Connection solutions

Solutions for mobile phones, MP3 players and PDAs are a central field of application for tesa adhesive systems in the electronics industry. All around the world mobile phones are a fixture of everyday life.

Over the last few years, the number of mobile phone users have risen above the two-billion mark for the first time. At the same time, the phones become smaller and lighter and technology improves with added features such as MP3 players, cameras and video. tesa´s adhesive solutions contribute to this continual process of refinement and development. Although mobile devices are composed of many tiny individual parts, they can be assembled with very few screws. This saves weight and space.

The mounting of speakers is just one of many applications of tesa solutions in mobile devices.

A look inside one of these devices shows the many varied ways in which tesa self-adhesive products can be used in electronic items. The display window of a phone, for example, is fixed firmly to the outer casing of the phone using a precision die cut . In addition, a product with high shear resistance is selected to ensure the bond withstands shocks in the event of knocks and jolts.

The battery block, the phone’s heaviest (and when in operation the hottest) component is also fixed with a special adhesive tape from tesa, ensuring a secure bond even when temperatures are up to 100°C for long periods.

The emphasis of other tesa products is greater efficiency during the assembly process. During this process, if a tape’s adhesive force on contact (tack) is too high, it can impede proper assembly. Electronic devices are still assembled primarily by hand and even experienced assemblers occasionally experience errors. The solution: an adhesive tape that has a backing made of strong, tear-resistant polyester (PET) and low tack characteristics enabling it to be removed and repositioned easily, without damaging the device.

Specific levels of tack also make it possible to use special products from tesa to protect and fix components temporarily before they are later fastened by mechanical means. In this way, for example, a phone’s LCD can be cushioned on all sides with foam backing attached with an adhesive tape that protects it from humidity and finger smudges until the LCD is installed.