Appliance manufacturers are turning to PSA solutions for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) damping.
Visit an appliance showroom, and you’ll probably notice how the utilitarian, blocky designs of a generation ago are giving way to space-saving shapes and high-end finishes while sleek digital readouts and touchpads are replacing clunky dials and buttons. What’s more, manufacturers are conserving material and saving weight, all while packing appliances full of more electronics.
The experience of owning appliances is also being held to a higher standard. Consumers want appliances that look great, are loaded with features, and operate smoothly and quietly. Of course, they expect those modern electronic features to be durable.
Excessive sounds and vibrations can thus be discouraging to hear and feel and be damaging to sensitive appliance parts. Damping those sounds and vibrations often involves including noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) mitigation materials in appliance design.
As an engineering practice, NVH damping has widespread applications, including in automotive, aerospace, transportation, and virtually anywhere excessive vibrations and noise can damage an item (e.g., a vehicle), hamper its performance, or be unpleasant to a user.
In appliances, NVH materials can be laminated to PSA tapes and applied to critical areas for “peel and stick” ease on an assembly line. Avery Dennison products are primarily used for bonding insulation materials or foams for vibration isolation.
Some examples of NVH damping materials incorporating PSAs in large appliances include:
Single-coated foil tapes applied to the inside of a steel washer or dryer cabinet as a constrained-layer damping solution to reduce noise.
Foam pads laminated to PET to absorb sounds and vibrations caused by a spinning dryer drum.
Acrylic foam tapes used to mount metal brackets designed to add structure to washer or dryer side panels, thus reducing unwanted vibrations and noise.
Foam tape incorporated into the design of a refrigerator compressor to reduce vibrations.
Pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tapes offer an easy-to-use, cost-effective, and durable solution for NVH material bonding. Their use in appliances offers several key advantages.
A wide range of adhesive chemistries available for various substrates and applications, including adhesives that bond well to polypropylene and other low surface energy (LSE) plastics
Available in low volatile organic compound (VOC) and low-odor options
Available in multiple formats, including single-coated, double-coated, and transfer tape, to suit a range of bonding needs
Avery Dennison has deep NVH experience and a broad portfolio of appliance bonding products that includes damping solutions. We can also customize solutions to unique needs, helping appliance manufacturers deliver the look, feel, and durability that consumers expect.
Whether you’re a tape converter looking to expand in Appliance or an appliance manufacturer looking to improve your products, we welcome the opportunity to discuss your needs. For more information visit www.tapes.averydennison.com/appliances, or contact your Avery Dennison representative.
Danielle Wiltrout is a product manager with Avery Dennison Performance Tapes. With more than 10 years industrial experience, she’s responsible for many general industrial product lines, including the Appliance segment. To learn more about Avery Dennison’s initiative in the segment you can reach her via email at danielle.wiltrout@averydennison.com or on LinkedIn.