Tape
Tape is a product that has a wide variety of applications, whether to seal boxes and pack for shipments, or just for day-to-day use, repairing broken stationary, or resealing ripped pieces A4 paper back together.
It is important for companies to choose the most suitable packing tape for to secure cartons or boxes. Tapes can vary in strength, adhesive strength, and materials, so if the wrong kind of tape is chosen, it can ultimately cause the company money, time, and affect the efficiency.
Tape can also be differentiated into many features.
- Tensile Strength
Tensile strength refers to the maximum load in which tape can withstand. The strength of tape can range from several grams/ounces to hundreds of pounds/kg.
- Peel Strength
Peel strength is a measurement to how much force is required to separate two bonded surfaces. Strength is calculated at a constant speed over average force required. Depending on material, test can be done at different angles. 90C and 180C are most common. Seal and adhesive performance reflect a company’s brand as well as product quality and reliability.
- Backing Material
The backing material of adhesive tape not only holds tape, but also contributes to how the tape will function. The backing material used can differ widely; this can determine what purpose the adhesive tape should be used for. Examples of backing material include: Filmic Tapes, Non-woven, cloth and paper tapes. Some factors that could determine which backing is used could be: to withstand certain forces, project to be clear or reflective or function as a barrier.
- Elongation
Elongation refers to how far the tape is able to stretch before it reaches breaking point. It is importance for several reasons. For painters, a tape with good elongation helps the user to be able to mask small corners. The backing material used allows the tape to have more stretch and conformability.
- Width, Length and Thickness
The width of the tape is the measurement across the two edges of the tape. The user can adjust this by cutting the tape into smaller widths. The two most common widths are 48mm/2inch and 24mm/1inch.
Length refers to how many metres/yard/feet is available on the roll. Length can vary from 66m, 92m, and 150m.
Thickness of tape refers to the distance between the two opposite surfaces of the tape. This is usually expressed in microns or gauge. The choice of thickness depends on the function of the tape.
- Cohesion and Tack
Cohesion is the internal strength of the adhesive. If adhesive residue is found when removing an applied tape on both the surface and backing material, this indicates failure in cohesion or internal strength.
Tack is the ability of the adhesive tape to create an immediate bond during initial contact of the surface without applying any external pressure.
Types of Adhesive
Having briefly discussed the type of features a tape has and the variety of backing materials that can be used, the next section will be about the different adhesive types.
- Acrylic
Acrylic based adhesives provide a faster setting time than most other adhesives, usually immediately upon application. It provides excellent resistance and also a good sheer and peel strength.
- Hot Melt
Hot melt is a heat based adhesive. It is usually tack free until heat is applied and then becomes sticky. When at its optimum level, hot melt adhesive allows for aggressive bonding against difficult surfaces such as rubber and other plastic based material. Hot melt adhesives are one of the cheapest in the market.
- Water Activated
Water activated tape is a starch/glue adhesive and becomes tacky when moistened. When moistened it initiates a bond and when dried, hardens the seal. This is an inexpensive form of adhesive, and it most used for closing and sealing boxes.
- Pressure Sensitive (PSAs)
A contact based adhesive that is permanently tacky at room temperature in dry form. With the application of a finger or hand, they adhere firmly to a wide range of surfaces. It does not require any water, solvent, or heat activation.
- Silicone
Silicone based adhesives are very flexible in the way that it can expand and contract over a wide range of temperatures. In addition it has a number of resistances. It can resist high temperatures much longer than other adhesives, and it is also water and chemical resistant.
Why choose our tape?
At SR Mailing, we aim to provide the best tapes for the best value.
Unlike the standard of 66m from other suppliers, the tapes we supply are approximately a 40% increase in length, 92m.
We heavily focus on 3 main factors that impact performance and well known in the adhesive industry: Quick Stick, Cohesion, and Adhesion.
All our tapes are 50 microns thick, rather than the standard 25 microns.
The adhesive used is Acrylic, providing faster settling time than hot melt adhesive.
The elongation of our tape is approximately 40% in comparison to than standard 25%.
UV Protected, will not get damaged when placed in direct sunlight.
Storage
The ideal storage temperature for tape is between 15-25C.
We currently stock 4 types of tape.
48mm x 92m Fragile, Brown, Clear
24mm x 92m Clear