It depends on the plastic. High surface energy plastics such as ABS, polycarbonate and PET bond well. Low surface energy plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene and PTFE resist adhesion and need either a grade formulated for LSE substrates or an adhesion promoter. Testing on your actual material is always worth the sample request.
The usual method is to cut through the foam core with a strong wire or cutting line worked along the bond, then remove the residue left on each surface with heat and an adhesive remover, working slowly to avoid damaging the substrate. It is deliberately difficult, because the tape is designed as a permanent fixing. If you expect to need to dismantle the assembly, a reclosable fastener such as Dual-Lock is the better specification.
Clean both surfaces with an isopropyl alcohol and water mix or 3M VHB Surface Cleaner and let them dry. Apply the tape to one surface, remove the liner, position the parts, then apply even pressure firmly across the entire bond line. Work in a warm environment, and leave the joint to build strength before loading it.
The foam grades commonly range between 0.3mm and 2.3mm, and the VHB transfer tapes come much thinner at roughly 0.05 to 0.25 mm. Thicker bond lines absorb more differential movement between materials; thinner ones suit rigid, well-matched surfaces where nothing needs to flex.
Acrylic VHB bonds are designed to be permanent and hold up well outdoors, resisting UV, moisture and temperature cycling. They have been used in construction and transport for decades on assemblies expected to last the life of the structure or vehicle. Actual service life depends on the substrates, the loads and the environment, so validate on your own assembly.
VHB does not cure chemically; it builds strength as the adhesive wets out into both surfaces. You get handling strength immediately, most of the final strength within the first day, and ultimate strength after about 72 hours at room temperature. Warmer conditions speed the process up, cold slows it down.
Strength depends on bond area, grade, substrate and the direction of the load, so there is no single weight figure. What matters is that load is calculated across the whole bond area rather than per piece: a long bond line carries far more than a small pad of the same tape. Shear loads (sliding along the joint) are handled better than peel loads (lifting one edge), which is why joint design matters as much as grade selection. Send us the load, the substrates and the geometry and we will size it with you.
VHB stands for Very High Bond. It is a double-sided acrylic foam tape from 3M, adhesive throughout rather than coated onto a carrier, designed for extreme bonding in place of rivets, welds, screws and liquid adhesives.
Send a converter your drawing plus the six details at the top of this guide: geometry, sealing job, compression, material or constraints, adhesive backing, and quantities with any compliance needs. A good converter will confirm the material choice, prototype without tooling if the design might change, and move you onto production tooling when it is stable.
Yes, most foam gaskets are supplied with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one face and a peel-off liner, turning fitting into a peel-and-stick operation. The adhesive is chosen for the surface it bonds to, and parts can be presented individually, on sheets, or kiss-cut on a continuous roll for production lines.
Compression set is the permanent thickness a foam loses after being held compressed. A gasket seals by pushing back against the joint; a material with high compression set stops pushing back over time and the seal fails, even though the gasket looks intact. For permanently clamped gaskets it is the most important number on the datasheet.
Closed-cell foam has sealed gas pockets, so it blocks water and air and compresses like a spring: the default for weather sealing. Open-cell foam has interconnected cells, so it breathes and conforms extremely well: better for dust sealing, cushioning and joints with large irregularities, but not for immersion.
There is no universal best, only best for the environment. Closed-cell EPDM leads for outdoor and water sealing, silicone sponge for temperature extremes, PVC/nitrile for oils and fuels, and polyurethane foams like Poron for thin gaskets under permanent compression. The material follows from what the gasket must survive.
A foam gasket is a compressible sealing component cut from cellular rubber or plastic foam, fitted between two surfaces to seal against water, dust, air, light or noise. Unlike solid rubber gaskets, foam gaskets seal at low clamping forces, which suits enclosures, panels and assemblies that cannot be bolted down hard.
From prototype runs and samples through to scaled, high-volume production. Our in-house converting and quality systems, certified to ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949:2016, keep parts consistent as volumes grow.
Yes. We offer engineering support, material selection guidance, design and prototyping, and testing and validation. Bring us the application or a concept drawing and we will help identify a practical converting route before production.
We die-cut adhesives, tapes, foams and films to your drawing, supplying parts as individual die-cuts, kiss-cut sheets or rolls, including formats compatible with automated pick-and-place and roll-to-roll assembly.
Yes. 3M Thin Bonding and VHB tape families include formulations engineered for low-surface-energy and difficult engineering plastics. We select and convert the right adhesive for your substrate combination.
Many 3M adhesive constructions are designed to resist moisture and common disinfectants used in clinical environments. Suitability depends on the exact material and cleaning regime, so we recommend testing against your protocol. We can advise on material selection and support validation.
In many applications, yes. 3M VHB and pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes form strong structural and semi-structural bonds across metal, plastic, glass and composites. They remove dirt-collection points, reduce assembly time and allow cleaner, more ergonomic designs. We help you validate the bond for your specific application before committing to production.
Conductive metals like aluminium do reflect electric-field EMI, which is why foil tapes exist. But household foil has no conductive adhesive, cannot maintain grounding contact across joints, and does almost nothing against low-frequency magnetic fields. Engineered shielding tapes and gaskets solve the contact and continuity problems that determine real-world performance.
Clean both surfaces, apply the tape or die-cut part across the joint or onto the grounding point, and apply firm pressure so the conductive adhesive makes contact. For repeatable results in production, tapes are usually supplied as die-cut or kiss-cut parts sized to the joint rather than cut from a roll by hand.
Unshielded interference degrades the signal-to-noise ratio in electronic systems, causing data errors, sensor misreads and intermittent faults, and it can push a product over the legal emissions limits it must meet for CE or UKCA marking. As devices get denser and switching frequencies climb, shielding is now designed in rather than retrofitted.
RFI is a subset of EMI. EMI covers all electromagnetic disturbance, from low-frequency magnetic fields to microwave-band noise; RFI refers specifically to interference in the radio frequency range. In shielding practice the terms are used almost interchangeably, which is why materials are usually badged EMI/RFI.
Conductive shields work like a Faraday cage: incident electromagnetic energy induces currents in the conductive surface, which reflect and dissipate it instead of letting it reach the circuit. Absorbers work differently, converting electromagnetic energy to heat in magnetic particles. Effectiveness depends on conductivity, coverage and, above all, the continuity of the shield at seams and gaps.
EMI shielding is the use of conductive or magnetic materials to block, redirect or absorb electromagnetic interference so it cannot disrupt electronic circuits. In practice it means conductive gaskets, tapes, absorbers and coatings applied to enclosures, joints and components.
Carrier-backed grades like the 3M 8926 series are designed to be reworkable during assembly. Transfer tapes (8805 to 8820) form a permanent bond; removal requires mechanical peeling and solvent cleaning of residue.
Clean both surfaces with isopropyl alcohol, position the die-cut pad, and apply firm, even pressure with a roller or press. Full bond strength builds over about 72 hours, so avoid stressing the joint immediately after assembly.
Not meaningfully. Standard polyimide tape is an electrical insulator with low thermal conductivity (roughly 0.2 W/m·K) and is used for masking and electrical insulation, not heat transfer. For thermal joints, use a purpose-filled thermally conductive tape.
No. Standard thermally conductive tapes use ceramic fillers that conduct heat but insulate electrically, with dielectric strengths of 15 to 26 kV/mm. 3M's 9876 heat spreading tape, built on a copper layer, is the exception; check before using it near live circuits.
Yes, within its design envelope. Filled acrylic tapes conduct 0.6 to 1.5 W/m·K, a 20 to 50 times improvement over the air gap they replace. For extreme heat loads with existing clamping, paste can outperform tape; where the tape must also hold the part, it is usually the better system choice.
Thermal tape bonds heat-generating electronic components (LEDs, power ICs, sensors) to heat sinks, spreaders or housings while conducting heat across the joint. It replaces mechanical fasteners and separate thermal interface materials in one peel-and-stick step.
Yes. We support the full journey from a single prototype through to full production runs, with the same engineering team involved throughout, so parts stay consistent as you scale.
We convert foams, single- and double-sided adhesive tapes, transfer adhesives, films, membranes, rubber, elastomers, felts and gasket materials. If your material isn't listed, ask — we can usually source and convert it or recommend an alternative.
Material converting is the process of transforming raw flexible materials — such as foams, tapes, adhesives, films and rubber — into finished components through cutting, slitting, laminating and shaping. At RGH we do this to custom specifications for performance-critical manufacturing applications.
As a precision converter, RGH can supply 3M conductive tapes custom-cut to your exact production requirements. We provide them in bespoke roll widths, strips, or precision die-cut parts on a removable liner, allowing for seamless integration and fast, waste-free application on your assembly line.
These tapes are engineered for long-term environmental stability. They offer excellent resistance to oxidation, high temperatures, and moisture, ensuring that the electrical contact resistance remains low and grounding performance stays secure throughout the lifespan of the device.
Yes. Many tapes in the 3M range feature highly conformable foil or fabric backings (such as nonwoven scrims or woven threads). These backings allow the tape to easily flex, wrap around edges, and maintain consistent, reliable contact with both rigid, soft, or textured substrates.
No. 3M™ Electrically Conductive Tapes use advanced pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs). They achieve high-bond strength and reliable electrical contact instantly upon physical pressure at room temperature, eliminating the need for time-consuming thermal curing or specialised ovens.
XYZ-axis (isotropic) conductive tapes provide electrical conductivity through both the thickness of the tape (Z-axis) and across the surface plane (X and Y axes), making them ideal for general shielding and grounding. Z-axis (anisotropic) conductive tapes only allow electricity to flow vertically through the thickness of the tape, isolating adjacent closely-spaced traces without shorting them.
As a precision converter, RGH can supply EMI absorbers in rolls, sheets, strips, or custom die-cut parts tailored to the exact geometry of your electronic housing or internal components. This ensures a perfect fit for complex layouts and fast integration into your manufacturing process.
When placed near internal antennas, absorbers suppress stray electromagnetic noise and crosstalk from nearby microprocessors or high-speed components. By cleaning up this background "noise," the absorber significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), leading to better wireless connectivity and device performance.
Yes. We can convert EMI absorbers with an optional pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA)—available in both conductive and nonconductive options. This allows for quick, reliable peel-and-stick application directly onto components, shields, or enclosures during production line assembly.
Absorbing performance is highly thickness-dependent. Thicker absorbers generally offer higher attenuation and work better at lower frequencies, whereas ultra-thin absorbers are optimised for high-frequency noise and tight spaces. Our technical team can help you select the exact thickness required to target your specific problem frequencies.
While EMI shields (like copper or aluminum foils) reflect electromagnetic energy to block it from passing through, EMI absorbers contain specialised magnetic particles that actually soak up the noise and convert it into negligible thermal energy. Absorbers are ideal for eliminating internal reflections and suppressing near-field noise within a closed device.
We aim to respond to all enquiries as quickly as possible, typically within one working day.
Yes. We regularly supply kiss-cut components on rolls to support automated and semi-automated production processes, helping customers improve productivity and consistency.
Minimum order quantities vary depending on the material and manufacturing process. We work with customers on both development projects and high-volume production programmes.
Lead times vary depending on the material, complexity, and quantity required. Standard products can often be supplied quickly, while bespoke solutions may require tooling and approval before production.
Yes. Many customers contact us with an application challenge rather than a detailed specification. Our experienced team can help identify the most suitable material and converting method to achieve the required performance and cost objectives.
BISCO® HT-800 is a medium-firm silicone foam known for its excellent compression and recovery characteristics. In electronics, it is valued for:
HT-800 is commonly used in electronic enclosures, display assemblies, thermal interfaces, and cushioning applications
The Rogers BISCO® product range includes high-performance silicone foam and sponge materials designed for demanding sealing, cushioning, and protection applications. These materials are trusted for their reliability in harsh environments and are widely used in electronics, transportation, aerospace, and industrial systems due to their superior durability and thermal stability.
Silicone sponge is used in a wide range of industries, including:
Silicone sponge offers several significant benefits, including:
Silicone sponge can be manufactured and converted into a wide variety of formats to suit specific applications. These include sheets, rolls, gaskets, strips, pads, custom die-cut shapes and extrusions. This versatility makes it suitable for sealing, cushioning, and insulation tasks across many industries.
Automotive-grade felts provide excellent abrasion resistance, stable compression characteristics, and long-term durability under repeated movement or vibration. They retain their structure over time, ensuring consistent anti-rattle and NVH performance.
Black and white felts are standard. White felt is often used in manufacturing environments where vision systems or human operators need clear visual confirmation that the part has been correctly applied, helping improve quality control.
Absolutely. Thin gauge felt can be supplied with pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side, making it ideal for cable wrapping, harness protection, and quick installation on production lines.
Yes. We routinely convert felt into bespoke die-cut or CNC-cut parts tailored to the exact geometry of clips, trims, brackets, and interior interfaces. This ensures a precise fit and reliable long-term noise reduction.
Thin gauge felts are primarily used for anti-rattle, buzz-squeak-rattle (BSR) control, and vibration damping within vehicle interiors. They are commonly installed between plastic mouldings, trim panels, and metal interfaces to minimise noise and improve perceived quality.
Absolutely. We cut, shape, and laminate reticulated foam for custom filtration and acoustic components.
Yes. It is available in a range of PPI ratings (pores per inch) to control filtration efficiency and airflow.
Yes. It is chemically stable and can be washed and reused in many filtration or cleaning applications.
It has a skeletal, highly open structure created through a reticulation process, providing excellent permeability.
Reticulated (open-cell) foam is used for filtration, acoustic control, air flow applications, and fluid management systems.
It performs well in moderate-to-high temperature ranges, depending on grade. It is widely used in refrigeration and automotive systems.
This blend offers excellent oil resistance, good aging stability, and enhanced durability compared to pure PVC foam.
Yes. RGH convert this foam in to many formats and can be supplied adhesive-backed for easy installation.
PVC/Nitrile foam has very low water absorption, making it suitable for moisture-rich environments
Yes. It is commonly used for thermal insulation, pipe lagging, and vibration damping due to its closed-cell structure.
Poron bonds well with acrylic adhesives and can be supplied with PSA for easy placement and assembly.
Yes. Poron is available in multiple durometers and densities to suit sealing, impact protection, or energy absorption applications.
Poron is resistant to moisture absorption and maintains its mechanical properties in humid environments.
Yes. Poron’s softness, tight tolerances, and stability make it ideal for electronics gasketing, cushioning, and gap filling.
Poron has a microcellular structure that provides superior compression-set resistance and consistent long-term performance.
Absolutely. RGH die-cut foam tapes into gaskets, spacers, bonding pads, and assembly-ready components
Acrylic foam tapes provide the best durability, including excellent resistance to heat, humidity, and outdoor environments.
Yes. Many grades meet automotive standards for trim mounting, interior bonding, and vibration management.
Common carriers include PE, PU and PVC. Each offers different mechanical and environmental properties.
They offer gap filling, vibration damping, and strong adhesion—ideal for uneven or textured surfaces.
Yes. We can convert tapes into any shape for assembly lines, mounting applications, and high-precision components.
They range from thin transfer adhesives (0.05 mm) to thicker variants with carriers depending on bond line and conformability needs.
Acrylic adhesives offer excellent UV, temperature, and moisture resistance, making them ideal for outdoor applications.
High-performance acrylic adhesives are designed for plastics like PP, PE, and powder-coated surfaces.
Common variants include acrylic, rubber-based and silicone, each suited for different substrates and environments.
Yes. We convert rubber sheets into custom shapes using die cutting and CNC knife
Chemical resistance depends on the polymer:
• EPDM for weather/steam
• NBR for oils and fuels
• Silicone for high temperatures
• Neoprene for balanced performance
Sheets are typically available from 1 mm up to 25+ mm, depending on the rubber type and hardness.
Yes. Solid rubber sheeting is widely used for custom gaskets, seals, spacers, and anti-vibration components.
Commonly stocked materials include EPDM, neoprene, nitrile (NBR), silicone, viton, and natural rubber, each suited for specific environments.
Many grades are recyclable, and some are available in low-density or bio-based formulations.
Yes. RGH can laminate PE foam to a range of adhesive tape and can also laminate to fabrics
Standard PE foam has a moderate service temperature range. Cross-linked PE foams offer enhanced thermal stability and surface finish.
Yes. Its shock absorption and tear resistance make it ideal for packaging. RGH manufacture case inserts and transportation protection from a range of different PE foams.
PE foam is a closed-cell, lightweight material with excellent impact absorption, moisture resistance, and chemical stability.
Most grades exhibit good compression-set performance, helping maintain long-term sealing effectiveness.
RGH can supply neoprene with acrylic or rubber-based adhesives for easy to bond applications.
Many neoprene foams are inherently flame-resistant or available in FR-certified formulations. Always check the specific grade for compliance.
Neoprene has moderate oil and chemical resistance—better than EPDM but not as strong as nitrile rubber—making it suitable for light-to-medium oil exposure.
Neoprene foam offers balanced resistance to weather, abrasion, and moderate oil exposure, making it ideal for general-purpose sealing, gasketing, and insulation.
EPDM foams come in a several densities and can be supplied in thicknesses from thin gasketing layers to thick sealing strips. Custom die-cutting and lamination are standard for RGH.
Yes. EPDM bonds very well with high-performance acrylic adhesives and RGH commonly supply with adhesive backing for easy installation.
EPDM provides poor resistance to oils, fuels, and hydrocarbons. For oil exposure, neoprene or NBR-based foams are typically recommended.
Yes. RGH commonly supply EPDM into automotive door seals, HVAC units, and enclosure gasketing due to its long-term durability and compression-set resistance.
EPDM foam offers excellent resistance to weathering, UV, ozone, and temperature extremes, making it ideal for outdoor sealing applications.
Absolutely. PU foam is easily cut, slit, profiled, and die-cut into custom geometries for gasketing, sound management, and protective applications.
Fire performance varies by grade. Standard PU foam is combustible, but fire-retardant and UL-listed grades are available depending on application requirements.
Yes. RGH laminate PU foam with a range of pressure-sensitive adhesives.
No. Because it has an open, interconnected cell structure, it allows air and moisture to pass through. It is ideal for ventilation and acoustic damping, but not for watertight sealing.
Open cell PU foam is widely used for cushioning, acoustic control, ventilation, filtration, and protective packaging due to its soft, breathable, and flexible structure.
PVC foam is produced in a range of densities—from soft, highly conformable grades to firmer structural variants—and can be supplied in multiple thicknesses depending on sealing or cushioning requirements. As converters, we can slit, laminate, die-cut, and supply custom-shaped parts to meet precise specifications.
PVC foam typically performs reliably across moderate temperature ranges and provides good resistance to oils, fuels, and many industrial chemicals. However, specific temperature and chemical tolerances depend on foam density and grade, so material selection should be application-driven.
Absolutely. PVC foam bonds well with a wide range of PSAs, including 3M high-performance acrylic adhesives. Adhesive-backed PVC foam is commonly used for gaskets, mounting, and vibration-damping pads where ease of installation and secure adhesion are required.
Yes. Closed-cell PVC foam offers strong resistance to water absorption, UV exposure, and many environmental factors. It maintains its sealing performance in outdoor or intermittent moisture conditions, making it suitable for weatherstripping and gasketing applications.
PVC foam is a closed-cell polyvinyl chloride material known for its excellent compressibility, vibration damping, and sealing performance. It is widely used in automotive, HVAC, construction, electronics, and general industrial sealing applications.
Thicker bonding tapes offer:
NB: Refer to 3M Data sheets for more information
No special tools are needed for most applications. A clean 'lint free' cloth, roller, and some pressure are usually enough. For industrial applications, 3M also offers application tools and automated systems to make bonding even faster and more consistent.
Yes. 3M™ VHB™ Tapes are designed for indoor and outdoor environments, resisting moisture, UV, and temperature extremes. Different grades are available — for example:
Here’s a quick guide:
NB - Please refer to 3M Product Data sheets for full application guidelines.
Proper surface preparation is key to a strong bond. Follow these simple steps:
NB - Always let the surface dry before applying the tape.
Unlike standard foam tapes, 3M™ VHB™ Tape is made entirely of adhesive, not just coated on the surface. Its viscoelastic structure allows it to flow into surface textures and maintain strong, flexible bonds — even between materials like metal, glass, and plastic. It can also absorb stress and vibration, helping to create, attractive long-lasting joints by replacing unsightly screws, rivets and heavy welds.
RGH can supply these materials in various roll widths (wide or narrow), vary roll lengths or provide customised shapes (ie: finished die cut parts) to customer specifications; we can also laminate these materials to third party materials prior to converting into the desired shape.
Please refer to RGH Capabilities page or make an enquiry.
Yes, 3M Thin Bonding Tapes have been used for automotive interiors and for outside environments; they are typically acrylic based adhesives which can resist UV, solvents, humidity and high and low temperatures. Its important to consider all aspects of any given application so please contact us should you’d further guidance on product selection.
A double coated tape has a ‘carrier’ which can be made of tissue, polyester, PP or paper with a thin coating of adhesive on both sides; This ‘carrier’ enables the tape to be handled and processed easily; however, bond strength and temperature performance can be limited by the type of carrier.
For ultimate bond performance Adhesive Transfer Tapes, which have no carrier are just a thin film of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA); as the tape has no ‘carrier’ the adhesive ‘flows’ better into the surface whilst also typically achieving higher temperature performance.
RGH are happy to give guidance on which is most suitable for any given application.
Thin tapes (0.05mm to 0.3mm) are typically used when one or both bonded surfaces is flexible. This is because these tapes are pressure sensitive so good rub down pressure is needed to ensure a good bond is achieved.
If both bonded surfaces are rigid, thin tapes may still be considered for small component parts; For larger areas or a longer bond line, thicker tapes (0.4mm to 2.3mm thick) will provide better surface to surface contact and therefore optimise bond performance.
3M Thin Bonding Tapes adhere well to metals, glass, composites, painted surfaces, ABS, PC, and acrylics.
Some versions have been modified to work on low surface energy (LSE) plastics such as Polypropylene and Polyethylene or powder coated paints.
The use of 3M Primers can also be used to enhance performance.
XYZ-axis (isotropic) conductive tapes provide electrical conductivity through both the thickness of the tape (Z-axis) and across the surface plane (X and Y axes), making them ideal for general shielding and grounding. Z-axis (anisotropic) conductive tapes only allow electricity to flow vertically through the thickness of the tape, isolating adjacent closely-spaced traces without shorting them.
No. 3M™ Electrically Conductive Tapes use advanced pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs). They achieve high-bond strength and reliable electrical contact instantly upon physical pressure at room temperature, eliminating the need for time-consuming thermal curing or specialised ovens.
Yes. Many tapes in the 3M range feature highly conformable foil or fabric backings (such as nonwoven scrims or woven threads). These backings allow the tape to easily flex, wrap around edges, and maintain consistent, reliable contact with both rigid, soft, or textured substrates.
These tapes are engineered for long-term environmental stability. They offer excellent resistance to oxidation, high temperatures, and moisture, ensuring that the electrical contact resistance remains low and grounding performance stays secure throughout the lifespan of the device.
As a precision converter, RGH can supply 3M conductive tapes custom-cut to your exact production requirements. We provide them in bespoke roll widths, strips, or precision die-cut parts on a removable liner, allowing for seamless integration and fast, waste-free application on your assembly line.
While EMI shields (like copper or aluminum foils) reflect electromagnetic energy to block it from passing through, EMI absorbers contain specialised magnetic particles that actually soak up the noise and convert it into negligible thermal energy. Absorbers are ideal for eliminating internal reflections and suppressing near-field noise within a closed device.
Absorbing performance is highly thickness-dependent. Thicker absorbers generally offer higher attenuation and work better at lower frequencies, whereas ultra-thin absorbers are optimised for high-frequency noise and tight spaces. Our technical team can help you select the exact thickness required to target your specific problem frequencies.
Yes. We can convert EMI absorbers with an optional pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA)—available in both conductive and nonconductive options. This allows for quick, reliable peel-and-stick application directly onto components, shields, or enclosures during production line assembly.
When placed near internal antennas, absorbers suppress stray electromagnetic noise and crosstalk from nearby microprocessors or high-speed components. By cleaning up this background "noise," the absorber significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), leading to better wireless connectivity and device performance.
As a precision converter, RGH can supply EMI absorbers in rolls, sheets, strips, or custom die-cut parts tailored to the exact geometry of your electronic housing or internal components. This ensures a perfect fit for complex layouts and fast integration into your manufacturing process.
Common variants include acrylic, rubber-based and silicone, each suited for different substrates and environments.
High-performance acrylic adhesives are designed for plastics like PP, PE, and powder-coated surfaces.
Acrylic adhesives offer excellent UV, temperature, and moisture resistance, making them ideal for outdoor applications.
They range from thin transfer adhesives (0.05 mm) to thicker variants with carriers depending on bond line and conformability needs.
Yes. We can convert tapes into any shape for assembly lines, mounting applications, and high-precision components.
They offer gap filling, vibration damping, and strong adhesion—ideal for uneven or textured surfaces.
Common carriers include PE, PU and PVC. Each offers different mechanical and environmental properties.
Yes. Many grades meet automotive standards for trim mounting, interior bonding, and vibration management.
Acrylic foam tapes provide the best durability, including excellent resistance to heat, humidity, and outdoor environments.
Absolutely. RGH die-cut foam tapes into gaskets, spacers, bonding pads, and assembly-ready components
EMI shielding is the use of conductive or magnetic materials to block, redirect or absorb electromagnetic interference so it cannot disrupt electronic circuits. In practice it means conductive gaskets, tapes, absorbers and coatings applied to enclosures, joints and components.
Conductive shields work like a Faraday cage: incident electromagnetic energy induces currents in the conductive surface, which reflect and dissipate it instead of letting it reach the circuit. Absorbers work differently, converting electromagnetic energy to heat in magnetic particles. Effectiveness depends on conductivity, coverage and, above all, the continuity of the shield at seams and gaps.
RFI is a subset of EMI. EMI covers all electromagnetic disturbance, from low-frequency magnetic fields to microwave-band noise; RFI refers specifically to interference in the radio frequency range. In shielding practice the terms are used almost interchangeably, which is why materials are usually badged EMI/RFI.
Unshielded interference degrades the signal-to-noise ratio in electronic systems, causing data errors, sensor misreads and intermittent faults, and it can push a product over the legal emissions limits it must meet for CE or UKCA marking. As devices get denser and switching frequencies climb, shielding is now designed in rather than retrofitted.
Clean both surfaces, apply the tape or die-cut part across the joint or onto the grounding point, and apply firm pressure so the conductive adhesive makes contact. For repeatable results in production, tapes are usually supplied as die-cut or kiss-cut parts sized to the joint rather than cut from a roll by hand.
Conductive metals like aluminium do reflect electric-field EMI, which is why foil tapes exist. But household foil has no conductive adhesive, cannot maintain grounding contact across joints, and does almost nothing against low-frequency magnetic fields. Engineered shielding tapes and gaskets solve the contact and continuity problems that determine real-world performance.
EPDM foam offers excellent resistance to weathering, UV, ozone, and temperature extremes, making it ideal for outdoor sealing applications.
Yes. RGH commonly supply EPDM into automotive door seals, HVAC units, and enclosure gasketing due to its long-term durability and compression-set resistance.
EPDM provides poor resistance to oils, fuels, and hydrocarbons. For oil exposure, neoprene or NBR-based foams are typically recommended.
Yes. EPDM bonds very well with high-performance acrylic adhesives and RGH commonly supply with adhesive backing for easy installation.
EPDM foams come in a several densities and can be supplied in thicknesses from thin gasketing layers to thick sealing strips. Custom die-cutting and lamination are standard for RGH.
Thin gauge felts are primarily used for anti-rattle, buzz-squeak-rattle (BSR) control, and vibration damping within vehicle interiors. They are commonly installed between plastic mouldings, trim panels, and metal interfaces to minimise noise and improve perceived quality.
Yes. We routinely convert felt into bespoke die-cut or CNC-cut parts tailored to the exact geometry of clips, trims, brackets, and interior interfaces. This ensures a precise fit and reliable long-term noise reduction.
Absolutely. Thin gauge felt can be supplied with pressure-sensitive adhesive on one side, making it ideal for cable wrapping, harness protection, and quick installation on production lines.
Black and white felts are standard. White felt is often used in manufacturing environments where vision systems or human operators need clear visual confirmation that the part has been correctly applied, helping improve quality control.
Automotive-grade felts provide excellent abrasion resistance, stable compression characteristics, and long-term durability under repeated movement or vibration. They retain their structure over time, ensuring consistent anti-rattle and NVH performance.
A foam gasket is a compressible sealing component cut from cellular rubber or plastic foam, fitted between two surfaces to seal against water, dust, air, light or noise. Unlike solid rubber gaskets, foam gaskets seal at low clamping forces, which suits enclosures, panels and assemblies that cannot be bolted down hard.
There is no universal best, only best for the environment. Closed-cell EPDM leads for outdoor and water sealing, silicone sponge for temperature extremes, PVC/nitrile for oils and fuels, and polyurethane foams like Poron for thin gaskets under permanent compression. The material follows from what the gasket must survive.
Closed-cell foam has sealed gas pockets, so it blocks water and air and compresses like a spring: the default for weather sealing. Open-cell foam has interconnected cells, so it breathes and conforms extremely well: better for dust sealing, cushioning and joints with large irregularities, but not for immersion.
Compression set is the permanent thickness a foam loses after being held compressed. A gasket seals by pushing back against the joint; a material with high compression set stops pushing back over time and the seal fails, even though the gasket looks intact. For permanently clamped gaskets it is the most important number on the datasheet.
Yes, most foam gaskets are supplied with a pressure-sensitive adhesive on one face and a peel-off liner, turning fitting into a peel-and-stick operation. The adhesive is chosen for the surface it bonds to, and parts can be presented individually, on sheets, or kiss-cut on a continuous roll for production lines.
Send a converter your drawing plus the six details at the top of this guide: geometry, sealing job, compression, material or constraints, adhesive backing, and quantities with any compliance needs. A good converter will confirm the material choice, prototype without tooling if the design might change, and move you onto production tooling when it is stable.
Yes. Many customers contact us with an application challenge rather than a detailed specification. Our experienced team can help identify the most suitable material and converting method to achieve the required performance and cost objectives.
Lead times vary depending on the material, complexity, and quantity required. Standard products can often be supplied quickly, while bespoke solutions may require tooling and approval before production.
Minimum order quantities vary depending on the material and manufacturing process. We work with customers on both development projects and high-volume production programmes.
Yes. We regularly supply kiss-cut components on rolls to support automated and semi-automated production processes, helping customers improve productivity and consistency.
We aim to respond to all enquiries as quickly as possible, typically within one working day.
Material converting is the process of transforming raw flexible materials — such as foams, tapes, adhesives, films and rubber — into finished components through cutting, slitting, laminating and shaping. At RGH we do this to custom specifications for performance-critical manufacturing applications.
We convert foams, single- and double-sided adhesive tapes, transfer adhesives, films, membranes, rubber, elastomers, felts and gasket materials. If your material isn't listed, ask — we can usually source and convert it or recommend an alternative.
Yes. We support the full journey from a single prototype through to full production runs, with the same engineering team involved throughout, so parts stay consistent as you scale.
In many applications, yes. 3M VHB and pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes form strong structural and semi-structural bonds across metal, plastic, glass and composites. They remove dirt-collection points, reduce assembly time and allow cleaner, more ergonomic designs. We help you validate the bond for your specific application before committing to production.
Many 3M adhesive constructions are designed to resist moisture and common disinfectants used in clinical environments. Suitability depends on the exact material and cleaning regime, so we recommend testing against your protocol. We can advise on material selection and support validation.
Yes. 3M Thin Bonding and VHB tape families include formulations engineered for low-surface-energy and difficult engineering plastics. We select and convert the right adhesive for your substrate combination.
We die-cut adhesives, tapes, foams and films to your drawing, supplying parts as individual die-cuts, kiss-cut sheets or rolls, including formats compatible with automated pick-and-place and roll-to-roll assembly.
Yes. We offer engineering support, material selection guidance, design and prototyping, and testing and validation. Bring us the application or a concept drawing and we will help identify a practical converting route before production.
From prototype runs and samples through to scaled, high-volume production. Our in-house converting and quality systems, certified to ISO 9001:2015 and IATF 16949:2016, keep parts consistent as volumes grow.
Neoprene foam offers balanced resistance to weather, abrasion, and moderate oil exposure, making it ideal for general-purpose sealing, gasketing, and insulation.
Neoprene has moderate oil and chemical resistance—better than EPDM but not as strong as nitrile rubber—making it suitable for light-to-medium oil exposure.
Many neoprene foams are inherently flame-resistant or available in FR-certified formulations. Always check the specific grade for compliance.
RGH can supply neoprene with acrylic or rubber-based adhesives for easy to bond applications.
Most grades exhibit good compression-set performance, helping maintain long-term sealing effectiveness.
PE foam is a closed-cell, lightweight material with excellent impact absorption, moisture resistance, and chemical stability.
Yes. Its shock absorption and tear resistance make it ideal for packaging. RGH manufacture case inserts and transportation protection from a range of different PE foams.
Standard PE foam has a moderate service temperature range. Cross-linked PE foams offer enhanced thermal stability and surface finish.
Yes. RGH can laminate PE foam to a range of adhesive tape and can also laminate to fabrics
Many grades are recyclable, and some are available in low-density or bio-based formulations.
Open cell PU foam is widely used for cushioning, acoustic control, ventilation, filtration, and protective packaging due to its soft, breathable, and flexible structure.
No. Because it has an open, interconnected cell structure, it allows air and moisture to pass through. It is ideal for ventilation and acoustic damping, but not for watertight sealing.
Yes. RGH laminate PU foam with a range of pressure-sensitive adhesives.
Fire performance varies by grade. Standard PU foam is combustible, but fire-retardant and UL-listed grades are available depending on application requirements.
Absolutely. PU foam is easily cut, slit, profiled, and die-cut into custom geometries for gasketing, sound management, and protective applications.
Poron has a microcellular structure that provides superior compression-set resistance and consistent long-term performance.
Yes. Poron’s softness, tight tolerances, and stability make it ideal for electronics gasketing, cushioning, and gap filling.
Poron is resistant to moisture absorption and maintains its mechanical properties in humid environments.
Yes. Poron is available in multiple durometers and densities to suit sealing, impact protection, or energy absorption applications.
Poron bonds well with acrylic adhesives and can be supplied with PSA for easy placement and assembly.
PVC foam is a closed-cell polyvinyl chloride material known for its excellent compressibility, vibration damping, and sealing performance. It is widely used in automotive, HVAC, construction, electronics, and general industrial sealing applications.
Yes. Closed-cell PVC foam offers strong resistance to water absorption, UV exposure, and many environmental factors. It maintains its sealing performance in outdoor or intermittent moisture conditions, making it suitable for weatherstripping and gasketing applications.
Absolutely. PVC foam bonds well with a wide range of PSAs, including 3M high-performance acrylic adhesives. Adhesive-backed PVC foam is commonly used for gaskets, mounting, and vibration-damping pads where ease of installation and secure adhesion are required.
PVC foam typically performs reliably across moderate temperature ranges and provides good resistance to oils, fuels, and many industrial chemicals. However, specific temperature and chemical tolerances depend on foam density and grade, so material selection should be application-driven.
PVC foam is produced in a range of densities—from soft, highly conformable grades to firmer structural variants—and can be supplied in multiple thicknesses depending on sealing or cushioning requirements. As converters, we can slit, laminate, die-cut, and supply custom-shaped parts to meet precise specifications.
Yes. It is commonly used for thermal insulation, pipe lagging, and vibration damping due to its closed-cell structure.
PVC/Nitrile foam has very low water absorption, making it suitable for moisture-rich environments
Yes. RGH convert this foam in to many formats and can be supplied adhesive-backed for easy installation.
This blend offers excellent oil resistance, good aging stability, and enhanced durability compared to pure PVC foam.
It performs well in moderate-to-high temperature ranges, depending on grade. It is widely used in refrigeration and automotive systems.
Reticulated (open-cell) foam is used for filtration, acoustic control, air flow applications, and fluid management systems.
It has a skeletal, highly open structure created through a reticulation process, providing excellent permeability.
Yes. It is chemically stable and can be washed and reused in many filtration or cleaning applications.
Yes. It is available in a range of PPI ratings (pores per inch) to control filtration efficiency and airflow.
Absolutely. We cut, shape, and laminate reticulated foam for custom filtration and acoustic components.
Silicone sponge can be manufactured and converted into a wide variety of formats to suit specific applications. These include sheets, rolls, gaskets, strips, pads, custom die-cut shapes and extrusions. This versatility makes it suitable for sealing, cushioning, and insulation tasks across many industries.
Silicone sponge offers several significant benefits, including:
Silicone sponge is used in a wide range of industries, including:
The Rogers BISCO® product range includes high-performance silicone foam and sponge materials designed for demanding sealing, cushioning, and protection applications. These materials are trusted for their reliability in harsh environments and are widely used in electronics, transportation, aerospace, and industrial systems due to their superior durability and thermal stability.
BISCO® HT-800 is a medium-firm silicone foam known for its excellent compression and recovery characteristics. In electronics, it is valued for:
HT-800 is commonly used in electronic enclosures, display assemblies, thermal interfaces, and cushioning applications
Commonly stocked materials include EPDM, neoprene, nitrile (NBR), silicone, viton, and natural rubber, each suited for specific environments.
Yes. Solid rubber sheeting is widely used for custom gaskets, seals, spacers, and anti-vibration components.
Sheets are typically available from 1 mm up to 25+ mm, depending on the rubber type and hardness.
Chemical resistance depends on the polymer:
• EPDM for weather/steam
• NBR for oils and fuels
• Silicone for high temperatures
• Neoprene for balanced performance
Yes. We convert rubber sheets into custom shapes using die cutting and CNC knife
Thermal tape bonds heat-generating electronic components (LEDs, power ICs, sensors) to heat sinks, spreaders or housings while conducting heat across the joint. It replaces mechanical fasteners and separate thermal interface materials in one peel-and-stick step.
Yes, within its design envelope. Filled acrylic tapes conduct 0.6 to 1.5 W/m·K, a 20 to 50 times improvement over the air gap they replace. For extreme heat loads with existing clamping, paste can outperform tape; where the tape must also hold the part, it is usually the better system choice.
No. Standard thermally conductive tapes use ceramic fillers that conduct heat but insulate electrically, with dielectric strengths of 15 to 26 kV/mm. 3M's 9876 heat spreading tape, built on a copper layer, is the exception; check before using it near live circuits.
Not meaningfully. Standard polyimide tape is an electrical insulator with low thermal conductivity (roughly 0.2 W/m·K) and is used for masking and electrical insulation, not heat transfer. For thermal joints, use a purpose-filled thermally conductive tape.
Clean both surfaces with isopropyl alcohol, position the die-cut pad, and apply firm, even pressure with a roller or press. Full bond strength builds over about 72 hours, so avoid stressing the joint immediately after assembly.
Carrier-backed grades like the 3M 8926 series are designed to be reworkable during assembly. Transfer tapes (8805 to 8820) form a permanent bond; removal requires mechanical peeling and solvent cleaning of residue.
Unlike standard foam tapes, 3M™ VHB™ Tape is made entirely of adhesive, not just coated on the surface. Its viscoelastic structure allows it to flow into surface textures and maintain strong, flexible bonds — even between materials like metal, glass, and plastic. It can also absorb stress and vibration, helping to create, attractive long-lasting joints by replacing unsightly screws, rivets and heavy welds.
Proper surface preparation is key to a strong bond. Follow these simple steps:
NB - Always let the surface dry before applying the tape.
Here’s a quick guide:
NB - Please refer to 3M Product Data sheets for full application guidelines.
Yes. 3M™ VHB™ Tapes are designed for indoor and outdoor environments, resisting moisture, UV, and temperature extremes. Different grades are available — for example:
No special tools are needed for most applications. A clean 'lint free' cloth, roller, and some pressure are usually enough. For industrial applications, 3M also offers application tools and automated systems to make bonding even faster and more consistent.
Thicker bonding tapes offer:
NB: Refer to 3M Data sheets for more information
3M Thin Bonding Tapes adhere well to metals, glass, composites, painted surfaces, ABS, PC, and acrylics.
Some versions have been modified to work on low surface energy (LSE) plastics such as Polypropylene and Polyethylene or powder coated paints.
The use of 3M Primers can also be used to enhance performance.
Thin tapes (0.05mm to 0.3mm) are typically used when one or both bonded surfaces is flexible. This is because these tapes are pressure sensitive so good rub down pressure is needed to ensure a good bond is achieved.
If both bonded surfaces are rigid, thin tapes may still be considered for small component parts; For larger areas or a longer bond line, thicker tapes (0.4mm to 2.3mm thick) will provide better surface to surface contact and therefore optimise bond performance.
A double coated tape has a ‘carrier’ which can be made of tissue, polyester, PP or paper with a thin coating of adhesive on both sides; This ‘carrier’ enables the tape to be handled and processed easily; however, bond strength and temperature performance can be limited by the type of carrier.
For ultimate bond performance Adhesive Transfer Tapes, which have no carrier are just a thin film of pressure sensitive adhesive (PSA); as the tape has no ‘carrier’ the adhesive ‘flows’ better into the surface whilst also typically achieving higher temperature performance.
RGH are happy to give guidance on which is most suitable for any given application.
Yes, 3M Thin Bonding Tapes have been used for automotive interiors and for outside environments; they are typically acrylic based adhesives which can resist UV, solvents, humidity and high and low temperatures. Its important to consider all aspects of any given application so please contact us should you’d further guidance on product selection.
RGH can supply these materials in various roll widths (wide or narrow), vary roll lengths or provide customised shapes (ie: finished die cut parts) to customer specifications; we can also laminate these materials to third party materials prior to converting into the desired shape.
Please refer to RGH Capabilities page or make an enquiry.
VHB stands for Very High Bond. It is a double-sided acrylic foam tape from 3M, adhesive throughout rather than coated onto a carrier, designed for extreme bonding in place of rivets, welds, screws and liquid adhesives.
Strength depends on bond area, grade, substrate and the direction of the load, so there is no single weight figure. What matters is that load is calculated across the whole bond area rather than per piece: a long bond line carries far more than a small pad of the same tape. Shear loads (sliding along the joint) are handled better than peel loads (lifting one edge), which is why joint design matters as much as grade selection. Send us the load, the substrates and the geometry and we will size it with you.
VHB does not cure chemically; it builds strength as the adhesive wets out into both surfaces. You get handling strength immediately, most of the final strength within the first day, and ultimate strength after about 72 hours at room temperature. Warmer conditions speed the process up, cold slows it down.
Acrylic VHB bonds are designed to be permanent and hold up well outdoors, resisting UV, moisture and temperature cycling. They have been used in construction and transport for decades on assemblies expected to last the life of the structure or vehicle. Actual service life depends on the substrates, the loads and the environment, so validate on your own assembly.
The foam grades commonly range between 0.3mm and 2.3mm, and the VHB transfer tapes come much thinner at roughly 0.05 to 0.25 mm. Thicker bond lines absorb more differential movement between materials; thinner ones suit rigid, well-matched surfaces where nothing needs to flex.
Clean both surfaces with an isopropyl alcohol and water mix or 3M VHB Surface Cleaner and let them dry. Apply the tape to one surface, remove the liner, position the parts, then apply even pressure firmly across the entire bond line. Work in a warm environment, and leave the joint to build strength before loading it.
The usual method is to cut through the foam core with a strong wire or cutting line worked along the bond, then remove the residue left on each surface with heat and an adhesive remover, working slowly to avoid damaging the substrate. It is deliberately difficult, because the tape is designed as a permanent fixing. If you expect to need to dismantle the assembly, a reclosable fastener such as Dual-Lock is the better specification.
It depends on the plastic. High surface energy plastics such as ABS, polycarbonate and PET bond well. Low surface energy plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene and PTFE resist adhesion and need either a grade formulated for LSE substrates or an adhesion promoter. Testing on your actual material is always worth the sample request.
If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, our team is here to help. Get in touch and we’ll guide you to the right material or solution for your project.
