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How does a permanent adhesive differ from a removable adhesive?

Many presentation and sign materials designed for inkjet printing are backed with a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) that makes it easy to mount the printed graphics on: windows, walls, doors, vehicles and rigid sheets of acrylic, aluminum, foamboard, posterboard, Lexan, Plexiglas, Sintra, or styrene. As the protective “release liner” is removed from the back of the printed graphic and pressure is applied, the adhesives form a bond with the mounting substrate.

Permanent Adhesives form a long-lasting bond within hours or days. They are designed to stick to a substrate without edge lifting and can’t be removed without damaging either the label or the substrate. Permanent adhesives are used to produce outdoor signs, yard signs, labels, and safety, directional, and exit signs.

Removable Adhesives form a lower-tack, temporary bond without edge lifting, and can be removed without damaging either the printed graphic or the substrate. In some cases, you can re-use the mounting substrate after the graphic has been removed. Removable adhesives are used for window graphics, vehicle graphics, temporary signs, event graphics, and promotional displays. The removable adhesives on some lightweight inkjet-printable fabrics are super easy to reposition during installation and don’t leave any residue when the graphics are removed. These “repositionable” adhesives are ideal for wall decals and trade-show signs because the graphics can usually be taken down and re-hung at another location.