One of the biggest challenges for any adhesive is a substrate with Low Surface Energy (LSE). What’s the solution? Introducing two new highperformance double-sided tapes designed specifically for hard-to-bond substrates: tesa® 4950 and tesa® 74515.
Combining performance, flexibility, and long-term reliability with consultancy and technical support, a partnership with tesa works harder to simplify application, improve process efficiency, and keep every project on track.
tesa’s new double-sided LSE tapes excel in key performance areas such as resistance to constant shear stress and elevated temperatures. Reliable, durable, and made to stand the test of time, they deliver performance that is on par with — and often exceeds — that of leading competitor tapes.
For working with vehicles, home appliances, electronic devices, and other designs using low surface energy substrates, the performance of tesa’s new LSE tapes is validated through rigorous testing, ensuring consistent quality and reliability.
Modern designs often incorporate plastics, composites, and other substrates with low surface energy — a challenge for bonding. Traditional adhesive solutions like liquid glues, screws, or rivets compromise flexibility and aesthetics. tesa introduces a range of high-performance doublesided tapes, specifically for LSE substrates: tesa® 4950, a 100µm PET tape, and tesa® 74515, a 125µm transfer tape.
Our cutting-edge LSE tapes have thin, conformable designs and use no additional chemicals — created for high-performance today and in the future
The new LSE range of tapes do not require a primer for application, thus simplifying the bonding process. Adaptable for different applications, they re also attractively priced, compared to alternative LSE tapes on the market
tesa® 74515 is highly conformable and features a tackified acrylic adhesive tailored for hard-to-bond substrates. It offers excellent peel adhesion, strong initial tack, and high shear strength. Its conformability enables seamless application of various die-cut shapes and sizes, making it ideal for complex and demanding geometries.
tesa® 4950 uses the same tailored tackified acrylic adhesive as tesa® 74515 and provides excellent dimensional stability. This makes it particularly well-suited for precise die-cutting and efficient handling in converting processes. Its robust construction ensures reliable performance even under elevated temperatures and sustained load conditions.
| tesa® 74515 | tesa® 4950 | |
|---|---|---|
| Liner | PV04 | white PE-coated liner PV 12 | transparent PET liner | PV04 | white PE-coated liner PV 20 | branded brown glassine paper liner |
| Backing | No backing | 90% recycled PET (post-consumer recycled, PCR) |
| Benefits | Conformable: Ideal for flexible or textured surfaces.
| Dimensional Stability: PET backing ensures clean handling and precise die-cuts |
| Technical compliance certification | • UL 969 • Low VOC: Tested to VDA 278 for cleaner indoor air • Certifications pending | • UL 969 • Low VOC: Tested to VDA 278 for cleaner indoor air • Certifications pending |
| Primer | None required | None required |
| Thermal resistance | Withstands short-term exposure up to 200°C and long-term exposure up to 100°C | Withstands short-term exposure up to 200°C and long-term exposure up to 100°C |
| Adhesion to values | • PC (initial) 10 N/cm • PE (initial) 5.5 N/cm • PP (initial) 10 N/cm • Steel (initial) 9 N/cm | • PC (initial) 7 N/cm • PE (initial) 5 N/cm • PP (initial) 6.6 N/cm • Steel (initial) 7.5 N/cm |
An LSE (Low Surface Energy) substrate is a material whose surface resists adhesion, making it difficult for tapes or adhesives to bond effectively. Common LSE materials include plastics such as polypropylene (PP), polystyrene, and PP/EPDM blends, as well as increasingly important materials like silicones and PTFE. These surfaces tend to repel standard adhesives that work well on high surface energy (HSE) materials like metals or glass. To achieve reliable bonding on LSE substrates, specially formulated adhesives with enhanced wetting properties are required.
“Primer-free” means that the tape is specially formulated to bond directly to low surface energy (LSE) materials—such as PP, PE, or EPDM—without requiring any surface treatment or chemical primer beforehand. This simplifies the application process by eliminating an extra step, saving time and reducing complexity. Despite the absence of a primer, tesa’s primer-free LSE tapes still deliver strong, reliable adhesion, making them ideal for efficient and high-performance bonding.
A carrier is a thin backing material on which adhesive is coated. It can be made from various materials such as paper, film, fabric, acrylic foam, foil, or non-woven fibers. Most double-sided tapes include a carrier, which not only supports the adhesive but also adds structural integrity and handling ease. However, transfer tapes are an exception—they consist solely of adhesive without a carrier, offering maximum conformability and minimal thickness.
The choice of carrier depends on the application, as each material brings specific properties such as flexibility, strength, or temperature resistance to the tape.
Double-sided PET tapes, such as tesa® 4950, consist of adhesive coated on both sides of a PET (polyester) carrier. This carrier provides structural support, making the tape easier to handle and enhancing its stability during application. Each adhesive layer bonds securely to the respective surface, making it suitable for applications requiring durability and dimensional stability.
Transfer tapes, such as tesa® 74515, contain no carrier. Instead, they rely entirely on the adhesive itself to form the bond. This construction allows for superior conformability and wetting performance, especially on irregular or low surface energy (LSE) substrates. The absence of a carrier also enables thinner bonding lines and greater flexibility in complex geometries.
With decades of experience, tesa experts have rigorously tested our adhesive tapes against alternative bonding methods. The advantages of double-sided tapes are clear—especially when addressing the demands of today’s complex and optimized production environments. Compared to liquid adhesives, double-sided tapes reduce common health risks and are easier to handle. In certain applications, they can even outperform mechanical fasteners like screws by supporting higher loads while enabling greater design flexibility and cleaner aesthetics in manufacturing processes.
Double-sided tapes are used in many applications in a range of industries. Some are ideal for bonding to flat smooth surfaces such as glass, metal, and non-embossed plastics. Others are ideal for rough, irregular surfaces. All tapes generally offer a good temperature resistance, and they are easily integrated into current production lines. Double-sided tapes can absorb shocks and vibrations and are relatively easy to remove, if needed.
