Coating and Converting Technologies, Inc. Registered to ISO 9001 Certificate No. A1171C

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When to use Rubber or Acrylic adhesive tape?
A. CCT creates double coated tapes using both rubber based and acrylic adhesives. Rubber based products adhere best to plastics like polypropylene, ABS, and polyethylene. Many CCT Rubber based products are capable of handling temperatures up to 90 degrees C. and pass challenging specifications for adhesion. Acrylic adhesives are best when the materials being bonded contain chemicals like plasticizers or solvents which may degrade the adhesive. Acrylic adhesive tapes are also recommended where there might be significant direct contact with UV. Some CCT acrylic adhesives are used in environments over 120 degrees centigrade. Most acrylic tapes are more costly then rubber based products.

Q. Why use "carrier" film?
A. Every double coated tape, by definition, uses a support between the two pressure sensitive adhesive layers. This is called a carrier. The most common film provided in CCT double coated tapes is polyester. The polyester provides a reinforcement layer for the finished part which makes it dimensionally stable and stronger. CCT also makes double coated tapes using tissue, polypropylene, polyethylene foam, and non-woven fabrics.

Every unsupported transfer tape by definition does not have a carrier film.
Unsupported adhesive products are favored where parts need to conform, bend, curve and where dimensional stability is not an issue.

Q. Which Release Liner should be used?
A. Every double coated tape or unsupported tape is protected by a silicone coated paper or plastic liner which is removed to use the adhesive. CCT produces double coated tapes using a wide variety of release liners. Polyethylene-coated paper release liners offer moisture stability. Kraft paper release liners offer firmness and thickness stability for precision die cutting applications. Heavy duty 12 pt. board products make it easier to remove the protective liner in production, and plastic release liners are less apt to rip or tear as they are removed.

Q. What is CCT’s lead time?
A. Lead time for CCT standard stock products ordered in typical quantity is usually 1-2 weeks, depending on slitting and finishing requirements. CCT maintains in inventory a vast array of adhesive products designed to meet the majority of our customer's adhesive needs. For custom coated and specialty products, lead time will be determined by raw material availability, process set up, and CCT schedule.

Q. Will CCT produce a special width product for me?
A. CCT provides standard widths of 44’’, 54’’, and 60’’ of usable adhesive. CCT offers slitting services to convert product from wide web form to a width meeting your process requirements. CCT also has the capability, given the volume, material, and lead time required, to produce other finished width materials from 36’’ to 72’’ wide.

Q. What does MSI mean?
A. MSI means “1000 square inches”. This is the US domestic preferred unit of measure for CCT products. MSIs are easily converted to other units of measure.

As an example: a square yard = 1.296 msi, a square foot = 0.144 msi, and a lineal foot for 54’’ adhesive = 0.648 msi.

Q. What is the shelf life of CCT's Products?
A. For most products CCT warrants “1 year after shipment” shelf life for our products while they are in their original packaging, unused and properly stored. When adhesives are laminated or bonded to other materials, they can be affected and degraded by chemical interaction. Once adhesives are laminated to another material in our customer’s process, our shelf life policy no longer applies, and the user must determine the shelf life of their own laminate. CCT provides sample rolls to all potential users so that they can test CCT adhesives in their own applications to determine the suitability of the adhesive product.

Q. How should I laminate pressure sensitive tapes?
A. CCT adhesives are usually laminated through a simple nip roll process which applies pressure to the adhesive and the material being bonded to bring them into contact. Many laminating processes use heat to enhance the bond between materials. Heat is often applied from underneath the laminate by a heat platen or it is applied directly to the adhesive by use of an “infrared” heat lamp. CCT Technical Sales Managers would be glad to discuss your application and suggest the best laminating process.

Q. How do I know which adhesive to use?
A. After discussing your application, your CCT Technical Sales Manager would be glad to offer a suggested product, and provide samples for testing. Where warranted CCT provides applications lab testing services to assist in the adhesive selection process.

Q. Does CCT provide “custom coating services”?
A. CCT provides custom coating services supplying either customer specified adhesive or laminate, provided the volume, width, and incoming roll lengths are compatible with CCT’s process.