Types of Adhesive Tape [Infographic]

Mark Dawson http://www.globepackaging.co.uk 3m 848 #adhesivetape

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

Adhesive Tapes for Packaging

Packaging is a skill and to learn this skill you need perfectionism, aptitude and information about various types of packaging accessories. Packaging tape is one of the most important accessories. Finding the correct tape for packaging is necessary for storing and shipping the products without any wear and tear.

Finding Packaging Tapes for Storing Boxes

If you are packaging items for storing, not for moving, then you need 30 micron (um) hand packaging tape with hot melt synthetic rubber resin adhesive. With such tapes on the boxes, it is advised that you must keep the packages or boxes in cool and dry places. Rubber resin adhesive is water resistant though it is always good to keep your boxes away from moist places. If you are using new cardboard boxes, then such tapes would do the job perfectly. But, what if you use old cardboard boxes?

Well, in that case, you have the option for choosing tapes. These two options are mentioned at the bottom:

1. You can simply choose a hand packaging tape with a natural rubber adhesive. In marketplace, plenty of such products are available from different manufacturers. For example, you can choose Tesa 4263 Packaging Tape.
2. If you are worried about moisture of the storing place, you can choose 28 micron (um) hand packaging tape with hot melt synthetic rubber adhesive. Such packaging tapes are also widely available in the marketplace. Example of such tape is 3M Scotch 370 Hot Melt Tape.

With this infographic, created by Globe Packaging, we are sharing important information about adhesive tape.

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Adhesive Tapes

Adhesive tape is one of many varieties backing materials coasted with an adhesive

Types of Adhesive Tapes

Electrical Tape

Description:
It’s typically made of slightly stretchy PVC vinyl, and is backed with a pressure sensitive rubber-type adhesive.

About:

• It has good insulation properties
• It’s perfect for protecting wire splices and for providing extra insulation

Pros:

• This tape is water resistant
• Available in different colors like Black, Red, Green, Yellow, and White for color coding

Cons:

• Electrical tapes are not long lasting

Double-Sided Tape

Description:
Double-sided tape is a pressure sensitive tape which is coated with adhesive on both sides

About:

• This is the tape with front-and-back sticking power
• Heavier-duty formulation of this tape is strong enough to hang lightweight items on walls

Pros:

• Very adhesive

Cons:

• Hard to remove

Fun Fact:

• UBH is a type of Double-sided tape for permanent bonding, after 72 hours it’s almost impossible to break the bond

Duct Tape

Description:
It’s a composite make-up of woven cotton cloth that’s been backed with polyethylene and then coated with a high-tack adhesive

About:

• These tapes when applied forms a waterproof seal
• You don’t need scissors to cut duct tape

Pros:

• It holds things together
• Cheaper

Cons:

• Less versatile

Fun Fact:

• Duct tape has been used by NASA on several space missions, including Apollo 13 and Apollo 17

Heat Shrink Tape

Description: Heat shrink tape is an Eco-friendly heat melted adhesive lined polyolefin tape

About:

• It’s often used to seal water and dust out of cables and cable splices

Pros:

• Durable
• Easy to install

Cons:

• Difficult to remove

Fiberglass Tape

Description:
This tape is typically made up of a fiberglass mesh/aluminum foil composite and backed with a strong, durable adhesive

About:

• Designed for high-heat environment like car engine bays and industrial facilities

Pros:

• Self-adhering to the wall
• Good performance and alkali-resistant
• High tensile strength and resistance to deformation

Cons:

• Expensive

Silicon Tape

Description:
Provide waterproof seals and electrical insulation in wrap-style applications on cables, hoses, and electrical components

About:

• After a curing period (usually 24 hours), the silicone forms an unbreakable bond

Pros:

• High flexibility
• High temperature resistance

Cons:

• Expensive

Cloth Tape

Description:
Cloth tape is an adhesive tape made with a cloth backing or core.

About:

• Cloth tapes are strong and offer good conformability
• The most popular colors for cloth tapes are black, silver, and white

Pros:

• Low cost

Cons:

• Not easy to tear

Masking Tape

Description:
Pressure-sensitive tape made of a thing and easy-to-tear paper and an easily released pressure-sensitive adhesive

About:

• It is used to mark off areas where body paint is not desired
• It’s rated by how many days it can be left up without leaving residue on the surface being masked

Pros:

• Good for painting on canvas

Cons:

• Leaves sticky, hard to clean residue

Surgical Tape

Description:
Surgical tape or medical tape is a type of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. These tapes usually have a hypoallergenic adhesive

About:

• These tapes allow air to reach the skin

Pros:

• Available in paper, plastic, and cloth

Cons:

• They are difficult to apply on irregular wounds, convex surfaces, or in areas of marked tissue laxity

Box-Sealing Tape

Description:
A pressure-sensitive tape used for closing or sealing corrugated fiber-board boxes.

About:

• The tape is 48 mm (approx. 2 inches) wide but it is also used in 72 mm (approx 3-inch) width

Pros:

• Saves time compared to liquid adhesives

Cons:

• Quickly deteriorates when exposed to UV light, cold, heat, and humidity

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