selfadhesives

Selfadhesives, commonly referred to as pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs), are a class of adhesives that form a bond with substrates upon light pressure. They do not require solvents, water, or heat to achieve adhesion under ordinary conditions, and the adhesive remains tacky at room temperature. Selfadhesives are usually produced as a coated adhesive layer on a backing material, such as paper, film, or foil, with a protective liner that is removed before use. They are widely used in tapes, labels, and decals, as well as protective films and graphic applications.

The adhesive layer is typically a polymer blend—most commonly acrylic or rubber-based—with tackifiers and, in some formulations, plasticizers or crosslinkers. Silicone-based PSAs are used for high-temperature or specialty applications. The backing provides mechanical support and can influence conformability, thickness, and barrier properties. The liners protect the adhesive during storage and aid handling.

Performance depends on multiple factors, including the substrate, surface energy, pressure applied during bonding, and environmental conditions. Advantages include quick, clean bonding without heat or solvents, good initial tack, and the ability to reposition briefly in many formulations. Limitations include reduced adhesion on low surface energy substrates, aging and UV resistance concerns, potential adhesive residue on removal, and sensitivity to temperature and humidity.

Common metrics for PSAs are peel adhesion, tack, and shear resistance. Selfadhesives are manufactured in a wide range of formulations to suit applications from consumer tapes to specialized industrial uses.