Why 9474LE is the best 300LSE-based double-sided adhesive
3M 9474LE is hands-down 3M's best
double-sided 300LSE adhesive, and here is why. Simpler versions of double-sided adhesive based on 300LSE (e.g., 3M's 8153LE) have
one layer of 300LSE adhesive, sandwiched between two protective liners. The problem with all versions offered with this single-layer
design is that when cutting these sheets with scissors or knifes, a
small amount of the adhesive oozes out between the two liners and sticks
to the sides of the liners, along the cut. Then, when trying to peel
off a liner, that liner will stick to the opposite liner, making it
impossible to separate the liners cleanly. In contrast, the
sophisticated 9474LE product is constructed with three layers, as shown
in the 2nd illustration, above. Here, an ultrathin, so-called "carrier" is sandwiched
between two layers of 300LSE adhesive, thereby stabilizing the adhesive
and preventing it from oozing out when being cut. As a result, the
sheets of 3M 9474LE offered in this listing here can be cut with
utility knifes or scissors and the liners will separate cleanly without
sticking together. If you ever went through the frustrating
experience of cutting single-layer versions of 300LSE-based double-sided
adhesives, you will appreciate the value of the 9474LE product. We here
at Soles2dance certainly appreciate the benefits of 3M 9474LE and we use
this sophisticated product for our own fabrication needs, even though
it is more expensive than simpler versions.
3M
offers other double-coated** adhesive transfer tapes with the same 3-layer construction as that of 9474LE. However, in these other products
the adhesive layers on each side the carrier are not the same. For
example, 3M 9490LE uses
300MP adhesive on the faceside and 300LSE adhesive on the backside. This
is good for specific applications in the auto industry, but most of our
customers will prefer 300LSE on both sides, and the product
offered here is the only such version available as sheets. Also, in
small quantities of a few sheets and in small sizes (smaller than
24"x36"), this product is available only from us.
Notes:
* "double-linered"
means that the product is provided with liners (protective foils) on
the front and back. This is different from products fabricated in the
form of rolls: those have only one liner and are thus not suitable for
marketing in sheet-format.
**
"double-coated"
means that there are two layers of adhesive, stabilized by a thin
polyester carrier between them. The adhesive layers on both sides of the
carrier adhere very strongly to that polyester carrier, giving the
combination of adhesive-carrier-adhesive the characteristics of a single
solid but flexible layer. Without the carrier, a single layer of
adhesive has the characteristics of a very viscous fluid, somewhat
similar to those of honey.
