Technical resources for 3M optically clear adhesives
Our global technical support team and application engineers offer unmatched response and service so you can keep moving forward. Whether you’re conceptualizing or actively building a product, our experts bring the same passion to advancing your projects as we do to our own. We’re prepared to solve your most difficult design challenges, either with an existing solution or by combining our internal resources and making optimal recommendations.
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Optically clear adhesive solutions for your future design and functionality challenges.
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The optically clear adhesives that built the industry, including 8146, CEF28 and CEF38.
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Login to the 3M Digital Materials Hub to access MDCs of complex 3M materials that are ready to use with common finite element analysis (FEA) software.
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Find an OCA product for your application.
Advanced 3M OCAs
Impossible is not an option. We’re breaking down design barriers with 3M advanced adhesives so you can get started on the future.
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FoldableWe commercialized the first foldable OCAs and continue to apply our science to emerging designs. We offer well-balanced OCAs that provide optimal performance in a foldable stack.
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AgNW compatibleSilver nanowire touch sensors allow for greater touch response on complex shapes and form factors. Our silver nanowire-compatible adhesives ensure that you won’t have to worry about corrosion while still achieving excellent bonding strength.
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Thin flowableDeveloped with full screen mobile devices in mind, these adhesives combine the advantages of both film and liquid adhesives into one unique solution. Special polymer networks allow for high flowability during lamination prior to curing, enabling excellent ink-step coverage and hole filling capability.
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Bent edgeThese adhesives provide good lamination performance for 2.5D shape, excellent ink-step coverage, high adhesion and easy handling.
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High DkIt’s difficult to achieve a good signal-to-noise ratio when the touch sensor is in the panel, especially with a screen protector or privacy filter. These adhesives feature a higher dielectric constant to increase signal-to-noise ratio, allowing for a better touch response.
Classic 3M OCAs
Our most widely-used material sets.
Material data cards for finite element analysis
Finite element analysis (FEA) is a tool engineers use in product design and product performance analysis across nearly every industry. An engineer will create a rendering of an assembly with the finite element software and define each material of interest. 3M is uniquely positioned to characterize adhesive materials and provide advanced material models in a format compatible with a variety of finite element modeling software.
3M™ Optically Clear Adhesives have different material properties which make them suitable for use in different applications and it is important to understand how those properties will translate to the end use. FEA modelling is a tool that helps design engineers determine the right adhesive system for the application requirements.
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Finite element material model for pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs)
Conventional mechanical properties, such as Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio, even when obtained at relevant rates and temperatures, do not accurately capture PSA behavior. Consequently, 3M has developed material data cards (MDCs) which are available for common 3M materials in a ready-to-use format for numerous commercially available FEA software applications. Currently, we can offer an MDC for any 3M PSA which is compatible with Abaqus, ANSYS MAPDL, ANSYS Workbench and LS-Dyna.
OCA frequently asked questions
You’ve got OCA questions, and our technical team has answers. Dive in deeper with information straight from the experts.
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What are OCA considerations for LCD vs OLED bonding?
When bonding LCD displays, it is important to manage mura through a softer, gentler lamination process. OLED displays do not encounter mura. For flexible OLED displays going into a curved lamination, a higher adhesion, anti-repulsion adhesive is often desired.
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Are there any general guidelines for step coverage?
This depends on the OCA properties. Stiffer OCAs will have step coverage less than 10 percent, whereas more conformable OCAs can cover up to 40 percent of their thickness. Your 3M OCA expert can provide guidance on selection for coverage.
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What’s the difference between a PSA and post-UV curable adhesive?
A PSA is a pressure-sensitive adhesive applied in the lamination process, with no additional treatment by the customer. A post-UV curable adhesive is applied in the lamination process, then is UV cured after lamination is complete. This enables a more conformable adhesive in lamination that is then cured to deliver final properties.
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What are considerations for diecut design?
3M is capable of providing diecut OCA to a desired drawing specification. To eliminate OCA picking, we are capable of providing both extended easy and tight liners. Fiducial marks can also be added to the liners to help with alignment of the diecut parts.
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What are OCA considerations for touch sensors?
There are three main considerations for touch sensors. One is the OCA being acid-free, to avoid corrosion of touch sensors and bond pads. Another is dielectric constant of the OCA, to enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. Higher Dk in front of the sensor provides enhancement to touch sensitivity, whereas low Dk behind the sensor blocks out noise from the display and other electronic components. Lastly, for non-ITO sensors (e.g., metal mesh, silver nanowire), it is important to prevent ionic and/or moisture driven corrosion.
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Are silicones more durable than acrylates?
It depends — while the carbon-silicon bond has a higher energy than a carbon-carbon bond, acrylate adhesives can be formulated to include thermal stabilizers and a UV package that can provide durable performance up to 120C. Your 3M OCA expert can provide guidance on this.
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What’s the difference between a film and a liquid OCA?
A film OCA is provided in a roll for roll-to-roll lamination or a diecut for piece-part lamination. The diecut can be shaped to the exact dimensions needed. A liquid OCA is delivered in liquid form, dispensed into a particular shape, may involve a pre-cure step prior to lamination and requires post-cure after lamination. Care is needed to avoid overflow and manage TAKT time.
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What considerations should I make for plastic bonding?
Plastic bonding can be tricky because plastic substrates such as PC and PMMA tend to outgas, which can lead to bubbles and delamination. We have specially designed OCAs that are better at mitigating substrate outgassing and preventing delamination, but pretreating the plastic substrates by plasma treatment or prebaking before bonding is advised. For best results, hard coated plastics are suggested for all optical bonding applications.
3M is helping elevate designs.
Hear what 3M OCA experts have to say about today’s toughest display design challenges and how we’re thinking about the future so you can design without limits.
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