Pressure-sensitive Tape - Varieties of PSA Tape

Varieties of PSA Tape

• Transparent office tape has a transparent film backing and an acrylic or synthetic rubber based adhesive. It is used for sealing envelopes, repairing torn paper products, general holding, etc.
• Archival tape is similar to transparent office tape, with low-acid adhesives that will not degrade surfaces they are applied to, protecting documents from damage during long-term storage.
• 'Gaffer tape' (or simply "Gaff tape") is normally based on a heavy fabric or plastic tape. The name derives from its use by gaffers in the entertainment industry among others, to hold down cables particularly to prevent a tripping hazard and to prevent damage to cables and equipment. The adhesive leaves little or no residue, and the tape removes cleanly from cables, fabric, and many other surfaces. Its matte surface also minimizes reflections from lights.
• Duct tape usually has a plastic-coated fabric backing and a strong adhesive. Originally designed for sealing ammunition boxes from moisture and re-purposed for civilian use, it is commonly used by people needing a strong, versatile utility tape that is easy to tear by hand.
• Box sealing tape (also "Packing Tape"; "Parcel tape", UK) is a type of packaging tape which is clear or opaque, and used for closing packages for shipment. It is usually two inch (48 mm) or three inch (72 mm) wide and is made of a polypropylene or polyester backing.
• Masking tape is used to cover areas that shouldn't be painted. It usually has a paper backing and an adhesive designed to remove from surfaces (within a limited time).
• Electrical tape (or insulating tape) stretches to conform to irregular objects, and is made of materials like vinyl that do not conduct electricity. The various colors available are used to identify wires in a circuit.
• Surgical tape is an adhesive bandage used to hold a dressing on a wound.
• Double-sided tape has adhesive on both sides of a backing material, for attaching two surfaces together.
• "Adhesive transfer tape" does not have a backing material. Instead, it is sandwiched between two removable layers of a double-sided coated Release liner.
• Filament tape or "Strapping tape" has filaments (usually fiberglass) embedded into the adhesive for extra strength.
• Spike tape is a thinner version of gaffer tape that is usually brightly colored. It is used to mark places of furniture or actors on a stage.
• Hockey tape or "Friction tape" is a somewhat rough cloth tape used for grip on hockey and lacrosse sticks.
• Speed tape or "600 mile per hour tape" is a metallic foil with an adhesive designed to secure the tape under high speed airflow and is used on the skins of airplanes