Alive and Growing Applications Markets Constructions

PSAs PSA’s are polymeric materials in an elastomeric state of matter that have significant time and temperature dependence (viscoelasticity). They are inherently tacky and have peel and load bearing properties.

What Properties Are Required of Pressure Sensitive Tapes? adhesion, strength, abrasion, heat, light, solvent and environmental resistance, permanence, removability, appearance, chemical and biological compatibility, weight, ease of use, cost, dimensions, conformability, dispensability, disposability, reflectivity, informational needs, repositionable, electrical properties, reflectivity etc.

Balance of Properties

Tape Applications Protecting Masking Surface Protection Sealing Packaging Containers Ducts Electrical insulating Thermal, vibration and noise insulation Bonding Splicing Bundling Reinforcing Fastening objects together Mounting Communicating Security Signage Marking Indicators

PSA Tape Segmentation VolumeSales Estimated 2009 Volume is 6.8 Billion M 2 Estimated 2009 Sales is 12.7 Billion $ Reference: 2006 Martec-PSTC Report Barrier to Entry: Healthcare>Industrial>Retail ASP/Square Meter: Healthcare>Industrial/Retail Volume: Industrial>Retail>Healthcare Growth Potential ($): Healthcare>Industrial>Retail Market Factoids

Industrial Segment Transportation – Auto, Aero and Nautical Graphics – Signage and Printing Telecom – Telephones and PDA’s Appliances – Washers, Dryers and Refrigerators Building and Construction – HVAC, Roofing and Windows

Electronics – Computers, Games and A/V Equipment Defense – Military vehicles, Armor and Packaging Sports – Athletic equipment and Sports Tape Entertainment – Stage, Theaters and Sets Machinery – Consumer and Industrial Equipment Industrial Segment Continued

Retail Segment LumberBig BoxHardwareOfficePaint Masking HVAC Plumbing Protecting Packaging Insulating Roofing Seaming Carpet Masking HVAC Plumbing Protecting Packaging Insulating Roofing Seaming Carpet

Healthcare Segments Physician’s OfficeInstitutionalConsumer Sanitary Continence Bandages Dressings Transdermal Devices Sanitary Continence Bandages Dressings Transdermal Devices

WaterOilNat GasMineralsTrees/Plants Tackifiers Paper Fibers Cloth Nat Rubber Foils Additives Fillers Global Materials Plant Petroleum Mineral Waxes Process Oils Tackifiers Solvents Monomers Plasticizers Crackers, Purifiers, Material Producers Raw Material Suppliers Elastomers Adhesives Films Laminates Additives Oil and Natural Gas Tape Producers PSA Pipeline Distribution Materials go directly to tape producers or through tape material suppliers

PSA Pipeline continued Distributor Converter Tape Producer s Industrial Retail Healthcare Industrial Retail Healthcare Converters purchase master rolls and convert into rolls or die-cut pieces Distributors purchase products and sell to market segments Converters purchase master rolls and convert into rolls or die-cut pieces Distributors purchase products and sell to market segments

Tape Constructions

PSA Tape Construction Adhesive usually rubber, acrylic or silicone chemistry Release Liner release coating usually coated onto a polymeric film or paper Backing usually a polymeric film, foam, cloth or paper

Single Coated Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tape Backing The backing composition may be paper, polymeric film, foil, nonwoven or high thread count woven cloth with or without a release coating. Adhesive The adhesive composition may be an acrylic, rubber or silicone. The construction of single coated tapes typically has a backing 1-10 mils thick and an adhesive thickness of 2-5 mils. The tape may be self-wound or lined with a paper or film release liner. Examples of single coated tapes are electrical, masking, carton sealing and medical tapes

Backing Typical backings include polymeric films such as polyethylene and polyester Reinforcement Typical reinforcement materials are woven and knitted cloths or strands of fiberglass oriented in the machine direction Adhesive Rubber based adhesives are the most common but others can be used Reinforced Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tape Examples of reinforced tapes are duct and filament tapes The construction of reinforced tapes normally has a backing layer 1-5 mils thick, a reinforcement layer of a woven or knitted cloth with a thread count of 8 x 15 to 30 x 50 or glass strands with a thread count of 15 to 50 parallel to the machine direction and an adhesive thickness ranging from 2 to 10 mils Backing or Tie layer or Adhesive layer anchors reinforcement to backing

Double Coated Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tape Release Liner The release liners are commonly paper and coated on both sides of the paper with silicone release agents creating a differential release Adhesives The adhesive on each side of the carrier may be the same or different chemistries and may have the same or different coating thicknesses. Carrier The pressure sensitive adhesive is coated on both sides of the carrier which is typically a polymeric film such as 0.5 mil polyester The construction of a double coated tape typically has an an adhesive thickness ranging from 2-5 mils coated on each side of a polymeric film or nonwoven cloth and lined with a silicone (typical) differential release liner Examples of double coated tapes include mounting, medical and membrane switch tapes

Unsupported Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tape Release Liner The release liners are commonly paper and coated on both sides of the paper with silicone release agents creating a differential release Adhesive Acrylic adhesives are commonly used in this application The construction of an unsupported pressure sensitive adhesive tape typically has an an adhesive thickness ranging from 2-5 mils and a differential release liner Examples of unsupported tapes are envelope sealing and splicing tapes

Tape Construction Single Coated Self-wound Film, Foil, Cloth and Paper Reinforced Linered Film, Foil, Cloth, Paper and Foam Reinforced Double Coated Film, paper, foil, cloth and foam carriers Paper liner Film liner Unsupported Paper liner Film liner

Available Forms Rolls Spools Die-Cut Pats