What Is Polyethylene Tape?
Polyethylene tape is a versatile, thin tape made from polyethylene. It is known for its durability, flexibility, and weather resistance, making it suitable for various applications including packing, bundling, agricultural work, and handicrafts. Available in different forms like flat tape and string, polyethylene tape can be purchased through mail order, at home centers, and dollar stores.
This article focuses on non-adhesive polyethylene tape varieties.
Uses of Polyethylene Tapes
Polyethylene tape’s outdoor resilience makes it ideal for agriculture and gardening, securing poles, nets, tying crops, supporting vegetable vines, and repairing greenhouses. It is also employed for bundling packages, temporary fastening, and marking in packing processes across logistics, retail, and domestic settings. Moreover, its versatility extends to creating handbags, cheerleading pom-poms, and various crafts.
Features of Polyethylene Tapes
Advantages
- Durability and Strength: Resistant to long-term wear and capable of bundling with high tensile strength.
- Weather Resistance: Offers superior outdoor durability compared to similar polypropylene (PP) tapes.
- Easy to Handle: More flexible than PP tape, allowing for easy manual tying, cutting, and tearing.
- Affordability and Variety: Available in a wide range of thicknesses and colors at a low cost.
Disadvantages
- Sensitivity to Heat: Vulnerable to softening and degradation at high temperatures.
- Lower Cutting Strength: Although strong in tension, it may not be suitable for sharp-edged or high-strength binding needs. PP bands may be a better choice for such applications.
Types of Polyethylene Tapes
Polyethylene tapes come in string and flat tape forms, with a wide selection of thicknesses, lengths, and colors. Standard dimensions range from 5mm to 50mm in thickness, with lengths around 500m, and an array of color options from transparent to vibrant hues. Specialized versions include tapes for automatic bundling machines and agricultural tapes designed to protect crops from birds and insects.
How to Select Polyethylene Tapes
Choose the appropriate thickness, length, and color based on your specific needs. For agricultural applications, reflective silver tapes deter insects and protect fruits. Colorful tapes are great for crafts and cheerleading pom-poms, while matte or metallic shades add a sophisticated touch to bags. For demarcation purposes, bright, noticeable colors like red, yellow, or orange are recommended.
Other Information on Polyethylene Tapes
Polyethylene Tape Alias
Known variously as suzuran tape, vinyl tape, nylon tape, and PE flat tape, there is no functional difference between these names. Suzuran tape originates from a trademark by a well-established manufacturer. For crafts requiring neat tears, opting for higher-quality products, especially those beyond dollar store offerings, is advisable.