Choosing the Best Adhesive for Your Membrane Switches
There are a lot of consideration when it comes to choosing the best adhesive for your membrane switches. Membrane switch adhesives are typically PSA (Pressure Sensitive Adhesives) adhesives made by manufacturers such as 3M. These adhesives can be of various thicknesses, and chemical compositions.
What type of surface will your membrane switch bond to?
The first question we ask is “What type of material will your membrane switch be bonding too?” If your equipment housing is made out of smooth ABS plastic then we will recommend a different adhesive compared to if your housing was made of powder coated metal. The most common PSA adhesive used for membrane switches is 3M 200 MP. This adhesive creates a strong permanent bond to most plastics, metals, and glass.
Some special materials like polypropylene and powder coated aluminum have what is called a “low-surface-energy”. These low-surface-energy materials require a special low-surface-energy adhesive. The most common one used in membrane switch assemblies is 3M 300 LSE. 3M 300 LSE will provide a strong permanent bond between your membrane switches and tricky materials like powder coated metal.
What thickness of membrane switch adhesive is required?
If the mounting surface is smooth then typically a 0.002” adhesive thickness will provide good bonding (P/N 3M 467). If the mounting surface is rough then we will recommend a thicker adhesive like P/N 3M 468 which is a 0.005” version of 3M 200 MP. This is because a rough surface needs more adhesive to fill small voids and cavities on the surface.
How can I get help determining the best adhesive for my membrane switches?
If you are not sure what type of adhesive to use for your membrane switches, don’t worry! We are here to help. You can fill out our quote form and we will typically get back to you within 1 business day. All you need to tell us is what type of of surface your membrane switch will bond to. We look forward to working with you. Thanks!