The quality of an adhesive depends on what it s made from, how it s made, and how reliable it is. What goes into the adhesive should contribute to optimal product performance, be free of impurities, and be consistent from batch to batch. A manufacturer who shops raw materials and varies formulations to use the lowest priced ingredients will not be able to assure equal quality and performance every time. The way an adhesive is made is also key to its performance and quality. Manufacturers must continually upgrade processes to keep up with changing performance requirements.
Consistency is essential for adhesive quality.
Although acrylics share many desirable characteristics, some are more desirable than others. Many tape manufacturers use acrylic adhesives for their formulation consistency, versatility, adaptability, performance, and stability. However, not all acrylic adhesives meet these high expectations equally well. Acrylic adhesives are produced by chemical reactions that cause individual molecules monomers to join into chains known as polymers. The polymerization process uses one of many possible combinations of heat, composition, and chemical catalysts to form adhesive polymers.