What is adhesive tape? A brief primer on materials
Structure of adhesive tape
The main components of an adhesive tape are the backing and the adhesive
The backing materials are thin, flexible materials coated with adhesive mass. The most common backing materials are paper, fabric, and plastic sheets.
Adhesive tape backing materials and their properties
| Backing material | Surface type | Properties |
| Paper | Smooth or textured (crepe) surface
---
Flat crepe
---
Highly textured crepe | Different levels of elasticity
---
Low elasticity; yields flat painted edge
---
Highly elastic, suitable for masking curves, slight bleeding |
| Fabric | PE-coated | zum Schutz gegen Feuchtigkeit und Abrieb,
reißfest, flexibel |
| PVC sheet | Stable dimensions
---
Smooth surface
---
Grooved surface | UV-resistant, moisture-resistant
---
Can be torn by hand (with difficulty)
---
Can be torn easily by hand in a straight line |
| PE sheet | Thin, supple, smooth | Broad temperature spectrum, high resistance to softening agents, easy to tear by hand |
Adhesives
Adhesive tapes can be divided into several rough groups according to the adhesion they demonstrate under laboratory conditions on polished steel:
- Low adhesion < 1.5 N/10 mm
- Moderate adhesion 1.5 N/10 mm – 3.0 N/10 mm
- High adhesion > 3.0 N/10 mm
The adhesion generated in practical application depends on the adhesive mass, how thick a layer of adhesive is applied, the properties (rigid or flexible) of the backing, the contact pressure and the contact surface (rough, smooth) of the substrate. All of this means that when selecting an adhesive tape, users should not look to adhesion alone, but should consider all aspects of the specific situation.
Adhesive materials and their properties
| Adhesive | Properties |
| Natural rubbers | Good initial tack and removability, good bonding reliability even on surfaces on which other adhesive materials adhere poorly |
| Acrylates | Resistant to temperature, aging, UV, and chemicals |
| Hot melt adhesives* / synthetic rubbers (holt melt glues) | Limited temperature resistance, not UV-resistant, possible only for short-term use |
* Hot melt adhesives (hot melt glues) are currently not recommended for protective measures for building and equipment parts or for furnishings and fixtures because removal of these adhesives without leaving residue cannot be guaranteed after even a very short period (within just a few hours).
Storing adhesive tapes
Adhesive tapes must be stored in a dry location and protected from direct sunlight, ideally in a covered container such as a box, and protected from freezing. Temperatures should be as close as possible to room temperature.
If these conditions are met, adhesive tapes can be stored for at least 12 months after they are purchased from a retailer.
High temperatures must be avoided because they accelerate the aging process. For standard natural rubber adhesive tapes, seven days of storage at 40° C (104° F) are equivalent to about one year of aging. Tape may be impossible to dispense if stored in this way.
tesa worldwide
