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Adhesive for selective removal without traces

Adhesive for selective removal without traces

Adhesive for selective removal without traces

(OP)
Hi all,

I'm working on a project described below where I've encountered the following problem: I'm looking for an adhesive that will attach metals and cured epoxy to a piece of garment (easy enough so far), but will enable its complete removal without any damage to the garment (preferably even at levels undetectable to the human eye).

My background is in electrical engineering so I may just be looking in the wrong direction.
Any help and suggestions will be extremely helpful.
Needless to say (but still...), price is important.

My project: there are many technologies for smart-parties today, mostly based on smartphone apps. In recent months we tried to augment smartphone capabilities by using name tags integrated with electronics to easily enable several functions by Zigbee communication to a local control (dating, personnel identification and introduction...). We used a simple mechanical clip-on, only to find out that people tend to lose them, play with them and exchange with one another. We would like to switch to an adhesive that need to be quite strongly attached (withstand dancing and people trying to peel it off by mistake), but will be taken off easily using some other means (chemical or other). The real problem is we have to remove any sign of the adhesive and prevent damage to the garment. It is also preferable to do so with materials without strong odors and with no safety issues in using them.

The device weighs about fifty grams and is several cm^2 in area. We have two versions - Name tags (metalic) and IC dipped in epoxy.

Again, any help will be great. I should say I looked at some simple solutions as glue on stickers which I believe are not strong enough (same problem as the clip ons). I also read about super-glue taken off by Acetone but this seems to be harmful to the garment and also not as friendly as I would have hoped (odor etc.). I even looked at adhesives that are released by electrical current, but it seems these require conductive surfaces on both sides.

Thanks again
Gedanken[color ][/color]

RE: Adhesive for selective removal without traces

Look at some of the elastomeric adhesives used for placing magazine inserts, or credit cards to cardboard carriers.
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

RE: Adhesive for selective removal without traces

You will not find a suitable adhesive. This problem has already been solved for the retail clothing industry. Anti-theft tags that pin to clothing and require a special device to remove very quickly.

RE: Adhesive for selective removal without traces

(OP)
First of all - thank you very much for the responses.

Regarding anti theft pins, it seems that people are intimdated by the fact a pin will pierce through the clothing (even if you show them it leaves a negligible mark). We are talking after all about evening dresses and luxury garments. It is also less then ideal because it requires touching the inner side of the clothing and this makes some people uneasy.
When you say there is no other solution, are you implying this is something that was sought after and companies failed to do?

Regarding Berkshire's response - this sounds very interesting. Can you recommend a place to look (I did not even google it yet)?
Do you think these will be strong enough (I can easily peel off a credit card from the envelope)

Thanks again for the quick responses!
Gedanken[color ][/color]

RE: Adhesive for selective removal without traces

Gedanken666,
The adhesive I am talking about , by its nature is low tack, whether this would be strong enough for your purpose would be for you to decide.
Google " removable/ fugitive adhesives"
B.E.

You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.

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