Tack, peel adhesion, shear adhesion and tensile strength describe different properties of tape. A tape may bond quickly on brief contact while being designed for a different type of load. Understanding what a measured value means helps you make a more informed choice.
Tack: does the tape stick quickly?
Tack describes the initial adhesion on brief contact. A tape with high tack sticks quickly when the adhesive touches the substrate. This can be useful for fast packaging operations or when there is little time for positioning.
Peel adhesion: how does the tape come off?
Peel adhesion describes the force required to pull applied tape away from the substrate at a specified angle. The value depends on the test method, substrate, angle, speed and time between application and testing.
Shear adhesion: does the bond hold?
Shear adhesion describes resistance to a load acting parallel to the surface. This is relevant when a bond is subjected to weight or a continuous pulling force. Test duration, load and temperature are all part of the assessment.
Tensile strength and elongation
Tensile strength indicates how much force the tape can withstand lengthwise before it breaks. Elongation describes how much the material stretches before breaking. These properties are particularly important for reinforced tapes and tapes that need to withstand tensile loads.
Unwind force and ease of use
Unwind force is the force required to pull tape from the roll. The backing, adhesive, roll diameter, speed and temperature influence how easily the tape unwinds. Different unwind characteristics may be desirable for manual and machine application.
Assessing measured values in context
Each measured value describes a specific test. The substrate, preparation, temperature, pressure, speed and test duration all influence the result. A measured value for one property therefore does not replace an assessment of the application as a whole.
Van Loenhout Products discusses the properties relevant to your application and helps you compare different tape options effectively.
