When we hear about the word “adhesive tape“, we immediately imagine sticky tapes we play within schools. Before these Pressure Sensitive Adhesives or PSAs were invented, paper and glue were used to bind and secure packaging. But the invention of sticky tapes changes the ways humans were working otherwise.
These pressures otherwise known as adhesive tapes are abbreviated as PSA. However, in common life, they do exist with other names like self-stick tapes or cello tapes. They are made of materials like plastic films, paper, cloth and in some cases, metal. This tape comes with a special adhesive that does not need any heat or water to stick to anything. This tape comes with various thicknesses and will wither glue or unglue easily or adhere to the first pressure. These types have different uses and without our realization, they have become an important part of our day to day activities at work or home. With various uses, there are different types of adhesive tapes available in the market.
Types of adhesive tapes we use daily
Sticky tapes are made in fashion the same as a ribbon. These wide rolls of film are coated with specially curated adhesive and then run through a slitting machine to create a tape of various widths. These files are then wounded into rolls at specific tensions to allow the film to split. Excessive or not enough tension will cause a fault in the tape. The winding and tension will add a little bit of stretch to the film. This comprehensive guide lists a variety of the most commonly used adhesive tapes to understand more about adhesive tapes. However before you head to make a purchase on a product search engine, it is important to read and understand the use of each type so you can choose the right option.
Sticky Tapes
Sticky tapes are also known with many other names depending on the use and country. The most common name is cello tape which comes in two popular 18mm and 12mm. These widths fit easily on any sticky tape dispenser. These tapes are generally used in home and office along with many other industries. The most common type is scotch tapes in schools and colleges, available in the 3M brand. This is identical to Sellotape. These tapes are available in several widths and adhesive strength of various uses.
Packaging tape
these tapes are also known as packing tapes, box sealing or parcel tapes. These are commonly manufactured in 48mm wide rolls. Packing tapes are pressure sensitive and are made of adhesive-coated polypropylene, polyester film, or BOPP. The extra width of these tapes helps in taping up the moving boxes or cartons fast and simple. These tapes work best with a hand-operated tape gun dispenser. You can find them in various options: Water Activated Tape or WAT, Filament Tapes, and Tear Tapes. Each is ideal for different types of packaging boxes.
Bondage – Duct Gaffer Tapes
Bondage tapes can adhere to themselves and without any sticky adhesive. There are various varieties named Parafilm; Eco Paper floral tapes, and Elastic Bouquet tying tapes. These are generally used for bouquet making or gift wrapping. At the same time, duct tape (also known as gorilla tape) is usually 48mm wide and have a strong adhesive of plastic or rubber. These rapes can easily be torn on the long part of the tape but are still almost impossible to tear horizontally. Duct tapes are also common among professionals like electricians and plumbers for many reasons.
Trade tapes
They are of many different types. The first one is the masking tape that is high pressure-sensitive made of crepe paper backing and is easily released pressure-sensitive adhesive. It peels easily and leaves no residue. At the same time, painter tape is much similar to masking tape. The road masking takes the one that comes with a high level of adhesiveness and is made from polymer. They can be applied both permanently and temporarily. Here the security tapes are another important type – used for packing consumer goods and moving boxes to indicate if the box has been opened in the mid-way or not.