The 3M™ VHB™ Tape LSE Series

3M™ VHB™ Tape

In the tape world, you hear it time and time again: VHB stands for very high bond. What’s so interesting about this tradition is it’s more folklore than fact. At 3M’s comprehensive trainings, they often point this out. VHB does not stand for anything specific. 

But, the fact that the rest of the tape world easily understands it to mean “very high bond” says a lot about this tape’s performance. 3M’s VHB™ Tape is a double-sided foam tape that achieves, wait for it, an incredibly very high bond. 

It’s so strong that it’s been used in emergency vehicles like ambulances since 1980. Also, it’s been holding parts to jet airplane wings since 1984. 

Let that sink in. The next time you’re on a flight, take a look out the window. Parts of that wing are held there by tape. That’s not even a scary notion either because VHB™ is that good. 

What does LSE mean?

This one actually does have a meaning. It stands for low surface energy, and it simply means a material that is hard to stick tape to. 

A few examples include the following:

• Polypropylene (PP)
• Thermoplastic Elastomers
• Thermoplastic Olefins

3M’s new VHB™ Tape LSE Series bonds to all of these and more. In fact, the LSE Series bonds so well with them, that you don’t even need to use a primer. Often, primers make it easier to stick tape to LSE materials. But the LSE Series gets the job done without any primer needs. 

It also works well on more than just LSE surfaces, such as high surface energy (HSE) materials. Where LSE is tough for tape to stick to, HSE is usually much easier for tape to hold to. Here’s an easy rundown of some other compatible materials:

• HSE: Aluminum, Steel, Glass, Painted Surfaces (especially polyester paint)
• Medium Surface Energy (MSE): Polycarbonate, high impact polystyrenes, acrylic, nylon, ABS plastic
• Variable Surface Energy: Composites. These are anything made of two or more materials, such as glass-reinforced plastics, fiberglass, and carbon fiber

How the 3M™ VHB™ Tape LSE Series Invites You to Rethink What’s Possible in Your Market

VHB™ Tape has been a favorite in various markets for years. Now, you can get the results of a VHB™ Tape and be able to innovate with a wider range of materials.

This series includes a double-sided acrylic foam tape, available in three different thicknesses. Like mentioned above, this tape works so well on LSE surfaces that you can ditch the primers altogether. This ends up making your production more efficient and saves you money on manufacturing costs. 

It also resists hot, cold, and cycling temperature changes. Plus, it resists UV and solvents. These traits give you the ability to use the LSE Series inside, outside, and in challenging environments. 

Like mentioned above, the LSE Series bonds to a wide range of materials. This gives you greater design flexibility and a very high bond in an incredibly lightweight tape.

Take for Example, the Consumer Market

Let’s say you’re working on designing a new robot vacuum. Using the LSE Series, you can incorporate sleek, curved, lightweight ABS plastics. You can take this design easily from concept to finished product. 

This would allow you to both maximize your innovation’s speed to market and have an advantage over competitors. Consider, for example, the LSE Series’s lightweight and your ability to bond lightweight materials into your product. Now, suddenly your device weighs less, which will take less energy to power, and you get to offer your customers longer use times between charges. 

Or Another Example, the Signage Market

VHB™ Tape has revolutionized the signage industry with its mounting capabilities. The LSE Series is simply the next chapter in this same story of signage innovation. Now you can use so many more materials to create a signature, attention-catching design that makes your products stand out. 

You can also count on the LSE Series to work in any climate due to its ability to resist hot, cold, and cycling temperatures. In fact, you can even put up signs in cold weather now because the LSE Series features low temperature bonding down to 32°F.

Also, like all VHB™ Tapes, the LSE Series features dozens of advantages over using more traditional ways of fixing signs.

With These Traits Applicable Across all Markets

Imagine what this could mean for industries that have unheated production centers, outdoor power equipment, sporting goods like snowboarding goggles. We’d have to turn this blog post into a book to cover all the possibilities.

Instead, here’s a glimpse into potential applications in other markets:

• Construction: lighting, windows, décor 
• Transportation: trucking, buses, campers, RVs, light rail
• Medical: output devices, scanners, accessories
• Consumer goods: internal components, small kitchen and cleaning appliances, bottles, toys, games, organization décor, network hubs, thermostats, cameras

• Instant bonding: Performance ready immediately after application
• Shock absorption: Absorbs impact
• Stress distribution: Absorbs stress throughout the bond for better performance
• Expansion and contraction: Works great with material changes do to varying temperatures dips and rises
• Waterproofing: Creates a permanent seal against environmental conditions
• Conformability: Shapes well to irregular and rigid surfaces alike
• Design flexibility: Pre-made for precision and faster production rates
• Smooth, invisibly clean appearance: Free of rivet heads, weld marks, and screws