businessIndustry Information

Sealing Tape

Sealing tape is adhesive specifically designed to ensure a strong bond when closing or sealing an item. Sealing tape comes in a variety of lengths, widths, strengths and styles. It also comes in a few different materials. Also, generally speaking, while certainly available as a clear adhesive, it can also often be found at most supermarkets in many different colors and patterns. If a particular color is not available in person, a customer is sure to find it online.

There are several types of sealing tapes, such as thread seal tape, box sealing tape and carton sealing tape. Thread seal tape, also known as PTFE tape or plumber’s tape, is a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film used for sealing pipe threads. This type of sealing tape is sold wound on a spool and cut to specific widths for ease of use. It is commonly called Teflon tape, although this is technically incorrect. Thread seal tape also lubricates, which allows for a deeper seating of the threads and helps the threads from seizing when being unscrewed. Box sealing tape, also called parcel tape or packing tape, is a pressure-sensitive sealing tape used for sealing or closing corrugated fiberboard boxes. It is simply a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated onto a backing material. This adhesive is usually polypropylene or polyester film that is orientated to maintain strength in both the long direction and the cross direction. Box sealing tape is most frequently 48 millimeters (two inches) wide, but it is also sold in 72 millimeter (approximately 3 inch) widths. It is most commonly sold as clear adhesive or in beige, buff, brown or tan colors. Carton sealing tape may be applied with a handheld dispenser or an automatic tape dispenser. The tape may either be an acrylic adhesive or a hot melt adhesive. Both types of adhesive have positive attributes. For example, acrylic adhesive sticks to virtually any surface. Hot melt adhesive sticks instantly and won’t peel, crack or dry out. While they both have several versions with a range of tensile strengths, hot melt adhesives (which can be found here) do ultimately have the highest tensile strength capabilities of the two.

3M Clear Carton Sealing Tape - SpecialtyTapes.com	Water Activated Sealing Gummed Tape - SpecialtyTapes.com

Different Types of Sealing Tapes Offered by Manufacturing Suppliers

Sealing tapes are a common utility in our everyday lives. They are useful not just for households, but for trades and industries as well. From covering electric wire joints to preparing a carton for shipment—adhesive tapes help solve a large number of common issues.

In the following sections, find descriptions of the most common types of sealing tapes that a sealing tape supplier offers to customers.

Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tape: Also known as PSA tape, these tapes have a layer of pressure sensitive gluing agent. This coating is applied on papers, plastic films, cloths, and metal foil. Without requiring heating or pressure, these tapes can strongly adhere to the surface onto which they are applied.

Water Activated Tape: A second type of sealing tape is water activated tape that, as its name suggests, is suitable for applications that are wet, moist or watery. The adhesive of these tapes is either starch-base or animal-based. This glue is typically pasted on the back side of craft papers. In fact, the adhesive is applied as lamination. The adhesiveness of this tape can be attained by moistening the paper. Also known as gum paper tapes and gummed tapes, water activated tapes have two layers of paper that include adhesive laminate in between.

Heat Sensitive Tapes: This type is also known as heat activated tape. The gumminess of these tapes is activated by using heat. These are frequently used sealers in the packaging industry. Another variety of tapes that work on the principle of heat transfer is thermal release tape discussed in the next subsection.

Thermal Release Tape: Thermal release tapes lose their stickiness when they come into contact with heat. At a certain temperature, they release their connection with the surface onto which they have been applied. These tapes are frequently used for industrial and packaging purposes.

Drywall Tape: Drywall tapes are made using paper or cloth that has glue applied onto its back. These are very close to the PSA tapes that we discussed in the first subsection.

Duct Tape: These are one of the strongest tapes suitable and used for numerous applications, including ducts. Duct tapes can be used on cloth pieces, cement, plastic, cord wires, and rubber. These can be used ideal for any application that needs a firm gluing properties.

Masking Tape: These are thin and basic tapes that are used to protect an area from spills, dust and other contaminants for a short duration of time. These tapes are made from papers, with a glued backside. Since papers can be easily written on, these tapes are used for packaging and labeling purposes. Hospitals, hotels, restaurants, etc. are some of the most repeated users of masking tapes.

In addition to these various types of tape, a tape supplier can also offer Teflon tapes and double-sides tapes as well as custom products to fit a niche manufacturing need.