WACKER to present silicone release & PSA research at Tape Week
Last update on Apr 30, 2026
Formulators and engineers working on release coatings and medical adhesive applications can access new WACKER silicone research at Tape Week 2026, taking place May 4–7 at the Omni Louisville Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. WACKER will present two technical papers during the event and will be available at Booth 204.
New method for measuring extractable silicone
DEHESIVE® is WACKER’s silicone release coating platform. According to the company, it is engineered for precise control of release force, robust anchorage, and stable performance on high-speed coating lines across paper, film, and specialty substrates.
You can review technical datasheets for silicone ingredients used in tape applications in the Master Catalog of Adhesives.
On May 7, Justin Horst, technical chemist at WACKER, will present a new XRF-only method for determining extractable silicone from release coatings, addressing both product quality and regulatory considerations in the release liner industry.
According to WACKER, the paper outlines the development of an XRF-only method for measuring extractable silicones in solvent. Existing measurement approaches, including ICP-OES, atomic absorption, gas chromatography, and gravimetric analysis, present documented trade-offs in cost, safety, accuracy, and test variability. The WACKER method leverages XRF instrumentation already widely deployed in large facilities for coating weight measurement on release liners. According to WACKER, the method has been validated across multiple formulations, laboratories, and instruments, and represents a cost-effective option for extractables testing where XRF equipment is already in use.
Research on silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive formulation
On May 6, Shabnam Pordel, lead scientist at WACKER, will present research on a silicone pressure-sensitive adhesive formulation designed to maintain structural and functional integrity after gamma irradiation.
Silicone-based PSAs are widely used in medical applications for skin-friendly performance, low-trauma removal, and biocompatibility. Commercial sterilization of silicone PSAs has to date been largely limited to ethylene oxide processing. According to WACKER, this RTV-2 formulation extends compatibility to gamma sterilization while using a solvent-free process.
Image Credits: WACKER