Tapes.

What are Tapes?

Adhesive tapes are versatile and indispensable components in precision engineering and beyond, designed to provide secure bonding, insulation, protection and marking. These components are typically flat, flexible strips coated with adhesive on one or both sides, allowing them to adhere to various surfaces.

The physical attributes of tapes, such as width, length and material composition, determine their suitability for specific project applications. When integrated with other components or systems, tapes ensure stability, conductivity, insulation or protection, enhancing the overall functionality and longevity of the assemblies they are part of.

How Adhesive Tape Works.

Tapes work by leveraging their adhesive properties to form a secure bond between surfaces. This makes them ideal for a wide range of applications across numerous industries. For instance, strong adhesive tapes are essential in the automotive and aerospace sectors for bundling wires and cables, ensuring they remain organised and protected.

In the electrical industry, self-adhesive tapes like PVC electrical tape provide insulation, identification and safety by covering exposed wires, preventing short circuits and electric shocks. Adhesive tapes are also widely used in everyday projects for tasks such as sealing joints, protecting surfaces during painting and marking hazardous areas. Each type of tape, from duct tape to PTFE tape, serves a unique purpose, addressing specific technical needs with precision.

Materials Tapes Are Made From.

Accu's range of tapes is manufactured from a variety of materials, each chosen for its unique properties that enhance performance in specific contexts.

PVC is known for its durability and resistance to moisture, making it ideal for electrical insulation and outdoor applications.

Soft polyester offers flexibility and strength, suitable for wrapping and bundling wiring looms.

Crepe paper is commonly used for masking tapes due to its easy tear-ability and ability to conform to irregular surfaces.

PTFE is renowned for its non-stick properties and resistance to high temperatures, making it suitable for sealing threaded pipe connections.

Polycloth is durable and strong, perfect for heavy-duty applications like duct tape.

Aluminium foil offers superior heat and light reflection, commonly used in HVAC systems.

EPR (Ethylene Propylene Rubber) is excellent for self-amalgamating tapes that require high levels of insulation and waterproofing.

PE foam provides cushioning and shock absorption, ideal for double-sided foam tapes.

Silicone is heat resistant and flexible, used in high-temperature environments.

Each material is selected to maximize the performance and durability of the tape in its intended application, ensuring reliability and efficiency.

What Size and Type of Tapes Are Available?.

Our self-adhesive tapes come in a range of sizes and types to cater to diverse engineering applications. Each one can be purchased as a single adhesive tape roll to make getting exactly the quantity you need for your next project simple.

They are available in widths ranging from 12mm to 100mm and lengths from 5M to 50M, ensuring precision in different tasks.

The variety of tapes includes electrical tape, which is essential for insulating electrical wires; wiring loom tapes used in automotive and aerospace for bundling wires; masking tape for protecting surfaces during painting; and hazard tapes for marking dangerous areas.

PTFE tape is used for sealing threaded pipe joints, while duct tape is known for general-purpose repairs. Foil tape is used in HVAC systems, self-amalgamating tape bonds to itself for waterproofing, double-sided foam tape provides cushioning and shock absorption, silicone tape resists high temperatures, and non-adhesive PVC tape is used for bundling and wrapping without leaving adhesive residue.

By offering a comprehensive range of self-adhesive tape sizes, materials and finishes, Accu ensures that every tape meets the exacting standards required by precision engineering and other demanding industries.

FAQs.

Q: What is the strongest adhesive tape?.

A: The strongest adhesive tape available on the market is typically duct tape. This option provides excellent bonding strength for various applications. Accu has a wide range of strong adhesive tapes to find the best fit for your needs, whether it’s for heavy-duty repairs, maintenance or precision engineering projects.

Q: How long does adhesive tape last?.

A: The lifespan of adhesive tape depends on several factors, including the type of tape, the surface it is applied to and the environmental conditions it is exposed to. Generally, high-quality adhesive tapes, like those made from PVC or PTFE, can last for several years if stored and used under optimal conditions.

Q: What are the cons of adhesive tape?.

A: While adhesive tapes are highly versatile and useful, they do have some limitations. Over time, adhesive strength can degrade, especially when exposed to extreme temperatures, moisture or UV light. Additionally, certain surfaces may not adhere well to tape, and removing tape can sometimes leave residue or damage the surface.

Q: What does tape not stick to?.

A: Adhesive tapes may struggle to stick to very rough, oily or dirty surfaces. Surfaces such as Teflon (PTFE), silicone and some high-density polyethylene (HDPE) are also notoriously difficult for tapes to adhere to due to their non-stick properties. For reliable adhesion, ensure surfaces are clean and dry.

Bespoke Tapes Manufacture.

High precision, bespoke manufacture of Tapes to customer specification. State of the art facilities specialising in both small batch prototyping and large scale manufacture.

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