Elastomerics Blog

Here is an update on conductive pressure sensitive adhesives from Stockwell Elastomerics.

Stockwell Elastomerics provides ESD rated gaskets and EMI shielding silicone gaskets for aerospace, electronics, military, and space applications. This includes carbon fillers, nickel plated graphite, silver plated aluminum, and nickel plated aluminum fillers in both silicone rubber and fluorosilicone rubber.

For customers requiring a conductive adhesive backing as an assembly aid, Stockwell Elastomerics currently offers two electrically conductive pressure sensitive adhesive options.

3M 9713 – Acrylic Transfer Adhesive with Conductive Fibers
This acrylic adhesive requires Stockwell Elastomerics’ proprietary bonding process technology to effectively anchor onto silicone and fluorosilicone based conductive elastomers. For this reason, 9713 does not provide consistent Z-axis conductivity through the thickness of the silicone or fluorosilicone material.

9713 yields a robust bond strength to a variety of surfaces. For many applications in the ESD and EMI realm, Z-axis conductivity is not required, which makes 9713 a versatile option for many applications using conductive materials.

3M 9719 – Silicone Transfer Adhesive with Conductive Fibers
This adhesive is silicone-based which cross-links directly onto silicone and fluorosilicone conductive elastomers. This allows for Z-axis conductivity through the thickness of the material. This characteristic of 3M 9719 can be crucial for thin, high frequency EMI applications, especially niche applications which are less traditional and or have extreme temperature range requirements. Many customers leverage the conductive properties of EMI and ESD silicones to create novel solutions – usually due to the elastomeric nature of the material. However, 9719 does not have as robust of a bond strength compared to 9713. Additionally, it is more expensive in comparison. When Z-axis conductivity is required, it is a true problem solving adhesive. When it is not required, 9713 is a reliable solution.

Unfortunately, for several reasons, 3M will no longer be making 9719 effective at the end of 2024. Stockwell Elastomerics is working with 3M to procure as much material as possible to reduce disruptions to affected customers. Stockwell Elastomerics is also actively working on alternative options for its customers.

Additional Bonding Mechanisms
For niche or extreme applications, Stockwell Elastomerics offers design guidance and materials for higher temperature or more difficult to bond to enclosures. These include, but are not limited to: carbon filled RTV60-CON silicone adhesive, nickel-graphite filled RTV SS-24 silicone adhesive, and others.

If customers have an application where 9719 would be a good fit or have questions about existing products, please contact the Stockwell Elastomerics Applications Engineering team to discuss options. They can help find a solution that overcomes the design challenges of specific situations – no two customer challenges are the same!