What Is Adhesive Tape?
Adhesive tape is a material with an adhesive layer coated on one side. Unlike tube-based adhesives, adhesive tape offers immediate bonding strength and can be removed without damaging the bonded surface. This flexibility makes it a preferred choice over traditional adhesives in various applications.
Uses of Adhesive Tape
Adhesive tape finds applications across all industrial sectors. Its primary use is for bonding materials together. In construction, it’s used for masking, and in manufacturing, it’s employed for temporary assembly of parts due to its easy removability. Adhesive tapes are also used for electrical insulation and protecting circuit boards, with the tape materials and adhesive types selected based on specific requirements. While most commercially available tapes fall under the category of adhesive tapes, gummed tapes activated with water are specifically used for industrial purposes.
Principle of Adhesive Tape
Adhesive tapes work by creating intermolecular forces between the tape’s adhesive and the target surface. These forces are effective only at very close ranges. Normally, microscopic surface irregularities prevent two substances from sticking together, but the adhesive on the tape fills these gaps, enabling the intermolecular forces to act effectively.
While traditional adhesives rely on chemical bonding and curing for a permanent bond, adhesives in tapes often use reversible intermolecular forces, allowing for peeling off without residue. Different types of adhesives are used in tapes, such as acrylic adhesives for their transparency and durability, silicone adhesives for their wide temperature range and easy bubble release, and urethane adhesives for re-adhesiveness.