Adhesive Tape, an everyday life product and a lifesaver at most times, is an absolute rocket science to get acquainted with. The advanced technology and industrial ecosystem of adhesive tape manufacturing is drastically changing with time, using fewer natural resources and generating less wastage. Apart from fewer natural resources and less wastage, the advancements have also made adhesives with better durability, temperature resistance, high bond strength as well as chemical resistance. These newly developed adhesives have also been the centerstone for new developments in design and manufacturing. It is as important to know what this daily life product is composed of, as its inevitable usage in electronics, packaging, DIY Projects, fixing, and much more.
An Adhesive tape is a combination of 2 or 3 layers; a backing material, an adhesive film used for bonding and joining objects together and a release liner for double sided adhesive tapes. The backing or carrier is made up of plastic film, paper, cloth, foil or foam etc. The adhesive film is coated on the backing or carrier of the tape and comes in different variations in the unit of microns, which defines the stickiness level.
First, a primer is applied to the backing material. Then the adhesive is being coated on that backing. Lastly, if needed, an adhesive-repellent release liner is adjusted on the adhesive which, at the time of use, is then released and the adhesive surface is exposed for application purpose. These adhesive-glazed backings are then rounded to make wide jumbo rolls of tapes, which are further slit into smaller rolls of tape.
Adhesives can be made of acrylics, emulsions, resins, silicone or be rubber-based. Each type of tape has different specifications of adhesive and backing to make a perfect combination for a specific tape application.
In conclusion, Adhesive Tapes have a different composition for different purposes and applications. Hence various purpose Adhesive Tapes are made differently with different specifications pertaining to their purpose.