Double sided materials are replacing traditional fixing methods in a range of industries and applications. They also offer additional functionality such as sealing, damping and conducting.
Our range of medical grade materials offer unique characteristics for stick to skin applications and can be sterilised by EtO, gamma and steam. Other products include speciality films and foils for a range of medical applications.
We offer coated and non-coated foam and rubber materials for a variety of applications including gasketing, sealing, vibration and sound dampening and energy absorption.
We offer a selection of the most versatile and satisfactory RFI and EMI shielding solutions, for effective shielding of wirelessly transmitting devices.
As electronics become smaller and more powerful, the need for effective thermal materials increases. We offer a variety of products to suit most applications.
For the management of temperature, humidity, gases and pressure, and the prevention of liquid, dust and chemical contamination. We hold an expanding range of materials to suit your every application.
We offer our customers access to a superior range of medical grade materials for the varied applications found within the healthcare market. Our commitment to quality, demonstrated by our ISO 13485 registration, FDA registration and ISO Class 7 Clean Room capability means our customers are confident in the superior quality we can achieve for their medical products.
We fully understand the key needs of the automotive market; we offer quality management to ISO 9001, clean room manufacturing and TS16949 compliance. This, combined with our access to World leading materials, makes us the first choice partner in the manufacture of automotive components.
We supply adhesive components into a range of electronics applications, from bonding of dissimilar substrates, to sealing, cushioning, shielding and insulating of components. Whatever your needs, our access to a variety of products, and the ability to create bespoke constructions and components, will ensure we have a solution to your unique requirements.
Industrial grade materials offer strength and resilience, as well as resistance to UV, chemicals, oil and extreme temperatures. Whatever your needs, our experts can advise on the optimum product for your application. We can convert your material into bespoke components for enhanced manufacturing efficiencies and cost savings.
The safety critical applications of this market require trusted adhesive solutions to ensure high quality and reliability of products. We offer a range of materials for bonding, sealing, insulating, shielding and venting for a range of detection, monitoring and emergency devices. Whatever your needs, we have the experience, materials and converting expertise to offer the optimum solution to the unique requirements of your products and processes.
We offer a range of specialist products and manufacturing processes to satisfy the safety critical needs of the defence industry. With Quality Management accreditation to ISO 9001, Clean Room manufacturing and SC21 accreditation, we are confident in meeting the quality expectations of our military and defence customers.
Adhesive tapes offer a range of trusted solutions for aerospace applications and are commonly used for bonding and sealing, as well as vibration dampening, shielding, cooling, masking and venting. We have access to a vast range of materials, which we can convert into bespoke components for enhanced quality and manufacturing efficiencies.
We offer a range of bonding tapes and films for the assembly and protection of furniture, partition walls, flooring systems, HVAC products, doors and windows. Whether you require a permanent bonding solution or temporary protection, we can advise on the optimum product for your unique application.
Modern lighting utilises many adhesive components to enhance the aesthetics and the efficiency of lighting products. We provide bespoke adhesive components to efficiently bond, seal, vent, dissipate heat and reflect light in a range of lighting applications.
Solar and wind energy products are subject to the harshest external environments throughout their lifetime. This includes extreme temperatures, UV light, wind, rain and debris. We offer a range of performance materials to protect components and resist these environmental extremes, as well as efficiently bond, insulate and vent internal components.
We have over 50 years experience in converting tapes and flexible materials for a diverse range of industries and applications. During this time we have built long lasting relationships with suppliers and customers and have built on our experience, capabilities and our reach throughout Europe and beyond.
From design conception to final production and assembly, quality is paramount in providing our customers with products that consistently reach their desired quality standards. We do this through external accreditation and auditing, as well as internal practices and performance monitoring.
Parafix is proud to partner with world leading tape and material manufacturers. With access to a broad range of products we offer our customers extensive choice and the opportunity to combine complimentary materials from any manufacturer, unique to their requirements.
We are proud of our ‘can do’ attitude at Parafix, always striving to solve our customers’ challenges. We are also committed to quality and aim to treat our customers, employees and communities fairly and with care.
Our company values ensure we add value to and maintain the high levels of service throughout all of our activities. Read our company values on this page.
In 1969 we started our journey as a small distributor of adhesive tape. Today we’ve become a leading converter in Europe, creating complex adhesive components used globally.
One of our company values is to support the local communities in which we operate. This page shares some of the community activities we engage in and good causes we offer our support to.
There are many reasons why tapes are replacing traditional fixing methods. Among these is the strong and reliable bond that tapes provide and their additional functionality such as sealing, shielding, insulating and cushioning. In addition to these benefits, joining with tape offers greater design options, product quality and enhanced manufacturing efficiencies.
A customised adhesive component offers a number of benefits to designers and engineers. Product designs can be streamlined with invisible joins and product manufacture is made simple with a convenient and easy to handle component. Adhesive parts can be designed with application aids, or for use in automated assembly processes.
Tape is replacing traditional fixing methods across many applications. Here we compare the benefits of using a tape in place of traditional fixing methods.
When choosing an adhesive product, there are some key criteria to consider so that the desired performance is achieved. By understanding the end product and conditions it will be subject to, a material can be specified that will last the full life of your product.
The way you use your tape is an important factor in ensuring the desired performance is achieved. We’ve put together some tips on looking after your material and applying it correctly.
Understanding the influence of surface energy on adhesion
What is surface energy? Surface energy describes the degree of attraction or repulsion force from a substrate to another material. It can be thought of in terms of a car that has not been waxed for some time. When water contacts the surface, it spreads in large puddles; exhibiting high surface energy (HSE) - the molecular attraction allows the water to flow. In comparison, when a car has recently been waxed, water beads up into small spheres, exhibiting low surface energy (LSE) – the liquid does not flow out.
How does surface energy influence adhesion? Surface energy affects an adhesive’s ability to ‘wet-out’ or spread over the substrate. Substrates with a low surface energy can be difficult to bond to because the surface resists adhesive wet-out, leaving poor surface contact and low adhesion. The opposite is seen with high surface energy substrates; adhesive can flow/wet-out easily, which assures greater surface contact and a stronger bond.
Bonding to high surface energy substrates High surface energy surfaces include metals and some plastics, for example, copper, aluminium and stainless steel metals and Kapton®, Nylon and Polyester plastics. Before specifying a bonding tape, consideration must be given to any surface treatments or coatings to the substrate, for example a metal will have a HSE but powder coating will turn this into a LSE substrate. For bonding two different substrates, double sided differential tapes are available. These have different adhesives on each side.
Bonding to low surface energy substrates Low surface energy substrates include plastics such as PVA, Polyethylene, Polypropylene and PTFE. It is possible to bond to LSE substrates through surface modification techniques which can change the chemical composition to increase the surface energy. These techniques include flame, corona or plasma treatment, acid etching or use of solvent based adhesion promoters that contain higher surface energy resins which entangle with the low surface energy substrate when the solvent swells the surface.Â
Specially formulated adhesives are also available for bonding to LSE substrates; these contain modified acrylic and synthetic adhesives with better flow characteristics. Rubber based adhesives offer better adhesion to LSE substrates as they are soft and flow well.Â
Ensuring an optimum bond Whether you’re bonding to a HSE or LSE substrate, there are a number of things you can do to ensure you’re achieving an optimum bond. We’ve put together some helpful guides on using adhesive materials, including the correct surface preparation of your substrates. The key things to consider are summarised below:
Speak to a Converter/other tape expert for correct specification
