Ever wondered what goes into manufacturing adhesive tapes? Learn about the different materials that come together to produce adhesive tapes that are strong and can be used for everyday to industrial solutions.
While some pressure sensitive tapes are still prepared with natural rubber, most tapes now mainly use artificial materials.
Early Adhesive Tapes
Early adhesive tapes were made from natural compounds consisting of tree pitch, beeswax, flour paste, as well as veggie resins. These primitive adhesives were utilized in olden dayssince the Middle Ages, until much more efficient adhesives made from animal cells were created. Throughout the nineteenth century, the existence of rubber-based glue offered more efficient option.
In the mid-1880s, pressure sensitive tapes were created, as scientists looked for brand-new uses for rubber. In 1845, Dr. Horace Day developed a rubber-based pressure sensitive tape for use in surgical treatment. Due to the fact that rubber has restricted dampness, the early glue tapes based upon Day’s creation called for supplementary agents to increase viscosity– resins and oils were included in improving attachment.
The growth of synthetic resins, and also substances took off after the second world war. The acetate film was created, it waslooped onto huge spools and loaded into a device that applied the glue. The device comprised of a series of rollerssimilar to that of a printing machine. After the adhesive is applied, the film is warmed, as well as dried out and then cut into individual strips that are packaged inside plastic dispensers.
The Backing
The backing of the tape typically includes cellulose acetate, an artificial derivative of cellulose, which originates from wood pulp or cotton seeds. The cellulose is treated with chemicals like acetic acid and anhydride. While the side that will not receive a glue coating is treated with a releasingreagent that enables the tape to be handled without sticking together.
The compoundsused will differ betweenmanufacturers.Nonetheless, stearatochromic chloride and polystearic carbonate are common options. Before glue is applied, the adherend side of the tape backing will be topped with solvents like nitrile rubber or chlorinated rubber.
The Adhesive
To make the adhesive compound, some manufacturers make use of as many basic materials that go through numerous phases of manufacturing. However, generally the adherend is composed of acrylic resins, petroleum by-products that are broken down into alcohols and acids prior to being fused into a polymer substance. This substance is then blended with mineral spirits or a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a liquid emulsion that is coated ontothe backing.
That is quite a lot of effort that is put into producing a product that we deem to be very simple. Nonetheless, now that we know about the intricacies that go into producing adhesive tape, we should appreciate them and use them properly.