Sheida Madanipour

Martha Townsend

WRIT 340

5/2/2014

Illumin Article: Edit

VHB Tape: The Next Duct Tape?

Abstract

In 1980, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (3M™) patented their

structural VHB (Very High Bond) double-sided tape. The tape is meant to replace most

permanent fasteners such as rivets, spot welds and liquid adhesives. These tapes have been

used in high profile projects such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall as a means of attaching the

external metal panels to the frame of the structure.

Introduction

When hearing the word tape, we automatically think of the typical, translucent,

office tape used to put posters on the wall. It is hard to imagine that it could be structural or

the main connective component for anything larger than an 8.5” by 11” piece of paper.

Within the last 30 years, VHB (Very High Bond) tape has started replacing rivets,

bolts, welds and liquid adhesives in a wide range of applications within the realms of

architecture, appliances, signage, automobiles, and electronics [5, 7]. The versatility of this

product has enabled it to be used in projects as large as skyscrapers and applications as

small as exit signs.

Properties

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VHB is made from acrylic foam which gives the tape its viscoelastic quality; meaning

that the tape exhibits both elastic and viscous characteristics. This allows the foam to

absorb the stress and strain from the materials or products that it is attached to [5, 7].

The elastic component of VHB allows for the tape to be stretched out multiple times

its original length without snapping. The foam core of the tape varies in thickness, ranging

from 0.4 millimeters to 3 millimeters. The thickness, in combination with the materiality of

VHB gives it the viscous quality. Due to the flexibility of the acrylic foam, it is able to mold

to the objects it is adhering to. Even the smoothest surfaces, like aluminum, have micro

ridges that the acrylic adhesive, coating the foam, is able to seep into[5, 9]. This is what

creates the strong bond.

The tape is categorized by two components of the tape: adhesive and foam.

Depending upon the usage of the tape, the combination of the two will vary. For example,

the Low Surface Energy adhesive would be coupled with the Clear foam when connecting

glass to a plastic surface. Whereas, when in a cold environment, connecting a metal vent to

a concrete wall, the Low Temperature Appliable adhesive will be coupled with the

Conformable foam.

Application

VHB tape has a very simple application process, no matter the scale of the project.

The surface area (generally ranging from 12.7 inches to 0.75 inches but can go up to 48

inches) [5] that is in contact with the tape must be wiped down with an alcohol solution

[10]. The tape is applied just like regular double sided tape but once the surfaces are

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adhered with the tape, they have to be set with a roller (fig.1)[10]. Once the rolling is done,

everything is prepped and ready to go.

(fig. 1 http://www.uline.com/images/Class/3M-VHB-tape.jpg)

Like all adhesives, there is a curing period, which is a period of time needed for the

adhesive or material to set: within 20 minutes it will be 50 percent cured and after only 3

days it is 100 percent cured [11].

Why Use Structural Tape?

VHB has many advantages. When comparing the application process of VHB to any

alternative e.g., rivets and bolts, it takes less time and does not require labor intensive work

such as drilling and refinishing [10]. This enables people to install a variety of objects, such

as faucets, bumpers, and even signs within their homes, businesses and cars without

having to hire a professional. Thus, eliminating the cost of labor and reducing the overall

cost of these projects.

Due to the chemical composition and viscoelastic qualities of structural tape, when

it is connecting two objects, there is a degree of flexibility, allowing for the objects to move.

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An example would be when the tape is used as a connector between metal panels on

the façade of a building, like at the Walt Disney Concert Hall (fig.5)[9], and another surface,

usually the steel structure underneath. The metal panel is going to expand and contract

depending on if the external conditions are hot or cold. The alternatives are either bolting

or screwing the metal panels onto the structure which can cause damage to the material as

a result of the metal expanding when hot and shrinking when cold. This not only can cause

damage to the metal panels, it also puts stress on the bolts to keep the sheet onto the

surface.

It is likely that the metal sheet will be more flexible than the bolt and deform at the

points where the bolts are. If the structural tape is used, the foam will be flexible enough to

withstand the amount of expansion and contraction up to three times its thickness and

remain adhered without deforming the metal [7].

Studies performed by 3M™ have shown that also due to these viscoelastic qualities,

that the bond created by VHB tape between two objects is able to withstand 60 mph car

crashes and heavy storms [5]. When exposed to water, dirt, and even motor oil, VHB tape

remained 100 percent adhered to the attached surface.

Problems

Although VHB performs well when exposed to dynamic stresses, such as vibrations

caused by earthquakes, when exposed to static stresses, the tape has a tendency to creep

[6]. This means that when a large load is acting upon the tape, over time, it can move.

Therefore, VHB is not ideal to use to connect critical structural components within a

building such as beams to girders (fig.2). 3M™ suggests on their website that in order to

prevent creep from static loads when applying the tape, there must be four square inches

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of VHB to every pound of weight that it is supporting [9]. Although, the company provides a

recommendation to prevent the tape from moving, the product has not been used or tested

enough with girders and beams to comfort architects and engineers for this particular

application.

(fig. 2 connection between girder or beam and joists)

Another problematic application of VHB is in the vicinity of certain chemicals. 3M™

conducted several studies, placing VHB in direct contact with different fuels and solvents.

When exposed to salt water, the tape remained 100 percent adhered to the surface, but,

when exposed to gasoline its adhesion retention jumped down to 37 percent [5]. At places

such as gas stations, or laboratories if the tape comes into contact with gasoline or another

solution that it is incompatible with, they would react poorly and the VHB would stop

working properly. Depending upon the application of the tape, in the event that is stops

working, the outcome could range from catastrophic to annoying.

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Projects Connected By a Thread

(fig. 3 Burj Al-Arab, http://www.theluxtraveller.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Dubai.jpg)

VHB has been used in several high profile buildings around the world. In Dubai, the

glass curtain wall system of the hotel, the Burj Al-Arab is adhered with VHB tape (fig.3)[5].

The glass curtain wall façade is comprised of glass panels connected to one another with

metal cladding. In a typical glass curtain wall system there is structural silicone buffer, seal

and connection between each panel. [1, 2] In the Burj Al-Arab, this structural silicone has

been replaced with structural tape. The curing time for silicone is longer, and requires

post-application cleaning to avoid sloppy design. [1] With the structural tape, there is no

need to clean the glass and requires less time for application. The decision to use VHB tape

in this hotel was a direct result of the tape’s ability to withstand the dynamic load from the

strong wind conditions prevalent in Dubai, which is the same reason why it is used within

glass systems and not structural elements such as beams or girders. [2, 5] The loads that

beams and girders hold are static, which is not an area of strength for VHB tape.

(fig.4 metal cladding connected to structure)

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Another façade system using VHB tape is the Walt Disney Concert Hall by Frank

Gehry in Los Angeles, California. [5] The façade is comprised of folded metal panels linked

together by a connector lip and VHB tape (fig.4).

(fig.4 Walt Disney Concert Hall)

The lip links the metal pieces and the tape adheres and seals them. This way each

individual panel is connected to the others and also to the metal structural skeleton

underneath them, creating a texturized surface undisturbed by bolts and welds (fig.5) [3].

(fig.5 Walt Disney Concert Hall)

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(fig.6 Yetti Fish House,

http://www.voyager-industries.com/files/cache/bb4ddb742f2e91ca7fc829c6e8e1505f.jpg)

A smaller scale application of structural tape is with Yetti aluminum fish houses (fig.6).

These fish houses are trailers that connect to the back of any car, used for ice fishing. The

trailer can house equipment and allows the fishermen to stay in a warm shelter while

fishing. These small aluminum houses are constructed of a basic frame with panels that

attach to it. The panels are completely adhered to the aluminum frame with VHB tape. This

allows for the fish house to make less noise while on the road by buffering the two metal

surfaces and preventing them from hitting against each other. The absence of screws and

bolts and coupled with using an aluminum base structure the house is much lighter,

allowing it to sit atop the ice.

Potential

The future of this product seems endless. The simplicity of application allows for

anyone to construct and repair buildings and electronics. If people were able to install their

own faucets and even their own roofs, the savings in cost would be a huge benefit for the

masses to use VHB tape. Perhaps it’ll be the next duct tape?

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About the Author

Sheida madanipour is a 4th year architecture student at the University of Southern

California.

Name: Sheida Madanipour

Phone: 408-666-2003

Email: madanipo@usc.edu

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