How to Choose Between Industrial Tapes and Liquid or Spray Adhesives.

Industrial tapes serve various purposes in manufacturing, construction, and other specialized applications. In this post, we’ll briefly review each and then consider the key considerations for choosing them instead of liquid or spray adhesives.

Duct, electrical, packaging, double-sided, and transfer are found commonly in industrial applications.

Duct tape is prized for its strength and versatility. Commonly used in construction applications, it’s strong enough to use in various applications on the job site, including temporary repairs, sealing, and fastening.

Electrical tape offers insulation and safety for electrical work due to its resistance to electrical currents. It’s typically used for bundling, color coding, and splicing electrical wire.

As the name suggests, packaging tape is used to secure boxes and other packages for shipping.

Structural, or bonding, tapes have bonding strength strong enough to serve as a replacement for mechanical fasteners, such as screws and rivets or welding. To ensure performance, structural tapes must resist environmental factors such as moisture, chemicals, extreme temperatures, and more. Many structural tapes are double-sided and coated with adhesive on both sides. They come in various forms, sizes, and strengths, including transparent, foam, acrylic, high-performance, and more. Double-sided tapes are often used for mounting, joining, and assembly, and while not all double-sided tapes are considered “structural,” most serve as a permanent bonding solution.

The benefits of structural tapes include weight reduction, improved aesthetics, enhanced sealing, stress distribution, and assembly time efficiency. They also help as a dampener, reducing vibration and providing impact resistance.

Transfer tape is a highly versatile industrial tape with a thin adhesive film but no carrier or backing. It’s easily transferred to most dry surfaces from a peel-away release liner.

The decision between industrial-grade tapes and liquid or spray adhesives will depend on several factors unique to each application. One of the most critical considerations is assembly flexibility. While tapes provide a quick bond and immediate handling strength, they do not allow positioning flexibility like liquid adhesives. A liquid or spray adhesive typically permits precise adjustments before curing.

Substrate compatibility is another significant factor. While tapes and liquid adhesives can bond a wide range of materials, the composition of the combined surfaces might preclude one or the other. For example, tapes are often the better choice for bonding dissimilar metals.

Another consideration is the assembly process itself. Those include application-specific factors such as workspace considerations, regulatory compliance, and atmospheric conditions. Additionally, how each will contribute to their application's throughput, yield, and labor must be weighed into the decision.

Depending on the processes in place and the equipment at hand, liquid, spray, or tape might be the best choice for a specific application. This plays into the overall cost considerations in both the short and long term. While tapes are generally less expensive per linear foot, liquids may offer more reliable long-term bonding.

Tapes, liquid, and spray adhesives have different strengths, so the choice ultimately comes down to your specific needs and constraints. Evaluation of the substrates being joined, the process, overall cost, and the product’s end use will determine which product best suits your application.

Austin Hardware offers a wide range of adhesive solutions. Our adhesives experts can help you decide which products are best for your applications. Contact your nearest Austin Hardware location to speak with one of our experienced reps today.

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