Dow Corning SOTEFA
(Silicone Optically Transparent Elastomeric Film Adhesive)
Dow Corning SOTEFA
is a high strength,
optically transparent silicone adhesive
film designed to provide structural
bonding between components made
from a variety of material substrates,
including glass, engineered plastics
and metals.
Application
SOTEFA is most commonly utilized when structural adhesion between
components and glass is required in automotive, industrial transportation
and construction applications. Originally developed as an engineered
interlayer for windshield and glass construction, SOTEFA can also be
utilized as an interlayer in next generation “smart glass” applications.
Benefits
- Superior adhesion and bond strength.
- High-performance in humid environments.
- Outstanding resistance to ultraviolet light.
- Exceptional retention of adhesive strength across a broad temperature
range. SOTEFA remains flexible between the operating temperature
range of -40° to 130°C (-40° to 266°F).
General Processing Parameters
- SOTEFA must be applied to a clean surface free of contaminants.
Some materials may require the use of adhesion
promoters to meet desired properties.
- SOTEFA must be applied to components with enough force
to fully wet out the adhesive. Application pressure of 100
psi is typical, but can vary depending upon component
size and geometry. Uniform application at pressure for 5-10
seconds across the mated components is recommended.
- Addition heat and pressure in an autoclave is recommended
to fully activate SOTEFA and to develop optimal
adhesion to the substrate. A typical cure cycle for SOTEFA
ranges from 20 to 50 minutes at 120°C (248°F) to 140°C
(284°F) and 190-225 psi.
Shipping, Handling & Shelf Life
- Components laminated with SOTEFA stored at or below
10°C (50°F) have a minimum 60 day shelf life. SOTEFA
can start to cure if exposed to ambient temperature for an
extended time.
- Temperature control during shipment is recommended
to maintain shelf life. SOTEFA applied to a component
is typically packaged and shipped utilizing Styrofoam
containers as dunnage. Blue ice may be utilized to keep
temperatures low during transit.
- Components laminated with SOTEFA are typically shipped
on plastic cards. The cards can be recycled to the supplier
for re-use.
Health and Environmental Information
This product is neither tested nor represented as suitable
for medical or pharmaceutical applications. Hazardous or
restricted materials are not present. MSDS and IMDS
information is available upon request.