Custom Die-Cut 3M™ Water Contact Indicator Tapes
Precision Converted 3M™ Water Contact Indicator Tapes in Any Shape
In modern electronics and sensitive equipment, early detection of water ingress is critical for warranty validation, troubleshooting, and maintaining product integrity. 3M™ Water Contact Indicator Tapes provide a fast, accurate, and easy-to-read indication of liquid contact.
Why Use Custom Cut Indicator Tapes?
While standard tape rolls are useful, custom-fabricated parts from SRP offer significant advantages for manufacturing and product design:
Design Flexibility: From simple dots and squares to intricate, multi-legged gaskets, we can create a part that seamlessly integrates into your product’s design.
Perfect Fit: Eliminate manual trimming. Our custom shapes are designed to fit precisely around components, within tight channels, or over specific contact points.
Accelerated Assembly: Die-cut parts on a roll or sheet with a peel-off liner are significantly faster and easier for assembly line workers to apply, reducing labor costs and cycle times.
Reduced Waste: By nesting parts efficiently, we minimize material scrap, providing a more cost-effective and sustainable solution compared to trimming from a roll in-house.
Choosing the Right Indicator Tape for Your Application
3M offers a dedicated family of Water Contact Indicator Tapes designed to provide clear, irreversible evidence of liquid exposure in electronic devices and other sensitive equipment. While there are several variations, the main products in this series are differentiated by their thickness, adhesive properties, and indication speed.
3M™ Water Contact Indicator Tape 5557
The industry-standard tape for proving water contact. This reliable tape turns from white to red permanently when wet, making it perfect for warranty and repair diagnostics.
Features
- Permanent white-to-red color change
- Strong 3M™ acrylic adhesive
- Durable 10.2 mil construction
- Resists false triggers from humidity
Benefits
- Validate warranty claims accurately
- Speed up troubleshooting and repairs
- Stays securely in place for life
- A trusted solution for a huge range of products
Data Sheets
3M™ Water Contact Indicator Tape 5557NA
The non-adhesive version of the industry-standard 5557 tape. It offers the same reliable water indication but is designed to be dropped-in, press-fit, or mechanically held in place.
Features
- Non-adhesive (NA) backing for placement flexibility
- Permanent white-to-red color change
- Durable 10.2 mil construction
- Resists false triggers from humidity
Benefits
- Perfect for user-removable parts like batteries
- Leaves zero adhesive residue upon removal
- Can be mechanically trapped or press-fit into a design
- Ideal for temporary placement in test fixtures
Data Sheets
3M™ Water Contact Indicator Tape 5558
A thinner, lower-profile alternative to the standard 5557 tape. It provides the same reliable water indication for designs with moderate space constraints, like laptops and servers.
Features
- Thinner 6.0 mil low-profile design
- Permanent white-to-red color change
- Strong 3M™ acrylic adhesive
- Printable top surface for branding or part numbers
Benefits
- Fits easily into slimmer designs and tight spaces.
- Allows for custom printing of logos or internal codes.
- Confirms water damage to support warranty decisions.
- Provides a quick visual check for faster repairs.
Data Sheets
3M™ Water Contact Indicator Tape 5559
The ultra-thin, high-performance choice for the most space-critical designs. Its flexible construction allows it to conform to curved and irregular surfaces inside compact devices like smartphones and wearables.
Features
- Ultra-thin 5.0 mil profile (the thinnest in the series)
- Flexible polyester film backing that conforms to curves
- Permanent white-to-red color change
- High-performance 3M™ acrylic adhesive
Benefits
- Fits into the most compact electronic designs.
- Conforms easily to curved and irregular surfaces.
- Provides clear proof of water damage in small devices.
- Speeds up failure analysis in complex assemblies.
Data Sheets
3M™ Water Contact Indicator Tape 5559i
The fastest-acting indicator for instant water detection. Its unique design is engineered to capture evidence of even the briefest splashes or momentary liquid exposure in high-value electronics.
Features
- Instantaneous red color change upon water contact
- Unique inverted construction for the fastest wicking
- High-contrast and permanent indication
- Strong 3M™ acrylic adhesive
Benefits
- Captures evidence of quick splashes that others might miss.
- Provides the highest level of protection for premium devices.
- Offers immediate, conclusive proof for warranty decisions.
- Eliminates all doubt in failure analysis diagnostics.
Data Sheets
Applications and Industries
Precision-cut indicators ensure protection is exactly where it's needed in the most demanding applications.
- Consumer Electronics: Tiny, custom shapes to protect compact devices like smartphones, wearables, and headphones at their most vulnerable points.
- Automotive Systems: Durable indicators for harsh environments, protecting critical ECUs, sensors, and EV battery housings from moisture.
- Medical Devices: Ensuring the reliability and safety of portable diagnostic tools, patient monitors, and other critical healthcare equipment.
- Industrial Equipment: Preventing costly downtime by monitoring for moisture in sensitive control panels, power supplies, and field instrumentation.
- Warranty & Repair Services: Providing clear, indisputable proof of liquid damage to enable fast, fair, and accurate service decisions.
What 3M™ Water Contact Indicator Tapes can do for you
Stop Warranty Guesswork
Get clear proof if a device got wet. This lets you make fair warranty calls, cuts down on questionable claims, and saves your company money.Proof You Can Trust
When this tape sees water, it turns red—and stays red for good. Best of all, it won’t be fooled by regular air humidity, so you know the result is the real deal.Find the Problem, Fast
Your repair team can see exactly where water got in at a glance. No more long, expensive diagnostic hunts, just a quick and clear answer that speeds up the whole process.A Perfect Fit for Any Design
These tapes are super thin, so they slip into even the tightest spots in your product. We custom-cut them into any shape you dream up, ensuring they fit perfectly right where you need them.Speed Up Your Assembly Line
Application is as easy as peel and stick, making it a breeze for your production team. When we deliver them as custom parts on a roll, it’s even faster and simpler to get them on your products.A Built-In Quality Check
Think of this as a final check-up for your product's seals. It's a simple way to confirm that your device is sealed up tight and ready to handle real-world conditions.How can we help?
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