The property of an adhesive tape to remain fully functional despite abrasion. In the case of printed adhesive tapes, this refers to the abrasion resistance of the printing ink. This can also be protected by lamination.

Polymerized acrylic ester monomers are the basis of acrylate adhesives in adhesive tapes. These monomers are usually dissolved in solvents or water dispersions with the addition of resins and then applied to the carrier material. Acrylic adhesives are characterized by high resistance to ageing and temperature as well as low sensitivity to UV radiation and oxidation.

Bonding force between the adhesive tape and the surface to be bonded. High adhesion ensures a good bond between the adhesive tape and the surface to be bonded. The degree of adhesion of an adhesive tape to a bonding surface is specified in the unit of measurement: force per strip width (N/cm or N/25 mm). N = Newton.

Note: If adhesive tapes have a high adhesive strength, this does not mean that they adhere well to all surfaces. It also depends on the surface to be bonded.

Paper adhesive tape has paper as its backing material and is available in different versions. Whether as a particularly elastic crepe/masking tape for protecting and masking during painting and varnishing work or as packaging tape for boxes and other packaging.

see adhesion

The so-called "adhesive strength on steel" is measured. It describes the force required to remove an adhesive strip of a certain width from a standard steel test plate under defined conditions (pull-off angle, contact pressure, speed) --- see also adhesion.

Single-sided adhesive tapes consist of a backing with a release coat on the upper side for easy unwinding and a bonding agent and adhesive coating on the underside.

Double-sided adhesive tapes consist of a release material (usually siliconized paper), an adhesive mass underneath, a backing material with an adhesion promoter on both sides and another adhesive mass on the lower side of the backing material.

Period of time during which adhesive tapes retain their original properties during storage. Many INDUPLAST adhesive tapes have a high ageing resistance of 12 months when stored correctly --- see also Storage. The storage times are specified in the technical data sheets of our products. Longer storage times may result in measurable changes in properties, but this does not necessarily mean that the tape is no longer usable.

Aluminum tapes are adhesive tapes on aluminum foil or aluminum-vaporized foil with various adhesive coatings. They are used for protection, insulation or as a water vapor barrier. These very temperature-resistant adhesive tapes (both extreme cold and extreme heat) with thermal conductivity are mainly used in the automotive industry, aerospace, air conditioning, transportation, equipment construction, maintenance and repair.

Although almost all materials are generally easy to bond, it should be noted that some materials behave in an anti-adhesive manner. These include Teflon and materials containing silicone as well as non-polar plastics (e.g. PP, PE). The bonding of these materials is critical. In such cases, an increase in bond strength can only be achieved through targeted mechanical, physical or chemical pre-treatment tailored to the respective material (e.g. corona pre-treatment for PE and PP). In many cases, however, the adhesive strength on PE or PP is sufficient, so that pre-treatment is only necessary for permanent bonds with higher strength requirements.

The "rolling ball" test method is used to determine the tack (= the initial adhesive strength) of an adhesive tape. The distance in centimeters that the "rolling ball" travels on the adhesive side of the tape until it sticks is measured.

When films are biaxially stretched, they are stretched in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Biaxial stretching increases the cohesion of the material molecules so that they are interlocked to a certain extent, which automatically improves the mechanical properties of the material. PP packaging tape is normally made from BOPP film carriers, i.e. biaxially (bi-oriented) stretched films. ---see also monoaxial stretching

(voltage, dielectric strength, dielectric breakdown)

The resistance of the insulating material to the flowing current until breakdown. The breakdown voltage is measured in volts. This property plays a role in adhesive tapes that are used in electrical installations, for example.

Butyl adhesives consist of a mixture of isobutylene and natural rubber with embedded carbon black particles. A high degree of cross-linking is achieved by hot calendering, which ensures very good ageing resistance. In addition, butyl adhesives are largely insensitive to UV radiation and oxidation.

Carry handles based on self-adhesive tape with a grip area made of paper, cardboard, film, foamed PP or foam. See also EasyPackers® carry handles.

INDUPLAST uses both clichés on fotopolymer plates and sleeve clichés for printing on adhesive tape. The fotopolymer clichés are produced in-house according to the print image and are used especially for positive print images. Sleeve clichés (lasered) are used for continuous print images and negative prints to avoid register seam in the print image. They seamlessly enclose the printing forme cylinder like a sleeve and are applied to the cylinder using compressed air. Sleeve clichés are more expensive, but are also characterized by a longer service life.

There are various product names for cloth tape, such as gaffer tape, gaffers tape, duct tape, repair tape - what they all have in common is that the carrier of the adhesive tape is a cloth. This cloth backing can consist of cotton, rayon, vinyl-stabilized or PE-coated cloth or even very special cloths for technical applications.

Calenders are machines with (heatable) rollers arranged above or behind each other that smooth the surfaces of carrier materials (e.g. films) and roll out adhesive to the desired layer thickness.

The test determines whether the applied adhesive tape shears off a recycled cardboard box under tension or whether the box opens. The test is carried out in the heat chamber under extreme conditions.

The carrier or carrier material is the material (relatively thin, flexible) to which the adhesive is applied. This is usually film, cloth, paper, foam or non-woven material. There are also adhesive tapes without backing material, these are so-called transfer adhesive tapes.

In adhesives or adhesive masses, cohesion refers to the forces that cause the adhesive to hold together (internal strength of the adhesive mass). In the application, cohesion determines the holding force (shear strength) and is relevant for applications as soon as "carrier-parallel" loads occur. Adhesive tapes with low cohesion also often leave adhesive residue on the bonded surface.

Color fastness refers to the color stability of an adhesive tape. Color fastness means that the colored surfaces (e.g. also a printed image, a colored film, the colored adhesive on a transparent film) retain their color despite external influences such as UV radiation, weathering, abrasion, moisture or similar.

(laminate)

Different substrates (laminates) are inseparably joined together (laminated), whereby the addition of the respective properties results in an optimally suitable overall substrate. --- see also Laminating

Corrosion describes the reaction of a metallic material with its environment, which results in a change and impairment of the material's function. This process begins on the surface and ultimately leads to the complete destruction of solid materials through the effects of gases, acids and alkalis.

see electrolytic corrosion factor

This refers to the chemical modification of the molecular chains of substances. This means that the original molecular chains are linked three-dimensionally to form a network. The cross-linking of adhesives is intended to control adhesion and cohesion and increase the resistance of adhesives to chemical and thermal influences.

Adhesive tape can be wound smoothly or cross-wound onto a core. With cross-wound winding, the adhesive tape is wound onto a core that is a multiple of the width of the adhesive tape. This results in extremely long running lengths of adhesive tape that are well suited for machine processing (advantage: fewer roll changes). In addition to hand rolls, Induplast also offers smoothly wound and cross-wound machine rolls for converting.

The simplest cutting technology variant is a razor blade cut. This cutting technology is usually successful when cutting thin materials and foils. The cutting blade is clamped by means of magnets (quick-change variant) or is fixed in locating pins.

The crush cut system consists of a glass-hard cutting shaft, sleeve and a crush cut blade. During the crush cut, the cutting blade is pressed against a smooth base (counter pressure cylinder). In contrast to shearing, the material is cut by displacement. In most cases, the knife is driven by the material web/back pressure cylinder.

The density of foam tapes is important for adhesive tapes. It is specified in the weight of a cubic meter (density).

Definition (chemistry): a heterogeneous mixture of at least two substances that do not or hardly dissolve or chemically bond with each other. Adhesive tape sector: Liquid in which the base materials and the other adhesive components are distributed as solids. Dispersion adhesive = adhesive that solidifies through evaporation of the liquid. Typical for acrylic and acrylate adhesives.

Double-sided adhesive tapes can bond different materials together temporarily or permanently. Both sides of the backing are coated with adhesive. The different layers (carrier materials, adhesive and liner/adhesion promoter) give the adhesive tape its individual properties. This means that there are suitable quality versions for every area of application. --- see also Adhesive tape structure

The property of a body or material to change its shape when subjected to force and to return to its original shape when the force is removed. In the case of adhesive tapes, this is referred to as the elasticity or stretchability of the adhesive tape.

Adhesive tape for sealing, insulating, bundling electrical cables and other applications. Also known colloquially as insulating tape.

The electrolytic corrosion factor defines the possible corrosion effect of an adhesive tape on another material. To measure the factor, the adhesive tape is stuck to a copper foil. If no corrosion occurs, the adhesive tape is given an electrolytic corrosion factor of 1. If the corrosion is minimal, the adhesive tape is given a corrosion factor of less than 1, which then decreases further depending on the extent of the corrosion detected.

The elongation at break indicates the percentage by which an adhesive tape stretches under load before it tears. It is always determined in conjunction with the tear strength. Elastic adhesive tapes offer a high elongation at break, which is ideal for masking curves or structured surfaces. Fabric tapes, PE tapes, foam tapes and stretchable high crepe tapes are generally characterized by a high elongation at break.

(Nonwoven consists of natural or synthetic fibers lying only in the longitudinal direction, whereby these form a bond through adhesive or by pressing and heat. Nonwoven is a possible backing material for double-sided adhesive tapes.

Adhesive tape that is reinforced by the insertion of filament threads (glass fibers). The filament threads can be inserted lengthwise or lengthwise and crosswise (grid structure). Filament adhesive tape is characterized by high tear resistance with low elongation.

Flat crepe is the name given to adhesive tape with a flat creped paper backing. This is usually coated or impregnated on one side of the surface. Flat crepe can be stretched by up to 15 percent of its original length and is often used for protecting and masking surfaces.

As a direct rotary printing process, flexographic printing uses elastic relief printing plates (clichés) made of photopolymer. The clichés are attached to steel cylinders (printing forme cylinders). The printing ink is transferred to the adhesive tape by an inking unit. There are small cells in the printing rollers (anilox rollers) which are responsible for the ink transfer. The size or depth of the cells determines the amount of ink transferred. The more cells there are, the less ink is transferred, as this reduces the cell depth. The excess ink is removed during rolling.

Substances or mixture of substances that are added to or mixed with the adhesive and cause the adhesive to harden via a chemical reaction.

Adhesive tape with a heavily glued, highly creped paper backing. High crepe can be extended by at least 40 percent of its original length.

Synthetic adhesive in which the raw materials are dissolved in a melt. The melt is applied to the carrier film and cooled over rollers. The film with the cooled adhesive can then be wound onto the roll. Hot-melt adhesives are characterized by a high initial tack and good adhesion to various non-polar surfaces (PP, PE) and polar surfaces. Disadvantages are their limited resistance to temperature and ageing, their sensitivity to UV radiation and their lack of resistance to heat molding.

Impact-resistant adhesive tapes are characterized by their high resistance to impact and tensile loads. Glass fiber-reinforced adhesive tapes in particular - such as filament adhesive tape - are often impact-resistant (break-proof).

Refers to the immediate adhesion of an adhesive tape at the first moment of contact under low pressure. Note: An adhesive tape with a low initial tack / immediate adhesion can develop a very good final tack. Natural rubber and hot melt adhesives generally have a very good initial tack, acrylic adhesives generally have a lower initial tack and only develop their final tack after approx. 24 hours.

Partial or complete shielding of an object against electric current and external influences such as moisture, heat, cold, sound and dust.

Adhesive tapes used in the electrical sector are divided into temperature ranges, also known as heat classes, from "Y" to "H" according to their permanent heat resistance.

Class Y: Continuous temperature range up to 95°C
Class A: Continuous temperature range up to 105°C
Class E: Continuous temperature range up to 120°C
Class B: Continuous temperature range up to 130°C
Class F: Continuous temperature range up to 155°C
Class H: Continuous temperature range up to 180°C

Kraftliner is a high-quality paper grade with a high proportion of virgin wood fibers (at least 80%) and only a small proportion of recycled fibers (maximum 20%). Kraftliner is used in corrugated cardboard processing. Cardboard made from kraftliner has high strength and resistance and is better suited as a substrate for gluing than paper grades with a high recycled content.

Lamination is a process in which a material is applied to another surface and bonded to it. For example, adhesive tape can be covered with a second film on top of the printed image to ensure 100% abrasion resistance of a printed image. It can also be used to increase the stability of a tape or to protect the surfaces from migration.

The liner is the release liner or protective layer. In the case of double-sided adhesive tapes or labels, the release liner usually consists of a siliconized paper.

Adhesive tapes with acrylate and natural rubber adhesive coating are generally quieter to unwind than adhesive tapes with hot melt adhesive coating (= synthetic rubber). A special release coating on some adhesive tape backings enables quiet unwinding.

The material thickness of an adhesive tape results from the thickness of the backing and the adhesive mass as well as the bonding agent and the coating on the back. It is specified in µm (micrometers). The thickness of the backing material and the adhesive application are often specified separately. 1mm = 1000 µm.

In the adhesive tape sector, monoaxially oriented films are also used as the backing material of an adhesive tape if, for example, very high stability is required in the longitudinal direction, such as with strapping tapes from the packaging tape sector and with carry handles.

Newton is the unit of measurement for force. One Newton is the force required to accelerate a stationary body with a mass of 1 kg uniformly to a speed of 1 m/s within one second. Technical data of adhesive tapes specified in Newtons:

Adhesion to steel (= peel adhesion) in N/cm or N/25 mm
Tensile strength in N/cm or N/25 mm
Peel force / peel strength in N/cm or N/25 mm

The peel force is the force that must be applied to peel an adhesive tape from the bonded substrate. The adhesive tape is peeled off at an angle of 180° and the force is measured in N/cm or N/25 mm. Conversely, the peel force is the resistance to the forces acting on the edge or end of a tape. This type of load should be avoided wherever possible.

Perforation (Latin: "to pierce") is the perforation of a material to aid separation. It is used, for example, in EasyPackers® carry handles. Individual adhesive strips / carry handles are simply separated by hand along the perforated dividing line using paper tabs.

Substances that are added to plastics in order to achieve, among other things, reduced hardness or an increased ability to change shape. Soft PVC carriers are used for cable tapes, for example - but there may also be plasticizers in the surfaces to be bonded that can interact with the adhesive tape.

Transfer of plasticizers, e.g. from plastics, into adjacent adhesive layers. Consequence: Brittleness of the plastic and change in the properties of the adhesive.

Adhesive tapes with polyethylene carrier films are characterized by their high elasticity and impermeability with low tensile strength. They are used especially for surface protection tapes and in other special areas of application.

During polymerization, chains of adhesive molecules are formed. They intertwine and create the bond between the two surfaces to be bonded. Polymerization determines the internal strength (cohesion) of the cured adhesive.

Adhesive tapes with a polypropylene backing are very frequently used for packaging tapes. They are very inexpensive and therefore represent an entry-level quality in the packaging tape sector. PP films have a high tear resistance and are also resistant to acids, alkalis and solvents. They are very sensitive to UV radiation and are therefore sometimes declared to be environmentally friendly as they dissolve completely. However, they are made from fossil raw materials and therefore, in our opinion, cannot be declared environmentally friendly per se. PP adhesive tapes can be printed using sandwich printing, although minimum quantities are required here. In surface printing, they can only be printed with special inks, but with inferior printing results compared to surface printing on PVC.

Adhesive tape with a polyester film carrier material is characterized by very high tensile strength, tear and abrasion resistance and is extremely resistant to high temperatures, alkalis, oils, acids and numerous solvents.

As a carrier material in the form of PU foam, this plastic plays a major role in self-adhesive solutions, especially in the area of double-sided adhesive tapes. PU films and foils with extreme stretch and tear resistance are also produced. PU foam serves as a carrier for mirror adhesive tape.

An adhesion promoter (primer) is usually applied to the substrate before the adhesive coating. The primer ensures good adhesive anchoring, which would not be the case if the adhesive were applied directly to the substrate.

Refers to the ability of an adhesive tape to absorb ink without changing its appearance after rolling and unrolling. INDUPLAST prints on almost all types of adhesive tape.

Printed adhesive tape

(Operating temperature)

At warmer temperatures, the tackiness increases and the adhesive strength of adhesive tapes decreases (with the exception of thermosetting adhesives). At cold temperatures, the tack decreases, but the adhesive strength only increases in the medium temperature range of approx. 18°C to 25°C. If adhesive tapes are stored cold, it is good to bring them back to room temperature of approx. 20°C for processing. If adhesive tape is to be processed at very cold temperatures or stored after application, freezer tape may be the right choice. See also packaging tape.

PVC films are often used as a carrier for adhesive tapes. In the packaging sector, these are rigid PVC films, while in the insulation sector they are soft PVC films. Rigid PVC films as a carrier material for packaging tape are very tear-resistant, robust and easy to print on. PVC adhesive tape is characterized by very good processing properties and high adhesive strength, even on difficult substrates. PVC adhesive tape is suitable for all standard and demanding printing and packaging applications.

The tendency of a flexible backing to return to its original dimensions in whole or in part after the forces that caused the expansion or deformation have been removed. This plays a major role in PP adhesive tapes.

The unwinding behavior of an adhesive tape is described in terms of unwinding noise and unwinding force. It can be loud or quiet, easy or difficult to unroll.

The force required to pull the adhesive tape off the roll - also known as unwind resistance. The unwinding force is influenced by the adhesive strength and the backing (release coat) of the adhesive tape.

(Natural) rubber adhesives are adhesives made from natural raw materials (natural rubber) that are applied with solvents. Rubber adhesives are versatile and can also be used on critical surfaces (e.g. recycled cardboard). They are characterized by a high initial tack and good adhesion to polar (high energy) and non-polar (low energy) surfaces (non-polar surfaces - e.g. PP, PE are characterized by low wettability, so adhesion to such surfaces can be difficult). They generally have average resistance to ageing and temperature.

In sandwich printing, the backing film is printed on the underside that has not yet been coated with adhesive. The film is only coated with adhesive after the printing process. This means that the printed image is located on the underside of the film carrier - between the film and the adhesive coating. As a result, the printed image is optimally protected against abrasion and scratches, has good durability and a high gloss as well as high color intensity. Film printing offers the possibility of up to 8-color printing and very good print quality. The disadvantage of sandwich printing in the adhesive tape area is the minimum quantities required. See also surface printing.

see liner

The ability of an adhesive tape not to slip or shear off. In the test, the adhesive tape is applied to a vertical plate and loaded parallel to its bonding plane. The shear strength therefore measures the ability of an adhesive tape to withstand lateral shear loads and is measured in kg/cm². Acrylic adhesives generally have a low shear strength in contrast to rubber and hot melt adhesives.

Silicone adhesive consists of synthetic polymers with rubber-like properties (elastomers) which, together with organic silicone compounds, produce an adhesive of the highest temperature resistance and extreme cold resistance. Silicone adhesives are the only adhesives that adhere to siliconized films and papers.

Adhesive that solidifies through evaporation of the solvent. Solvents dissolve the base materials and the other soluble adhesive components without chemical change. The adhesive hardens as the solvent evaporates.

(Splice)

Term from the English language, meaning a glued or patched area. This term is very common in the film, paper and cardboard industry. Splices are used in these industries to make paper or film webs endless. Various adhesive or splicing tapes are used for this purpose.

A material (adhesive) that is characterized by low internal strength or cohesion is referred to as tacky. An adhesive with high tack and low cohesion may be suitable for rough, porous and uneven substrates.

Adhesive tape should always be stored in its original packaging until it is used. It is best stored at a temperature of approx. 18-20°C and a relative humidity of approx. 50%. Direct UV radiation and exposure to heat as well as strong temperature fluctuations should be avoided. As a rule, it should be processed at room temperature.

Strapping tapes are characterized by their high tear and elongation resistance. Typical areas of application: Securing pallets, bundling heavy goods in logistics, industry, packaging services

Treatment of the surface to be bonded in order to prepare it before bonding so that the adhesion of the adhesive is enabled or optimized. The surfaces to be bonded should always be dry, clean and free from oil, grease and solvents.

Printing of adhesive tapes on the top side (non-adhesive side) of the backing material. Different ink formulations are used depending on the surface properties of the backing material. Polar surfaces, such as rigid PVC films, are very easy to print on, while non-polar surfaces require special pre-treatment and/or other ink formulations.

Surface protection tapes are used to temporarily protect sensitive surfaces during processing, transportation and/or assembly and installation. In addition to effective protection, it is important that the surface protection tape can be removed from the masked surface without leaving any adhesive residue.

see initial adhesive strength

Describes the strength of the backing material of an adhesive tape against tearing transverse to the running direction of the adhesive tape. The tear resistance can be increased by implementing threads into the adhesive tape. INDUPLAST offers thread-reinforced tapes, packaging tapes and filament tapes in various quality versions.

Telescoping occurs when an adhesive tape is pushed out in a funnel shape (telescopic) due to strong internal pressure. This deformation, which does not affect the adhesive properties, is caused by excessively tight winding during the manufacture of the adhesive tape or by subsequent swelling if the adhesive tape is exposed to high humidity without protection.

The temperature resistance of an adhesive tape describes the ability of an adhesive tape to withstand certain temperatures after application without reducing the adhesive strength. The temperature range is given in °C from the lowest to the highest temperature.

see shear strength

The tensile strength indicates the load under which an adhesive tape tears. It therefore describes the tensile force at the moment of tearing and is measured in N/25mm or N/cm. The tear strength depends on the backing material and any reinforcing materials (e.g. filament threads).

(Thermosetting)

A special property of an adhesive that increases in hardness and adhesive strength when exposed to heat. Thermosetting tapes are used in electrical engineering, in the manufacture of capacitors and in coil winding.

Reinforcement of adhesive tapes with polyester threads - mainly in the area of packaging adhesive tape. The polyester threads are applied to the adhesive side of the tape. This increases the tear resistance of the adhesive tape. The polyester threads can be inserted in various patterns. SK4 is standard on the market - these are 3 longitudinal threads and a sinus curve. INDUPLAST also offers the option of choosing only longitudinal threads or other patterns with a sine curve and/or longitudinal threads. INDUPLAST also offers thread reinforcement with colored instead of white polyester threads and a more sustainable version with linen threads.

The perceived adhesive strength of an adhesive tape when touched. Caution: The perceived impression can be deceptive and says little about the actual adhesive strength.

Tightness describes the properties of a material to resist external influences. In the case of adhesive tapes, impermeability to chemicals (e.g. alkalis, acids or solvents), moisture and gases plays a particularly important role.

see thumb test

Transfer adhesive tapes are adhesive tapes without a carrier. The aim is simply to apply the adhesive to a surface using a release material (liner). This technique can be used to bond transparent materials, foams, decorative strips, plastic and metal signs and photos. Transfer adhesive tape is used in everyday life for food packaging, forms or envelopes. These tapes are also used to "make endless/continuous" adhesive tapes.

Viscosity says something about the viscosity and internal resistance of a liquid. (low viscosity = low viscosity; high viscosity = high viscosity).

Wet adhesive tape is often made from paper and has an adhesive - usually vegetable glue - that is activated by moistening. This is a sustainable adhesive tape solution in the packaging tape sector with environmentally friendly attributes.