Debonding on Demand: Design Beyond the Bond

Sustainability

What if letting go was as powerful as holding on? At tesa, we're comitted to answer this question with groundbreaking Debonding on Demand (DoD) technologies

With over 125 years of experience in coating technologies and developing adhesives, bonding is our expertise. Now, we're taking this expertise to the next level by developing innovative solutions that can be precisely separated when needed – without damage to components or materials.

A game-changer shaping the future

Debonding on Demand is more than just new adhesive technology – it is a paradigm shift and will reshape entire industries and drive sustainable innovation. Debonding on Demand will enable manufacturers to create strong bonds and intentional release when needed, opening new perspectives for modern product design and sustainability.

Our Debonding on Demand technologies will be a future game-changer, enabling strong, durable bonds that can be easily removed on demand. This breakthrough will transform product repair, recycling, and reuse, helping industries reduce waste and embrace circularity without compromising performance.

Dr. Ingrid Sebald

Member of Executive Board, Technology

Reusing and recycling materials reduce consumption of natural resources, minimize waste and pollution, and promote sustainability. Debonding on Demand can make disassembly easier, enhancing the circular economy.

Debonding on Demand will enable non-destructive disassembly and easy component replacement, supporting the "Right to Repair" directive. This legislation must be implemented by EU members by July 2026.

Debonding on Demand will optimize production processes by allowing quick and easy adjustments during manufacturing or afterwards if needed.

This will reduce waste, minimize downtime, increase flexibility, and with this enable to respond faster to changes and deliver high-quality products more efficiently.

With Debonding on Demand production will become more adaptable and sustainable, giving customers a clear competitive edge.

We are committed to enabling the development of cutting-edge products through complex designs without limitations, incorporating new material combinations, and offering flexible design options.

Our dedicated Debonding on Demand labs in Europe and Asia Pacific feature a multidisciplinary team of chemists, product developers, and engineers whose diverse expertise will drive breakthrough innovations in Debonding on Demand technologies that revolutionize adhesive solutions across industries. With this, we are setting an important milestone in the further development of these pioneering technologies.

Our pioneering work in this field has already received recognition – tesa's Debonding on Demand technologies were awarded the MMK Award of Excellence 2025 in the category "Sustainable Engineering," outperforming strong competitors.

The Debonding on Demand mechanisms:

Electric_Smartwatch_Debonding_1x1_1_cable

Electrical Debonding

Quick and efficient separation using precise electrical activation - ideal for electronics and sensitive components.

Thermal Debonding

Reliable separation through targeted heat application - perfect for temperature-resistant components in the automotive industry.

Laser Debonding

High-precision separation for demanding applications where controlled disassembly is critical.

Stretching & Debonding

Simple mechanical separation when needed - a proven solution for smartphone battery replacement.

Application areas

01Automotive Displays: Enabling replacements without discarding entire units

tesa’s Debonding on Demand technologies will revolutionize automotive display repair, enabling fast and damage-free removal without compromising bond strength during operation.

As vehicle displays grow larger and become more integral to functionality, this innovative adhesive solution will allow for cost-effective upgrades and repairs while preserving surrounding components and surfaces and with this support circularity.

02EV Batteries: Extending lifespan without complete battery disposal

tesa’s Debonding on Demand technologies will transform EV battery serviceability by enabling strong bonds during use with targeted separation when needed.

This dual capability will ensure structural integrity while the battery is in service, yet allows for damage-free disassembly during maintenance, repairs, or end-of-life recycling – supporting both safety requirements and circular economy principles while reducing waste.

03Smartphones: Replacing cracked screens without damaging other components

tesa’s Debonding on Demand technologies tackle the smartphone repairability challenge head-on.

By enabling non-destructive opening of increasingly thin and complex devices, these technologies will support battery and display replacements without damaging valuable components.

This approach can extend device lifespans, can reduce electronic waste, and can help manufacturers meet sustainability requirements and right-to-repair legislation.

04AR/VR & Wearables: Upgrading flexibility while preserving expensive frames

For compact wearable technologies with tightly integrated components, tesa’s Debonding on Demand will deliver precise control over product lifecycle management.

These technologies will preserve delicate internal components during disassembly, facilitate upgrades to keep pace with rapid innovation, and ensure clean separation for effective recycling – extending product lifespans in this fast-evolving sector.

05Production processes: Recovering components from assemblies without damage

tesa's Debonding on Demand technologies will transform production challenges into manufacturing opportunities by enabling controlled separation when needed.

These solutions will support component adjustment without damage, streamlining workflows, reducing waste, and optimizing costs while maintaining flexibility.

The result: manufacturing that perfectly balances permanence with adaptability.

Ready to make permanence your choice?

Discover how our Debonding on Demand solutions can transform your product development. Contact our team of experts today to discuss tailored solutions for your specific requirements.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to develop these groundbreaking technologies that proves letting go can indeed be as powerful as holding on.