Creating a quieter industrial workplace has become a growing priority as more awareness is raised about the health effects of noise exposure. In fact, OSHA regulates acceptable noise levels in the workplace to protect workers in all types of work environments. Additionally, a more sophisticated generation of consumers expect products such as vehicles and home appliances to offer much quieter operation than ever before. There are three primary ways to manage structural vibration and the noise that it creates:Of the sources of noise in the operation of equipment, it’s important to distingui ..read more

Powder coating is a widely used type of finishing process. Powder coating involves the application of dry, free-flowing, thermoplastic or thermoset powder material to a part or component surface. The powder is then melted and hardened into an even coating.  Powder coating is ideal for many materials, such as metals, plastics, and glass. It creates surface coatings that are both functional and decorative, and is available in a wide range of colors, finishes, and textures. Polyester Tapes for Powder Coating Masking In many applications, designs require that certain component sections remain ..read more

Anaerobic adhesives are widely used for mechanical assembly applications that need a seal capable of holding with high shear strength. They are a popular choice for bonding metal components and for thread locking applications. What Are Anaerobic Adhesives? Anaerobic adhesives are one-part adhesives that remain stable at room temperature for an extended period of time and only bond when oxygen is removed from the location of the parts with the adhesive. These adhesives fill the gaps between metal components in an assembly to seal or hold components together, resisting movement and dislodging f ..read more

Across the board, the vehicle manufacturing industry has become increasingly focused on light weighting. This is a design approach that focuses on reducing the overall weight of vehicles by reducing the weight of component materials and assemblies. Objectives center on reducing overall vehicle weight to promote greater fuel economy. According to energy.gov, “a 10% reduction in vehicle weight can result in a 6%-8% fuel economy improvement.” The RV market is a segment of the vehicle market that will be concentrating lightweighting in manufacturing. According to the RV Industry Association, the ..read more

The adhesive selected to bond to substrates must be appropriate for the surface energies involved. Surface energy, which ranges from high to low, describes the surface characteristics of a given substrate. The molecular force of attraction between unlike materials determines their adhesion. The strength of this attraction depends on the surface energy of the substrates. High surface energy means a strong molecular attraction, while low surface energy means weaker attractive forces. Surface Energy Illustrated A good illustration of the concept of surface energy is found in comparing a waxed veh ..read more

Polyethylene Film is a popular and highly versatile product that is used in a wide range of applications. In the form of continuous film and sheets, polyethylene is also known as PE, plastic, or poly film. Beneficial attributes of this film include: Conformability Water Proof Long term stability Comes in various thicknesses Performs well at wide temperature ranges Will not crack or crease at low temperatures Abrasion, solvent, and moisture resistant Can be customized to fit the application Custom Slit to Width x 36 yd. x 5.5 mil Clear Polyethylene Adhesive Film CDNT#: 358 Polyethylene is ..read more

The line of 3M Glass Cloth Tapes offers high tensile strength with a choice of silicone, acrylic, or rubber adhesives. 3M glass cloth adhesive tapes meet the needs of demanding applications in markets such as aerospace, automotive, commercial vehicle, construction, marine, and more. 3M PTFE Glass Cloth Tape 5451 This PTFE tape features a brown woven glass cloth backing impregnated with PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene). Its slick surface has an extremely low coefficient of friction that works with the pressure sensitive silicone adhesive to offer a non-stick surface that is reliable, even at high ..read more

Growth in the Electric Vehicle Market Driven by advancements in technology and decreasing production costs, the electric vehicle market has grown significantly. This market is expected to continue to grow, especially if the proposed infrastructure bill passes, as it includes significant investments in the electric vehicle industry, including EV manufacturers and electric battery manufacturers. Serving The EV Market With More Than 1,000 Products 3M serves EV applications with 40 global automotive centers across six continents. 3M materials promote safety and manufacturing efficiency. EV batteri ..read more

According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, face shields are playing a highly effective role in stopping the spread of COVID-19. Masks that cover the nose and mouth may not alone provide adequate protection. In medical settings, face shield use has been growing to prevent infectious disease spread, and now medical professionals are recommending face shield use be adopted beyond medical settings.  In the article, medical experts were asked about the effectiveness of face shields, both as personal protective gear, and as a method to stop transmission of COVID 19. According to Daniel ..read more

Today consumers have a higher level of expectations when it comes to the products they purchase. Performance and reliability have always been important, but now consumers expect sleeker-looking designs and in the case of appliances and equipment, they expect quieter operation. To answer this demand, the designers and developers of products, from automobiles to appliances, are relying on fabricated adhesive materials to produce quieter designs. When it comes to noise associated with product designs, the primary sources of noise are airborne noise and structural noise. Airborne noise is created ..read more