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Which adhesive is best for attaching our NFC tags?

Which adhesive is best for attaching our NFC tags?

Scannable has tested adhesive options from different regions to recommend testing and local purchasing where possible. Here are the results:

Adhesives tested

  1. Loctite 480 – Instant Adhesive

    • Pros: Strong bond once dry, easy to use, small bottle, neat.

    • Cons: Long curing time (not really "instant"), and affects the readability of some NFC tags. 

  2. Permabond 105

    • Pros: Cures in about 3 minutes, strong bond, small bottle, clean application.

    • Cons: Can slightly reduce readability and leave a white haze around the adhesive joint on metal. 

  3. Selleys Araldite 5 Minute Epoxy Adhesive

    • Pros: Clear and smooth finish, fast-curing (about 2 minutes), strong bond, comes in a syringe.

    • Cons: Must be mixed before use. 

  4. Permabond ET500 Epoxy

    • Pros: Clear finish, good bond, includes mixing syringe, about 15-minute cure time.

    • Cons: Does not bond to PVC, does not cure to a hard epoxy, only one disposable mixing adapter. 

  5. J‑B Weld Epoxy

    • Pros: Extremely robust and resistant to water, oil, and acids.

    • Cons: Requires manual mixing, long cure time (4–6 hours), messy and cumbersome. 

  6. Loctite Epoxy

    • Pros: Clear finish, strong bond, applied with a built-in mixing nozzle in the syringe, cure time ~15 minutes.

    • Cons: Small package volume (~14 ml). 

  7. Gorilla Super Glue Gel

    • Pros: Fast-curing (10–45 seconds), strong bond, small container, neat application.

    • Cons: For indoor use only, can leave marks on metal. 

  8. White Gorilla Glue

    • Pros: For indoor and outdoor use, strong bond.

    • Cons: Foaming chemical reaction that requires clamping and moisture – not suitable. 

  9. Gorilla Epoxy

    • Pros: Extremely strong and waterproof bond, clear finish, fast-curing (about 3 minutes) with a syringe.

    • Cons: Must be mixed before use. 

Test results and recommendation

  • Best adhesive for metal NFC tagging: Gorilla Epoxy and Selleys Araldite 5-Minute Epoxy were clear winners with a strong, smooth bond and clear finish. They are waterproof and work both outdoors and indoors. 

  • Loctite Epoxy was also good, but the long cure time was considered a disadvantage for professional use.

  • Gorilla Super Glue Gel and Permabond ET500 scored relatively well, but were considered less suitable: Super Glue is recommended for indoor use only, and ET500 does not bond well to PVC or cure hard enough for practical use. 

In summary:

  • Recommended: Gorilla Epoxy or Selleys 5-Minute Epoxy for the best results on metal surfaces.

  • Good alternative: Loctite Epoxy – but with acceptance of a longer cure time.

  • Not recommended: Super Glue or Permabond ET500 for use on carabiners or metal NFC tags that require high durability.

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