There are a variety of adhesive types allowing for a variety of end-use properties. Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) form a bond by the application of light pressure to marry the adhesive with the adhesive. These properties are often measured by peel, shear, and tack tests.
PSAs are designed for either permanent or removable applications. Examples of permanent applications include safety labels for power equipment, foil tape for HVAC ductwork, automotive interior trim assembly, and sound/vibration damping films.
Removable adhesives are designed to form a temporary bond, and ideally can be removed after months or years without leaving residue on the adhesive barcodes labels, price marking labels, and for skin applications.