Packaging tape is undoubtedly an element of the packing process that is indispensable. It is a part of the whole packaging system that if taken for granted would create immense mess and inconvenience. For whatever purpose you have in mind, it’s always helpful to know the benefits and limitations of the different tapes available.
Basically, there are three kinds of packing tape; acrylic, hot melt and natural rubber. If you’re in a store, you can distinguish one from the others by the color in rolls. Acrylic tapes are much clearer, hot melt tapes appear milky and natural rubber tapes are brown. When used in sealing, they are all transparent. Each type has its own packing characteristics that will suit your packaging requirements.
Acrylic Tapes
An acrylic tape is considered a general purpose tape and used in common applications because it’s cheaper. Clarity-wise, it looks good on all cartons because it doesn’t yellow with age. If you’re working outside, under the direct rays of the sun, acrylic tape is the best to use because it has high UVI stability and the adhesion is not affected by ultraviolet rays. Another good thing about acrylic is that it does not fracture in extreme temperature. If your product needs to be placed in freezers, it’s best to use acrylic tapes. It is also excellent when you’re thinking of long term situation because it does fracture with age.
However, acrylic tape has also limitations. It has a very slow set up time. It would take twenty to twenty-five minutes or even up to two hours to set up completely that’s why this is not recommended if you have automated assembly line. If you are planning to use recycled cartons, you shouldn’t use acrylic tape because it does not do well with dirty surfaces. It would be difficult to use this tape manually, without the aid of a dispenser, because it is hard to release from the roll needing a good pulling.
Natural Rubber Tapes
When you’re working in a dusty, dirty or oily environment, natural rubber tape is strongly recommended because the adhesive will bond even in stained surfaces. This is because natural rubber tape, which comes from the sap of rubber trees, has extremely high stack or in more simple terms, very sticky. This tape is applicable for tough surfaces.
A natural rubber tape doesn’t come cheap. Among the three basic types of tape, this one is the most expensive. It’s only good for short to medium term of use as the tape starts to deteriorate after two to three years. It’s not either the recommended tape when you need to seal under the sun because it has poor UVI stability and ages quickly in outdoor condition because the rubber starts to break down. Moreover, this tape doesn’t look good on cartons because it starts to yellow immediately that some people might think your product is already old.
Hot Melt Tapes
A hot melt tape is made from synthetic rubber and was developed during the Second World War where there’s shortage in natural rubber. The best thing about this tape is that it has a very quick tack and very fast set up time, which means that if you put it on a carton, it will immediately tack on the surface unlike the acrylic tape. This is best recommended for production line using semi-automated or automated packaging machineries. It is also very easy to release from the roll so it’s not difficult to use in the absence of a tape dispenser.
Some limitations of hot melt tapes include its high noise when released from the roll. If you’re working in a quiet environment, this could sometimes be a nuisance. The tape is not good for long term storage because it starts cracking within a year or two and it also yellows with age. It’s not either recommended for outdoor applications because of poor UVI quality.
Sealing cartons need not be a problem as long as you know what purpose the tapes serve you, which in turn will lead you to the perfect choice of packing tape that will suit your packaging needs.
Basically, there are three kinds of packing tape; acrylic, hot melt and natural rubber. If you’re in a store, you can distinguish one from the others by the color in rolls. Acrylic tapes are much clearer, hot melt tapes appear milky and natural rubber tapes are brown. When used in sealing, they are all transparent. Each type has its own packing characteristics that will suit your packaging requirements.
Acrylic Tapes
An acrylic tape is considered a general purpose tape and used in common applications because it’s cheaper. Clarity-wise, it looks good on all cartons because it doesn’t yellow with age. If you’re working outside, under the direct rays of the sun, acrylic tape is the best to use because it has high UVI stability and the adhesion is not affected by ultraviolet rays. Another good thing about acrylic is that it does not fracture in extreme temperature. If your product needs to be placed in freezers, it’s best to use acrylic tapes. It is also excellent when you’re thinking of long term situation because it does fracture with age.
However, acrylic tape has also limitations. It has a very slow set up time. It would take twenty to twenty-five minutes or even up to two hours to set up completely that’s why this is not recommended if you have automated assembly line. If you are planning to use recycled cartons, you shouldn’t use acrylic tape because it does not do well with dirty surfaces. It would be difficult to use this tape manually, without the aid of a dispenser, because it is hard to release from the roll needing a good pulling.
Natural Rubber Tapes
When you’re working in a dusty, dirty or oily environment, natural rubber tape is strongly recommended because the adhesive will bond even in stained surfaces. This is because natural rubber tape, which comes from the sap of rubber trees, has extremely high stack or in more simple terms, very sticky. This tape is applicable for tough surfaces.
A natural rubber tape doesn’t come cheap. Among the three basic types of tape, this one is the most expensive. It’s only good for short to medium term of use as the tape starts to deteriorate after two to three years. It’s not either the recommended tape when you need to seal under the sun because it has poor UVI stability and ages quickly in outdoor condition because the rubber starts to break down. Moreover, this tape doesn’t look good on cartons because it starts to yellow immediately that some people might think your product is already old.
Hot Melt Tapes
A hot melt tape is made from synthetic rubber and was developed during the Second World War where there’s shortage in natural rubber. The best thing about this tape is that it has a very quick tack and very fast set up time, which means that if you put it on a carton, it will immediately tack on the surface unlike the acrylic tape. This is best recommended for production line using semi-automated or automated packaging machineries. It is also very easy to release from the roll so it’s not difficult to use in the absence of a tape dispenser.
Some limitations of hot melt tapes include its high noise when released from the roll. If you’re working in a quiet environment, this could sometimes be a nuisance. The tape is not good for long term storage because it starts cracking within a year or two and it also yellows with age. It’s not either recommended for outdoor applications because of poor UVI quality.
Sealing cartons need not be a problem as long as you know what purpose the tapes serve you, which in turn will lead you to the perfect choice of packing tape that will suit your packaging needs.
