Foil Tape

Foil Tape

There are a number of physical properties that can vary when choosing a foil tape from tape suppliers like 3M. They have different peel strengths, which is the force needed to separate two bonded surfaces. Different foil tapes also have varying degrees of tensile strength, which is the minimum force required to break a piece of the tape by tugging on each end. Both of these characteristics put foil tape in the same arena as duct tape, which also has high peel and tensile strengths and is employed in air duct management. Some foil tapes have more elongation than others, which is the distance the foil can stretch. Foil tapes have varying degrees of temperature resistance and dielectric strength, which is the maximum voltage that the tape can resist without allowing the passing of electrical current. These positive characteristics suit foil tape to many applications in a plethora of industries, most notably the covering of electrical cords, like electrical tape, patching the roofs of mobile homes and gardening.

The most common type of foil tape is made out of aluminum, and is used on seams and joints of fiberglass or aluminum-backed duct board, for shielding and covering thermal insulation. It is coated with a rubber-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive, providing a great barrier to vapor and it also adheres to irregular surfaces. Foil tape might also be made from copper, used for electro-static shielding, cable wrapping and stained glass work. It has a low rate of dielectric strength and a high temperature resistance (up to 155°F). It has good viscosity, is cold resistant and easy to tear. Stainless steel foil is sometimes used, mostly in the marine, food processing, aviation and nuclear industries. It has a wide temperature range and creates a very strong bond to most materials. The adhesive applied to foil tape can be made from a number of different materials, including acrylic, epoxy, polyurethane, rubber, silicone, thermoset plastics or thermoplastics. The liner material, between the metal and adhesive, is made from paper, film, board, fluropolymer, glassine or silicone.
 

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