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AFTC Acrylic Foam Tapes: Versatile Solutions for Industrial Applications
The AFTC family of acrylic foam tapes represents our most versatile, highest-performing pressure-sensitive mounting tapes. They replace liquid adhesives and mechanical fasteners — screws, rivets, bolts — while sealing the joint against wind and moisture at the same time.
The platform
AFTC tapes are available from 6 mils to 118 mils (.006"–.118") in grey, clear, white, and black, with adhesive options from general purpose to heat-activated formulations. The solid acrylic core uses glass microsphere technology, producing a closed-cell product that bonds while it seals. The acrylic adhesive provides high peel, tensile, shear, and elongation strength, and its viscoelasticity lets it conform to irregular surfaces.
Coated products (adhesive on both sides)
General Purpose Series
A strong-bonding general purpose acrylic adhesive coated on both sides, with enhanced quick-stick and peel strength across diverse substrates. Applications: aluminum trailer bodies, muntin bars for SDL windows, electronic signage mounting, solar panel junction boxes.
Structural Glazing & Structural Cladding Series
Designed to replace structural silicones, withstanding the stresses of glazing and cladding with the highest tensile, elongation, shear, and peel values, along with excellent longevity.
Low Surface Energy Series
An LSE adhesive coating enables mounting to powder-coated aluminum, HDPE, and similar difficult surfaces. Applications: automotive finishes, composite panel bonding, commercial storefronts.
Low Temperature Series
A very aggressive, specially formulated modified acrylic PSA enables bonding in cold conditions around 30°F. Applications: trailer assembly, signage, POP displays, refrigerated-section signage.
Ultra Thin Series
Materials starting at 6 mils (0.006") for electronics: cell phones, tablets, laptops, and other thin-profile assemblies.
Automotive Series
Exterior vehicle tapes providing the strongest bonds to painted and clear-coated surfaces. Applications: roof ditch moldings, body side moldings, satellite antenna mounting, spoiler mounting.
Heat Activated (HA) Series
A specially formulated hotmelt adhesive with no adhesive properties at ambient temperature. When heat is applied, the tape activates and bonds to traditionally difficult substrates such as EPDM sponge rubber (Santoprene®). Applications: automotive, RV, truck, and marine weatherstripping and seals.
Uncoated ("direct foam") products
The acrylic core alone acts as the adhesive — advantageous where very high shear strength is needed on medium- or high-surface-energy substrates.
- Pre-Powdercoating Series: high-temperature resistant products that withstand up to 500°F and resist powder-coating chemical baths; applied before coating.
- Removable Series: removes without residue — POP displays, changeable signage, trade shows.
- Transparent Series: optically clear tapes for window, door, and shower-door applications where the glue line must be invisible.
- Ultra Thin Series: bonds to bare metal, glass, and clear plastics for LCD screens and thin-profile electronics.
- Automotive Series: strongest bonds on bare metal, glass, or clear plastic vehicle exteriors.
- Heat Activated (HA) Series: heat-activated side bonds to weather-seal materials; the acrylic foam side bonds to bare metal, glass, or clear plastics.
Technical data and cross-reference
Technical datasheets are available in our resource center, including an AFTC & 3M technical comparison chart. Additional resources are on the AFTC website at aftc.eu.
Converting services
H-O Products keeps many AFTC tape varieties on hand, with most available on approximately 2-week lead times, and roll goods slit to any width. Full converting capabilities include lamination to various substrates, slitting to finished widths, and custom cutting via steel rule dies, rotary cutting, water jet, laser, digital knife, and high-speed milling.
By partnering with a knowledgeable AFTC converter, you gain access to expert guidance and a diverse range of bonding solutions.
Ready to spec an AFTC tape?
Send the substrates, the environment, and the joint geometry. Engineering reviews every RFQ, recommends a series, and slits rolls to your finished widths.
Samples typically ship in 3 to 5 business days for common die-cut configurations; standard production runs about two weeks; special orders are quoted to the job.
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Frequently asked questions
Coated or uncoated ("direct foam") — which do I need?
Coated tapes carry adhesive on both sides for quick stick across diverse substrates. Uncoated direct foam bonds through the acrylic core itself, giving very high shear strength on medium- and high-surface-energy substrates.
How does AFTC compare to 3M VHB?
An AFTC & 3M technical comparison chart is available in our resource center — the families overlap heavily in construction and performance class, and H-O can cross-reference a specific 3M part number to its AFTC position.
Request a quote for your AFTC tape
Send H-O your material role and geometry—engineering reviews every RFQ, recommends a family per material, and converts samples on your geometry.