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Here are the most widely used terminologies within the Pressure Sensitive Tape Industry.  We think this will help the browser gain more knowledge and better understanding of the products.  This will also be helpful in being able to articulate what specific material on is looking for.  Please look at this page as often as you like.  When you have a problem with your material or what to look for a new material.

A

ADHESION - The bond produced by contact between a pressure sensitive adhesive and surface.

ADHESION BUILD-UP - An increase in the peel adhesion value of a pressure sensitive tape after it has been allowed to dwell to the applied surface.            

ADHESION TO BACKING - The bond produced by contact between a pressure sensitive adhesive and the tape backing when one piece of tape is           applied to the back of another piece of tape.

ADHESIVE DEPOSIT - Adhesive, which is pulled away from the tape and remains on surface to which the tape was applied.

ADHESIVE TRANSFER - transfer of adhesive from its normal position on the tape to the surface to which the tape was attached, either during unwind or removal.

B

BACKING - relatively thin flexible material to which the adhesive is applied .  Theoretically, any material, which is reasonably flat, relatively thin and flexible could be used as a tape backing.

BI-DIRECTIONAL - Related to strapping tapes, in which the reinforcing material consists of filaments in both the length and cross directions, usually woven cloth.

BURSTING STRENGTH - The ability of a tape to resist damage, when force is evenly applied perpendicularly to the surface of the tape.  

C

CARRIER - Sometimes used to refer to the backing material, particularly in double-faced tapes.

COATED CLOTH - Fabric with a rubber or plastic back coating to give increased moisture resistance or longer wear.

COHESION (Cohesive strength, internal bond) – The ability of the adhesive  to resist splitting.  Good cohesion is necessary for clean removal.

COLD FLOW - The tendency of a pressure sensitive adhesive to act like a heavy viscous liquid over a period of time.  Such phenomena as oozing and increase in adhesion, are one result of this characteristic.

COLOR - The particular color of a tape, when looking at the backing, regardless of the color of the adhesive.  

COLOUR STABILITY - The ability of a tape to retain its original color, particularly when exposed to light.

CONFOMABILITY - The ability of a tape to fit snugly or make essentially complete contact with the surface of an irregular object without creasing or folding.

CREPE - Paper which has small “folds’ in it, giving it high stretch and conformability.    

CROSS-LINKED - The development of three-dimensional structure in an adhesive which is activated normally by heat.  An improvement in shear resistance, high temperature resistance and oil or solvent will normally result.

CUPPING - A slightly U-shaped deformation of the tape (at right angles to the length).

CURLING - The tendency of a tape to curl back on itself when unwound from the roll.