface energy substrates and fabrics 

Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

 

Lower cost

  • Typically, 3–5 times lower cost than silicone due to differences in raw material value

Faster adhesion development 

  • Can be formulated with higher tack than silicone, enabling quicker, more immediate bonds to be formed 

High versatility in formulations 

  • Formulations range from commoditized to custom-made products, covering more applications than silicones 

Longer shelf life 

  • Can provide several more months of shelf life than silicones when manufactured into tapes if stored properly 

Typical Applications for Silicone and Acrylic Adhesives

Silicone Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

 

  • Electrical tapes
  • Electronic masking tapes
  • Thermal spray masking tapes
  • Heat shield tapes
  • EMI/RFI shielding tapes
  • Brake shim NVH damping tape
  • Siliconized paper or film splicing
  • Silicone rubber bonding

Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

 

  • Packaging tapes
  • Paint masking tapes
  • Double-sided mounting tapes
  • Product labels
  • Automotive part assembly
  • Electronic device assembly
  • Medical tapes
  • Stationery adhesion

 
ChemPoint is a distributor of specialty chemicals and products. We are partnered with Momentive and Mitsubishi Chemical Group to offer both silicone and acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives. 

 

Momentive SilGrip™ Silicone Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives 

 

Our Momentive portfolio includes SilGrip™, a line of silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive chemistries for tape and label converters. 

 

Click here to explore SilGrip™.  

 

If you are a consumer looking for finished, ready-to-use silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, contact us below, and we will point you in the right direction. 

 

Mitsubishi Chemical Group Acrylic Nichigo G-Tape™ 

 

Our Mitsubishi Chemical Group portfolio includes Nichigo G-Tape™, a line of finished, ready-to-use acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes that provide strong adhesion in a variety of applications. 

 

Click here to explore Nichigo G-Tape™. 

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