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The basic prerequisite for selecting the right packaging tape is that it packs securely and saves material. It is important to clarify this:
PVC and PP adhesive tapes are characterized by a film-based carrier material. As similar as they are in appearance, they differ considerably in their properties. Paper adhesive tape has been trending for some time now – especially for sealing cardboard boxes – but here, too, completely different properties have to be taken into account.
In addition to the backing material, the adhesive coating has a very significant influence on the sealing security that can be guaranteed by an adhesive packaging tape. Typical adhesives for packaging tapes are: natural rubber, acrylate or hotmelt adhesive.
Which characteristics of packaging tape must be observed for secure packaging?
Caution: even packaging tape that appears to be more sustainable may be the wrong choice if it does not adequately fulfill its packaging function. If a carton closure only holds when the tape is applied multiple times on top of itself rather than a simple, single-layer seam closure, then sustainability can no longer be guaranteed due to the increased material consumption.
Compared to other adhesive packaging tapes, PVC adhesive tape has the highest tear resistance in the longitudinal and transverse directions – both with the standard thickness of the carrier material of 32 µm and with the even more stable PVC-strong versions (38-60 µm). It is therefore recommended as an adhesive packaging tape for medium and heavy packages/cardboard boxes.
PVC packaging tape is always coated with a natural rubber adhesive, which is suitable for good initial and permanent bonding, even on so-called difficult surfaces (e.g. cardboard with a high recycled content). It also has good temperature and ageing resistance as well as good resistance to moisture.
PVC adhesive tape unrolls easily, evenly and quietly, making it easy and pleasant to work with. Unwinding is even easier with PVC adhesive tapes with a structured film; the employees in the shipping department will thank you for it.
PVC adhesive tapes can be printed very well even in small quantities – including in special colors like neon or metallic. Due to their very good quality properties, PVC adhesive tapes are generally somewhat more expensive than PP adhesive tapes, although PP adhesive tape with natural rubber adhesive is roughly the same price level as PVC adhesive tape.
The PVC carrier material is mainly obtained from salt (57%) and a slightly smaller proportion from fossil raw materials (petroleum – 43%). The natural rubber adhesive based on renewable raw materials can normally be removed without leaving any residue. PVC adhesive tapes can easily be removed during paper recycling and are sent for thermal disposal.
Conclusion: the higher the quality requirements and the more extreme the conditions, the more likely a PVC adhesive tape is the right choice for a secure packaging solution.
PP adhesive tape looks similar to PVC adhesive tape, but the film surface is slightly shinier (see picture).
PP adhesive tape also has a high tear resistance in the longitudinal direction but a lower tear resistance in the transverse direction. If damaged by a sharp object, it can tear completely – also known as the so-called “pen test”. This involves piercing the tape with a sharp object: The PP adhesive tape tears, whereas the PVC adhesive tape merely creates a hole without the tape tearing away completely. PP adhesive tape is therefore more suitable for light to medium-weight packaged goods/cardboard packaging. As a film carrier material, PP adhesive tape also has good resistance to moisture.
PP adhesive tapes can have different adhesive coatings: they are most commonly coated with an acrylate adhesive or a hotmelt adhesive. Both versions are less expensive than PVC or paper adhesive tape. There is also PP adhesive tape with natural rubber adhesive, which is comparable to PVC adhesive tape in terms of adhesive strength and quiet unwinding behavior, but also in terms of price.
PP adhesive tape with acrylic adhesive is available in loud or quiet unwinding versions. Acrylic adhesives have a lower initial tack and are less suitable for bonding to difficult surfaces. The final adhesive strength is strong, but only develops after many hours or even days. Depending on the surface and handling, there is a risk that the tape will come loose immediately. They have good ageing, UV and temperature resistance. PP adhesive tape with acrylic adhesive is available in loud or quiet (low-noise) unwinding versions.
PP adhesive tape with hotmelt adhesive is characterized by a very high initial and final adhesive strength, even on difficult surfaces. It is often used in the form of machine rolls for machine packaging processes. However, hotmelt adhesives are only temperature and UV resistant to a limited extent. The adhesive cannot normally be removed without leaving residues, although this can also be an advantage in terms of tamper-proof packaging. A major disadvantage is the loud unwinding when processing PP packaging tape with a hotmelt adhesive coating.
All PP adhesive tape qualities cannot be printed directly without pre-treatment. The printing results in surface printing are nowhere near as good as on PVC adhesive tape. However, PP adhesive tape can be printed perfectly and with very good print quality for larger order quantities using so-called sandwich printing. In sandwich printing, the film is first printed from below and only then is the adhesive applied.
The carrier material for PP packaging tape is mineral oil-based. There are now also more sustainable PP carrier materials with recycled content. PP adhesive tapes can be recycled.
Conclusion: PP adhesive tape can be a suitable packaging alternative for light to medium-weight packaging/cardboard boxes that are not exposed to extreme loads. It is not only the choice of backing material that is important here, but also the type of adhesive.
Paper adhesive tape has been trending for many years, as it is characterized by its attractive appearance and recyclability, especially in combination with cardboard packaging.
Compared to adhesive tapes on film carriers, paper adhesive tapes have a lower tear resistance, but they can be easily torn off by hand. To increase stability and tear resistance, paper adhesive tapes can be provided with an additional thread reinforcement. However, this is also an option for PVC or PP adhesive tape. Paper adhesive tape generally has a low resistance to moisture.
Paper carrier materials are available in various grammages. Paper adhesive tapes are often equipped with a natural rubber or hotmelt adhesive and are therefore characterized by good initial and permanent adhesion to various surfaces.
Paper adhesive tape can be printed directly with good results, even in small quantities. However, special colors such as neon or metallic do not show up well on paper adhesive tape. Depending on the quality, the price of paper adhesive tapes is similar to that of PVC adhesive tape.
The properties of PVC, PP and paper packaging tape at a glance
| Properties | PVC | PP | paper |
| Carrier material | PVC film | PP film | paper |
| Adhesive | Natural rubber | Acrylate, hotmelt or natural rubber | Natural rubber or hotmelt |
| Initial adhesive strength | high | medium-high | high |
| Final adhesive strength | high | high | high |
| Tear resistance | very high | high (longitudinal direction) | medium |
| Load capacity | light, medium-heavy to heavy packaged goods | light to medium-heavy packaged goods | Light to medium-heavy packaged goods |
| Rolling resistance or unwinding resistance | light and even | light-medium depending on adhesive | light-medium depending on adhesive |
| Rolling noise or unwinding noise | quiet | quiet-loud | quiet |
| Ageing resistance | high | medium-high | medium |
| Temperature resistance | high | medium-high | medium-high |
| Moisture resistance | high | high | low |
| Printability | very good | medium-very good (sandwich printing / MOQ) | good |
| Pricing | high | medium-high | high |
| Sustainability | thermal diposal | recyclable | recyclable |
A lot is happening in the development of adhesive packaging tape with environmentally friendly attributes. For example, there are brand new bio-based adhesive tapes with PLA carrier films (based on corn starch), which are also industrially compostable; polyester films in very thin thicknesses (material-saving) or PP and polyester films with a high recycled content. The backing material for paper adhesive tapes comes from controlled sources and sustainable forestry (FSC®-, FSC®-Mix, PEFC-certified) and is elemental chlorine-free bleached (ECF). For further information, see also INDUPLAST sustainable adhesive tape/INDUgreen.
Do you have a packaging application and are wondering which adhesive tape is suitable? Or would you like more detailed advice and samples for your specific application?
Talk to us – we will be happy to provide you with expert advice.
Josef Löken GmbH & Co. KG
Schaffeldstr. 21
46395 Bocholt, Germany
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