stretch release adhesive strips for lcd screen factory

my name is Rat and I work as a computertechnician. I recently ran into a couple of devices with lcd panel issues. To my surprise there were no screws that held the lcd panel in place.

In stead HP opted to use some sort of “stretch release tape”. Upon removal, I noticed that it wouldn’t be possible to reuse the tape, so I’m in a bit of a problem here. I tried finding the same kind of tape online, but nothing came quite close to what I needed.

This is exactly the sort of tape I would need to do future screen replacements on such devices that have no screws to attach the LCD panel. However, I cannot find a single webshop or website with such tape on offer.

Anyone who enjoys opening up consumer electronics knows iFixit to be a valuable resource, full of reference pictures and repair procedures to help revive devices and keep them out of electronic waste. Champions of reparability, they’ve been watching in dismay as the quest for thinner and lighter devices also made them harder to fix. But they wanted to cheer a bright spot in this bleak landscape: increasing use of stretch-release adhesives.

This is why they are happy to see pull tabs whenever they peer inside something, for those tabs signify the device was blessed with stretch-release adhesives. All we have to do is apply a firm and steady pull on those tabs to release their hold leaving no residue behind. We get an overview of how this magic works, with the caveat that implementation details are well into the land of patents and trade secrets.

But we do get tips on how to best remove them, and how to reapply new strips, which are important to iFixit’s mission. There’s also a detour into their impact on interior design of the device: the tabs have to be accessible, and they need room to stretch. This isn’t just a concern for design engineers, they also apply to stretch release adhesives sold to consumers. Advertising push by 3M Command and competitors have already begun, reminding people that stretch-release adhesive strips are ideal for temporary holiday decorations. They would also work well to hold batteries in our own projects, even if we aren’t their advertised targets.