Glossary of Terminology
View terminology that relates to converting adhesive tapes and related products.
Abrasion - Surface loss of a material due to frictional forces.
Abrasion Resistance - The ability of a tape to withstand rubbing or wearing away by friction and still function satisfactorily.
Accelerated Aging - A method in which pressure sensitive materials are subjected to special environmental conditions in order to measure the effects of natural aging in a shorter period of time.
Acid Resistant - Withstands the action of acids.
Acrylic Adhesive - A pressure sensitive, viscoelastic blend of acrylic-based high strength polymers which may be modified by tackifying additives. Acrylic adhesives are a very broad class of materials and come in many types to achieve different properties.
Acrylic - A synthetic polymer with excellent aging characteristics that can be used as either a single component adhesive or a coating or saturant, depending upon composition.
Acrylic - Based Adhesive - Pure acrylic adhesives are typically higher temperature performing pressure sensitive adhesive materials and have excellent chemical, UV, solvent and aging resistance. Acrylic adhesives are resistant to plasticizers such as flexible PVC and have high shear strength. Typically requires more setup time to create a good bond that is permanent.
Adhesion Failure - The separation of two materials at the surface interface rather than within one of the materials itself.
Adhesion to Self - The force required to remove a tape from its own backing to which it has been reapplied with a defined pressure after being removed from the roll.
Adhesion to Steel - Force required to remove tape from a steel plate.
Adhesion - A bond produced between a pressure sensitive adhesive and a surface, determined by the materials' surface energy and the chemical makeup of the adhesive. The ultimate adhesion varies with the adhesive, but it is usually in the range of 72-96 hours.
Adhesive - A substance that will usefully hold two or more objects together solely by intimate surface contact. Featuring acrylic adhesive both aqueous and solvent types, hot melt rubber adhesive, solvent rubber adhesive, silicone adhesives, urethane adhesives, heat activated adhesives, differential adhesives and liquid adhesives.
Adhesive Bleed - A condition in which adhesive has oozed out or has been mechanically drawn from under the edge of a pressure-sensitive material through a split in the back of the material or through the edge of sheeted stock.
Adhesive Residue - The adhesive remaining on a substrate when a self-adhesive material is removed from the substrate.
Adhesive Skip - An area without adhesive.
Adhesive Tapes - Materials include acrylic adhesives, modified acrylic adhesives, solvent rubber, adhesives modified rubber adhesives, hot melt rubber adhesives, urethane adhesives, silicone adhesives, coated onto polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, Kapton, foils, foams, fabrics, both single coated or coated on two sides, medical acrylate adhesives, medical rubber adhesives coated onto polyester, polyethylene, polyurethane, woven & non-woven materials, hydrocolloid and hydrogel adhesives and medical grade silicone adhesives.
Adhesive Transfer - The transfer of adhesive from its normal position on the tape to the surface to which the tape was attached, either during unwind or removal, resulting in tacky areas on the surface.
Adhesive Transfer Tape - Unsupported pressure sensitive tape consist of release liners and adhesives. The release liners are commonly paper and coated on both sides of the paper with silicone release agents creating a differential release. Acrylic adhesives are commonly used in this application. Examples of unsupported tapes are envelope sealing, graphic attachment and splicing.
Aging - The irreversible change of material properties after environmental exposure for an interval of time. Aging can be "natural" when the temperature and humidity are those encountered naturally, or it can be "accelerated" by elevating the temperature.
Air Checks - See Air trap.
Air Curing - The vulcanization of a rubber product in air as distinguished from vulcanizing in a press or steam vulcanizer.
Air Trap - Surface markings or depressions due to trapping air voids in body or part due to entrapped gas between the materials being cured and the mold or press surface.
Aluminum Foil Tapes - Aluminum Foil Tapes are typically electrically and thermally conductive.
Ambient Temperature - The temperature surrounding the object under consideration.
Anchorage - The specific adhesion of a pressure sensitive adhesive to a face material or an anchor coat.
Application Temperature - The temperature range at which the tape may easily be applied once off the roll.
Back-grind - Distortion at the parting line, usually in the form of a ragged or torn indentation.
Backing (Carrier) - A relatively thin flexible material such as film, paper, cloth or metal foil, to which the adhesive is applied. Theoretically, any material that is reasonably flat, relatively thin, and flexible could be used as a tape backing.
Back-scoring (Crack & Peel) - Cutting the bottom release liner in such a way as to aid in the dispensing or applying of the product.
Baloney (aka Lathe or Lever) Slitting - This process is a single knife slitting process used to slit logs to virtually any width roll. This method allows for quick change-over to different tapes and sizes enabling the converter to produce small or large quantities quickly with little down time.
Bi-Directional - Related to strapping tapes, in which the reinforcing material consists of filaments in both the length and the cross directions, usually a woven cloth.
Biaxial Orientation - The process of stretching hot plastic film in both the machine and transverse directions resulting in moleular reorintation.
Bleeding - Penetration through the tape of a coloring liquid (paint, etc.) onto the surface to which the tape is applied.
Blemish - A mark, deformity, or injury which impairs the appearance.
Blister - A raised spot or bubble on the surface or a separation between layers, usually forming a void or air-filled space in the material.
Bloom - A dusty or milky looking deposit caused by migration of a liquid or solid to the surface occurring sometime after curing. Sometimes bloom is confused with surface dust.
Bond - The union of materials by use of adhesives, usually used in related parts vulcanized after attaching.
Bonding Tapes - Bonding tapes have pressure sensitive on two sides to bond mating surfaces with strengths that range from permanent to repositionable. Substrates range from metal to wood to film, foam, paper and foils. Adhesive types are acrylic, rubber, thermo bond and electrically and thermally conductive.
Breakdown Voltage - The voltage at which breakdown of the tape occurs under the prescribed conditions of the test, divided by the distance apart of the two electrodes between which the voltage is applied.
Breaking Load - The force needed to break the tape under stress. Clean peel: A tape, which can be removed after application, without leaving residue behind.
Brittleness - Tendency to crack when subjected to deformation.
Bumpon Products - A 3M trademark name for self-adhering shapes made of urethane rubber that when applied will help prevent slipping, mute noise and absorb impact. Not to be used outdoors, if exposed to UV, chalking will occur.
Buna N - A general term for the copolymers of butadiene and acrylonitrile. Also known as Nitrile.
Buna S - A general term for the copolymers of butadiene and styrene. Also known as SBR and GRS.
Bursting Strength - The ability of a tape to resist damage when a force is applied evenly and perpendicularly to the surface of a tape.
Butt Joint - Joining two ends of material whereby the junction is perpendicular to the ID of an O-ring.
Butyl - A synthetic rubber of the polybutene type exhibiting very low permeability to gases.
Caliper - The thickness measured under specified conditions, usually measured in mils (thousandth of an inch).
Carrier - A web stock or the backing material that holds a pressure sensitive adhesive, especially used to refer to double-faced or double coated tape construction.
Catalyst - A chemical in small quantities which accelerates a chemical reaction without itself necessarily becoming part of the final product.
Cellular Material - A generic term for materials containing many cells (either open, closed, or both) dispersed throughout the mass.
Checking - Short, shallow cracks on the surface, generally due to effect of destructive action of environmental conditions.
Chemical Resistance - The resistance of a pressure-sensitive material to chemical deterioration.
Closed Cell - A flexible, cellular material consisting of a non-interconnecting cell structure.
Coating - A layer of material covering a surface.
Coating Weight - The weight of a coating per unit area.
Co-extruded - Refers to film extruded in individual layers with the possibility of different raw materials in each layer providing unique combined film properties.
Cohesion (Cohesive Strength, Internal Bond) - The ability of the adhesive to resist splitting or slippage. Good cohesion is necessary for clean removal.
Cohesive Failure - The mode of failure wherein the adhesive splits; leaving some residue on the substrate and on the liner.
Cohesive Strength - The internal strength of an adhesive mass.
Cold Flow - The tendency of a pressure-sensitive adhesive to act like a heavy viscous liquid over long periods of time. Such phenomena as oozing and/or increases in adhesion are the results of this characteristic.
Compound - A mixture of polymers and other ingredients to produce a useable material.
Compression Set - The residual deformation of a material which remains in foam or rubber after it has been subjected to and released from a specific compressive stress for a definite period of time at a prescribed temperature. Compression set measurement are made for the purpose of evaluating the creep and stress relaxation properties of rubber. The numerical value is that percentage of the amount compressed that does not return, NOT a percentage of the ENTIRE specimen.
Conductive - To conduct or transmit heat or electricity.
Conformability - The ability of tape to fit snugly or make essentially complete contact with a curved or rough surface and/or of an irregularly shaped object without creasing or folding.
Contact Stain - Discoloration of a product by another material in the area directly touching it.
Converter (Fabricator) - One who modified products to enhance their value and final usage. Products can be modified primarily by: laminating, die-cutting to custom shape, precision slitting, adding/removing liners & cutting pieces to length.
Co-polymer - A polymer consisting of two different monomers chemically combined.
Copper Foil Tapes - Aluminum, brass, copper, lead and stainless steel foils are electrically and thermally conductive and used in the electronics, medical, transportation, construction and many other markets.
Corona Treatment - A process that alters the surface of a material or its surface energy by exposing that material to a high voltage electrical discharge treatment. Typically used to raise the surface energy of films such as polyethylene or polypropylene to obtain better adhesion of inks, adhesive and other coatings. High energy surfaces permit better wet-out (contact) of the coating than low energy surfaces.
Cracking - A sharp break or fissure in the surface, generally due to excessive strain.
Crazing - A surface effect on material characterized by multitudinous minute cracks.
Creep - A slow movement of the adhesive or backing under stress, which occurs with lapse of time after the immediate deformation, due to low cohesive strength.
Crepe Paper - Paper with crinkled or puckered textures. This allows the paper to stretch or elongate making it useful to curve and conform to irregular surfaces better that flat paper.
Creped - Paper that has small "folds" in it, giving it high stretch.
Cross Direction Tensile - Tensile strength measured at right angles to the length.
Cross Section - An O-ring as viewed if cut at right angles to the axis showing internal structure.
Cross-Linked (Cured) - The development of a three-dimensional structure in an adhesive, which is activated normally by heat. An improvement in shear resistance, high temperature resistance, and oil or solvent resistance will normally result.
Cupping - A slight U-shaped deformation of the tape (at right angles to the length) which usually appears after unwind tension is relaxed.
Cure - The act of vulcanization. (See Vulcanization)
Curl - Material that does not lay flat when slit or sheeted.
Curling - The tendency of a tape to curl back on itself when unwound from the roll and allowed to hang from the roll.
Cut - The distance between cuts or parallel faces of articles produced by repetitive slicing or cutting of long pre shaped rods or tubes such as lathe cut washers.
Cuts - The number of rolls slit from a master roll.
Dead Soft Aluminum - Aluminum that has had no annealing or hardening.
Delamination - A separation of the backing into two distinct layers, separation between laminations of a tape consisting of more than one backing, or the separation between filaments and backing of a filament-reinforced tape.
Dense Rubber - A solid rubber product with no voids or cells.
Density - A material's weight per unit volume. For instance, a lower density film will offer more coverage per its weight.
Die - A metal block usually circular with an inner and outer ring used to form materials via extrusion.
Die-cutting - Process by which any shape, pattern or design can be cut out of various pressure-sensitive tapes, utilizing customer-made dies.
Dielectric Strength -The measure of a product's ability to resist passage of a disruptive discharge produced by an electric stress; the voltage that an insulating material can withstand before breakdown occurs. Measure as volts per mil of thickness.
Differential Adhesive - Where the adhesion of faced and unfaced sides of double sided tapes differs.
Dimensional Stability - Where the tape will suffer minimal distortion, due to varying conditions of heat, cold, moisture, or other influences.
Double Coated (Double Sided or Double Faced) - An adhesive applied to both sides of a carrier. Also referred to as double sided or double faced.
Double Coated Foam Tapes - Double coated foam tapes are used for bonding rough and irregular surfaces, filling gaps and voids, sealing and redistributing weight and stress, and can be used both indoors and outdoors.
Double Coated Tape - A pressure-sensitive tape consisting of a carrier which is typically film or cloth with acrylic, rubber or silicone adhesives coated on both sides. The adhesive on each side of the carrier may be the same or different chemistries and may have the same or different coating thicknesses. Typically, a silicone differential release liner is necessary to unwind the roll. Double coated tapes offers internal strength, stability, and support to stretchy materials. Applications include mounting, joining, bonding, and holding indoor and outdoors
Drawdown - A small hand-prepared sample.
Dry Edge - A lack of coating on the edge of the web, often used for easy liner removal.
Durability - The probability that an item will continue to function at customer expectation levels, at the useful life without requiring overhaul or rebuild due to wear-out.
Durometer - A meter used for measuring the hardness of cellular materials. The Shore 00 scales measures the hardness of sponge.
Ease of Unwind - The force required to remove the tape from the roll under prescribed conditions.
Edge Curl - The peeling back or lifting of the outer edge of a tape after application. See cupping.
Edge Sealer - A material designed to provide additional security and durability after application of a pressure-sensitive product to a substrate.
Elasticity - The property of an article which tends to return to its original shape after deformation.
Elastomer - An elastic, polymeric substance, such as a natural or synthetic rubber with resilience or memory sufficient to return to its original shape after major or minor distortion.
Electrical Strength - The voltage at which breakdown of the tape occurs under the prescribed conditions of test, divided by the distance apart of the two electrodes between which the voltage is applied.
Electrical Tapes - Electrical tapes consist of a substrate such as glass cloth, polyester, polyimide, and vinyl with an adhesive on one or both sides. Often used for insulating, bonding, color coding, marking, protecting, thermal management and electrical shielding.
Elongation - Extension produced by a tensile stress, expressed numerically as a fraction or percentage of initial length.
Elongation at Break - The amount of tape that has stretched length wise at the point of breaking. It is expressed as a percentage of the original unstretched length
EMI/RFI Shielding Tapes - Shielding tapes include copper and aluminum foils, elastomeric materials laminated to polyester or polyimide films. Often used for their conductive and non-conductive properties, shielding and absorbing static charge, grounding, antistatic masking, cushioning and mechanical protections.
EPDM - A rubber polymer consisting of ethylene, propylene and diene molecules. EPDM materials have ozone resistant properties.
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) - A coppolymer of ethylene and vinyl acetate. Many different grades are manufactured, with the vinyl acetate content varying from 5 to 50 percent by weight.
Expanded Rubber - Cellular rubber having closed cells made from a solid rubber compound.
Extended Liner (Dry Edge) - Refers to the liner width extending beyond the actual adhesive tape width, for easy liner removal. Also referred to as finger lift liner.
Extruded - A manufacturing process where material is forced through a nozzle. Lay-flat material works better than skived material.
Extrusion - Material, under pressure, which is forced through the opening of a die in order to obtain a desired cross sectional shape.
Face Material (Face Stock) - Any paper, film, fabric laminate or foil material suitable for converting into pressure sensitive material stock. In the finished construction, this web is bonded to the adhesive layer and becomes the functional part of the tape construction.
Failure Modes Analysis (FMA) - A formal, structured procedure used to analyze failure mode data from both current and prior processes to prevent occurrence of those failure modes in the future.
Feasibility - A determination that a process, design, procedure, or plan can be successfully accomplished in the required time frame.
Feathering - A jagged, irregular point line frequently characterized by small "feathers" of the top-coat projecting into the masked area.
Filaments - This longitudinal "threads" of glass, polyester, nylon or other high-strength materials.
Filler - Chemically inert, finely divided material added to the Elastomer to aid in the processing and improvement of physical properties.
Film Tapes - Film tapes are constructed of a substrate such as polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyimide with acrylic, rubber, silicone adhesive on one side or both sides. Often used for masking, splicing, insulating and protecting.
Film - Uniform, homogeneous, nonfibrous synthetic webs of plastic with a thickness of under 10 mils or .010"..
Flagged Rolls - Used to identify a bad spot in the roll for internal processing (or possibly a splice).
Flagging - A peeling away from the surface of the end of a length of tape, particularly in a spiral-wrap application.
Flame Resistance / Retardant - The ability of a tape to withstand exposure to flame. Fireproof materials will not burn when exposed to a flame. Flame resistant (fire retardant, self-extinguishing) materials will burn when exposed to flame but not continue to burn after the flame is removed.
Flame Retardant in Situation - The ability of a tape to resist burning (once it has been applied to a substrate).
Flat-back Paper - Paper with a flat (not crinkled) texture. This allows the paper to retain it original shape making it useful for maintaining a straight line and smooth backing feel.
Flexible - The ability of a tape to be freely bent or flexed during application, particularly applicable to low temperature use.
Flexible PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride film suitably compounded with plasticizers to yield a softer, more flexible film.
Flow Marks - Surface imperfections due to improper flow and failure of stock to knit or blend with itself during the molding operation.
Fluorocarbon Films - A film with very high and low temperature limits, excellent electrical characteristics and very slippers, non-sticking surface. One example is Teflon® (polytetrafluorethylene), a DuPont™ product.
Fluting - Distortion of a roll of tape such that layers no longer form a circle.
Foam Tapes - Foam tapes are constructed with a substrate such as polyethylene, polyurethane neoprene and vinyl with an adhesive on one or both sides. Applications include window glazing, hyper joint extreme bonding.
Foam - A soft, cushiony material formed by creating bubbles in the base materials, such as natural or synthetic rubbers, or other elastomeric materials.
Foil - Foils, including aluminum, copper, brass, lead, stainless steel are electrically and thermally conductive. Often used in the electronics, medical, transportation, and constructions markets.
Friction - Resistance to motion due to the contact of surfaces.
Gapping - Opening between layers of tape within a roll.
Gasket - A device used to retain fluids under pressure or seal out foreign matter. Normally refers to a static seal.
Gasketing Tape - Gasket materials include natural & synthetic rubber, thermoplastic rubber, silicone rubber, films, plastic, vinyl, woven/non-woven fabrics, cork/rubber and chipboard and UL & FR materials. Name brands include Neoprene, EPDM, Buna-N, PORON® , and Nomex® , Lexan® , Mylar® , Kapton® .
Gauge - A device for measuring the thickness of an individual element.
Gloss - A light reflection characteristic of tape backings, usually expressed by such terms as glossy, low gloss, matte, etc.
Green Strength - Uncured adhesion between plied or spliced surfaces.
Hang Tabs - Hang tabs are used for hanging products on display, available in standard sizes or custom shapes.
Hardness, Shore A - The Durometer hardness as measured on a Shore "A" gauge. Higher numbers indicate harder material. (Example: 30 Shore is soft and 90 Shore is hard)
Heat Activated - A heat activated film laminated to a pressure sensitive adhesive on a release liner coated on both sides with silicone. Ideal for bonding, sound damping and non-slip materials.
Heat Resistance - The ability of a tape to withstand physical or chemical changes when exposed to high temperatures. a specified temperature under well defined conditions.
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) - A polyethylene resin/film made from petroleum ranging in density from approximately 0.940 to 0.965 gm//cm3. It is harder, more opaque plastic able to withstand higher temperatures. It has an SPI resin code of 2.
High-speed Unwind - Unwinding or dispensing of tapes at a relatively high rate of speed, usually more than 50 feet per minute.
Holding Power (Shear Adhesion) - The ability of a tape to resist the static forces applied in the same plane as the backing. Usually expressed in a time required for a given weight to cause a given amount of tape to come loose from a vertical panel.
Homogeneity / Homogeneous - Uniformity of composition throughout the material.
Hot Melt (Pressure sensitive adhesive) - A pressure sensitive adhesive, applied to the backing in a hot molten form, that cools to form a conventional pressure sensitive adhesive.
Hydrocolloid - Hydrocolloid adhesives are complex polymeric structures with the combined properties of adhesion and absorbency, making them ideal for wound care applications.
Hydrolysis - Chemical decomposition of a substance involving the addition of water.
Hydrophilic - Having affinity for water; dissolving in, absorbing, or mixiing easily with water.
Hydropphobic - Not compatible with water; will not abosorb or mix with water.
Impact Resistance - The ability of a tape to resist sudden impacts pulls or shocks as may sometimes be encountered by packages in transit.
Industrial Tapes - Examples of materials used in manufacturing include single coated and double coated tapes, polyurethane, polyethylene, neoprene and vinyl foams, surface protections and metalized films, aluminum and copper foils. Applications include cushioning, vibration dampening, sealing, shock absorption, chemical and weather resistance, masking, splicing, insulating, thermal management, decorating, mounting, marking, labeling, bonding, etc.
Insert - A part, usually metal, which is placed in a mold and appears as an integral part of the molded product.
Insulating Tape - Normally refers to tape used for electrical insulation.
Insulation Resistance - The ability of tape to prevent the flow of electrical current across its surface, usually measured on the backing.
Kapton® - A DuPont™ registered trademark for polyimide film used in applications that require extreme temperatures, chemical and radiation resistance, electrical performance and mechanical stability.
Kiss-cutting - Die-cutting process by which only the actual usable part remains on the liner; all waste (matrix) around the die-cuts is removed to allow for easy removal.
Kraft - A sulfate wood pulp paper.
Label Stock - Pressure sensitive materials that are usually printed, frequently die-cut, furnished in roll or sheet form with a liner, and intended for use as labels.
Laminate (verb) - Apply one layer of material over another.
Laminated - Built up from thinner layers.
Laminating - Joining of several layers of varying materials utilizing pressure-sensitive tapes.
Lamination - Two or more materials bonded together by an adhesive, solvent or extrusion coating, desinged for specific protective functions.
Lay Flat (Stay Flat) - A material with good non-curling characteristics.
Lead Shielding - Featuring lead foils and sheets in many thickness with and without adhesives used for x-ray and radiation shielding.
Legging - The stringing out of a pressure-sensitive adhesive, that may occur during die cutting and stripping.
Lexan® - General Electric Company's registered trademark for polycarbonate film.
Lifting - A situation where a section of tape has pulled away form the surface to which it have been applied.
Liner Release - Separation of the liner from the pressure sensitive adhesive immediately before it is applied to the substrate.
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) - A polyethylene resin/film made from petroleum ranging in density from approximately 0.910 - 0.940 g/cm3. It is weaker than HDPE being relatively soft, with a lower tensile strength and higher resilience. It has an SPI resin code of 4.
Low Stretch - Mostly applicable to film tapes, the ability of a tape to resist stretching and hence shrink back once applied. This is an ideal attribute for lane or hazard marking tapes.
Low Tack - Where the tape's instant stick is not high and is designed to be removed. Usually appears on tapes designed for masking applications. (This does not necessarily mean the tape has low adhesion as well as low tack). See also tack or quick stick.
Machine Direction (Web Direction) - The direction of a base stock parallel to its movement through the coater.
Machine Direction Tensile - Tensile strength measured parallel to the length of the tape. Unless otherwise specified, tensile strengths are a measure in the machine direction.
Masking Tape - Tapes and films used to temporarily protect a portion of a surface used in general manufacturing, electronics, aerospace, paper & packaging, construction & glazing, plastics, medical & personal care industries.
Master Roll - A full width roll that has finished the primary manufacturing process and is usually untrimmed.
Material Splice - An area where tape has been used to attach two rolls of material (vinyl, polyester, etc.) together to form one continuous web.
Matrix - Scrap material that is left after a die cuts a pattern, usually removed and thrown away.
Medical Adhesives - Medical adhesives designed for short term and long term skin contact, hypoallergenic, nonsensitizing, also for medical devise manufacturing. Products include single and double coated foams, films, woven's, non-woven's featuring acrylate, rubber, hydrogel, hydrocolloids, silicone adhesive systems, and class VI liquid medical adhesives. Applications include anything from band aides to incontinence, diabetic device mounting to neo-natal attachments.
Medical Tapes - Medical tapes are constructed of film, foam, woven and non-woven substrates with hypoallergenic and non sensitizing adhesives, silicone adhesives, hydrogel adhesives or hydrocolloid adhesives on one or both sides of the substrate.
Memory - The property of a material that causes it to attempt to return to its original dimensions after being distorted.
Metal Foil - Thin, flexible sheets of metal, such as aluminum, copper and lead, used as tape backings because of their inherent properties such as weather resistance, electrical conductivity and reflectivity.
Metalized Film - A plastic film that has been coated on one side with a very thin layer of metal, usually aluminum..
Migration - The movement, over a long periods time, of an ingredient from one component to another when the two are in surface contact. May occur between tape components or between a tape and the surface to which it is applied. Some plastic films and foams contain plasticizers which are apt to migrate into the tape adhesive, causing the adhesive to soften.
MIL (.001") - One thousandth of an inch.
Modified Acrylic Adhesive - A modified acrylic adhesive typically bonds to a wider variety of surfaces than standard acrylic adhesives and has good chemical, solvent and UV resistance.
Moisture Vapor Transmission (Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate) - A measure of the rate of water vapor transmission through a specific material.
Moisture Vapor Permeability - The rate at which a tape will allow water vapor to pass through a given area of tape.
Natural Aging - The change in a material that occurs when it is exposed to normal environmental conditions.
Nitrile (Buna-N) - The most commonly used elastomer for products because of its resistance to petroleum fluids, good physical properties and useful temperature range.
Non-Oriented - A material that has yet to be stretched or expanded to its maximum size.
Non-Woven- Non-woven carriers are made of randomly laid or oriented fibers or threads held together by interlocking or bonding either mechanically, chemically or thermally. Non-Woven carriers offer specific features such as absorbency, liquid repellence, resilience, stretch, softness, strength, cushioning, bacterial barrier and sterility.
Off-Core - Layers of tape are in correct alignment, but tape is displaced sideways on core.
Offsetting - Occurs when a printed tape is unwound and some of the printing ink is picked off by the adhesive or migrates into the adhesive. It is, in effect, a de-lamination of the ink.
Oil Resistant - Ability of a material to resist the swelling and deterioration effects of various types of oils.
Ooze (Oozing) - Adhesive "squeezing out" or moving out of the ends of rolls, stacks, or sheets causing ends to feel sticky and possibly causing material to block.
Opacity / Opaqueness - The ability of a tape to prevent the transmission of light.
Open Cell - A flexible cellular material consisting of an interconnecting cell structure which allows air to pass through.
Optimum Cure - State of vulcanization at which a maximum desired property is attained.
Out gassing - The release of volatile components in the form of vapors or gases under heat or vacuum.
Over-laminating - Application of a clear film to a label stock for the purpose of protection or to enhance graphic quality.
Over-run - A quantity of material in excess of the amount ordered. Trade practices permit +/- 10% tolerance for customer over-runs and under-runs.
Ozone Resistant - Withstands the deteriorating effects, generally cracking, due to exposure to an atmosphere containing ozone.
Packaging - A unit that provides protection and containment of items plus ease of handling by manual or mechanical means.
Packaging Materials - Packaging materials include masking tapes, duct tapes, filament tapes, flat back tapes, gummed paper tapes, label protection tapes, tensilized tapes, printed tapes and much more.
Pancake-Wound Rolls - Pressure-sensitive tapes are typically supplied to the converter in pancake-wound rolls, where each layer of tape is directly on top of the last one (with or without a liner).
Peaking - Large singular upheavals in the outer layers of a roll of tape.
Perforating - Hole-punching the release liner, usually between kiss-cut parts.
Permanent Set - The amount by which an elastic material fails to return to its original form after being stressed in tension for a definite period and released for a definite period.
Permeability - The rate at which a liquid or gas under pressure passes through a solid material by diffusion and solution.
Piping (Tunneling) - The material fails to adhere to the release paper or film tightly enough and a line of air forms between them, usually starting at one edge and working across the web.
Plain Cloth - Fabric woven from cotton, glass, or other fibers without further treatment.
Plastic Film - Films are often referred to as plastics; include vinyl, polyethylene, polyester, polyurethane, polyamides, polystyrene, co-polyesters, acetates, UHMW and many more.
Plastic Foam - Plastic foams include vinyl, polyethylene, polyester, polyether, polyurethane and polystyrene foams.
Plasticizer - A substance added to a material to impart flexibility, workability, and dispensability.
Plasticizer Migration - The migration of liquid plasticizers from some plastics into an adhesive and/or substrate that may cause excessive softening or degradation of the adhesive and film.
Plasticizer Resistance - The ability of the tape and adhesive to withstand plasticizer migration.
Plasticity - A tendency of a material to remain deformed after reduction of the deforming stress to or below its yield stress.
Pock Marks - Uneven blister-like elevations, depressions, or pimpled appearance.
Polyamide (PA) - Otherwise known as Nylon, is a thermoplastic which has hight strength and is very resistant to wear and abrasion. It also has good puncture resistance, heat resitance, and low gas permeability.
Polycarbonate - A high-clarity film combining the versatility of acetate with the durability of polyester. This thermoplastic polymer has excellent temperature resistance, impact resistance and optical properties. It is lightweight, easily molded and thermoformed, used in many inteirior applications.
Polyester Film - A strong film having good resistance to moisture, solvents, oils, caustics, and many other chemicals. It is usually transparent.
Polyester (PET) - A strong film having good resistance to moisture, solvents, oils, and many other chemicals. It is usually transparent, although it is available with a metalized finish. It has an SPI resin code of 1.
Polyethylene (PE) - Polyethylene is a thermoplastic produced by polymerizing ethylene gas. A tough, stretchy material, typically a film or foam substrate, that has very good low temperature characteristics. It is classified into several different categories based mostly on its density, low density (LDPE), and high density (HDPE) polymers. Applications include sealing window glass into wood, aluminum or plastic frames, general purpose bonding & mounting.
Polymer / Elastomer - A material formed by the joining together of many (poly) individual units of a monomer. The units may be the same or different. There are copolymers, tri or ter polymers, quadric-polymer, high polymers, etc.
Polypropylene (PP) - A cousin of polyethylene, with generally similar properties, but stronger, lightwieght and having a higher temperature resistance. This rigid plastic has a SPI resin code of 5.
Polystyrene (PS) - A thermoplastic substance, which is in solid state at room temperature, but flows if heated above its glass transition temperature (for molding or extrusion), and becoming solid again when cooling off. It can be rigid or foamed, and has a relatively low melting point. Typical applications are containers and protective packaging. It has a SPI resin code of 6.
Polyurethane (PU) Foam - Closed cell foam with adhesive on two sides, used in permanent bonding applications to replace mechanical fasteners, epoxies and screws. Applications include vibration and sound dampening, dust sealing, gasketing, bonding and mounting and used in fenestration, electronics, transportation, sporting goods, etc.
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) - A thermoplastic material created by the polymerization of vinyl chloride, depending on the composition may be flexible or rigid.
Porosity - The presence of numerous small holes or voids.
Post cure - The final step in the vulcanization process for the more exotic elastomers. Provides stabilization of parts and drives off decomposition products resulting from the vulcanization process.
Press Length - The length of a product which can be vulcanized at one time in a press, limited to the length measurement of the press.
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA) - A term commonly used to designate a distinct category of adhesive tapes and adhesives, which, in dry (solvent-free) form, are aggressively and permanently tacky at room temperature and firmly adhere to a variety of dissimilar surfaces upon mere contact without the need of more than finger or hand pressure. They require no activation by water, solvent, or heat to exert a strong adhesive holding force toward such material as paper, plastic, glass, wood, cement, and metals. They have a sufficiently cohesive holding and elastic nature so that, despite their aggressive tackiness, they can be handled with the fingers and removed from smooth surfaces without leaving a residue. Pressure sensitive adhesives can be blends of natural or synthetic rubber and resin, acrylic, silicone or other polymer systems, with or without additives.
Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tape - A term defined as a continuous flexible cloth, paper, metal, plastic or foam coated on one or both sides with a permanently tacky adhesive at room temperature which will adhere to a variety of surfaces with light finger pressure with no phase change (liquid to solid) and usually in roll form. PSA tape components include: Single Coated (Self Wound), Single Coated (Linered), Transfer Tape (Unsupported), Double Coated and Heat-Activated.
Primer - A primer is used to increase the bond of the adhesive to the backing. The use of a primer assists in keeping the adhesive on the backing when a tape is removed.
Printability / Printable - The ability of a tape to accept and hold a printed legend and especially to resist offset of the printing when rewound into a roll after printing.
Printed Tapes - Printed tape carries a message such as handling instruction, identifying products, promoting a message. Flexographic printing is available in single or multiple colors on materials including plain, single coated or double coated paper, film, foil, foam & cloth. Applications are in the paper, packaging, labeling transportation, surface protection, medical, personal care, computer, plastics, construction & electronic markets.
Production Trial Run - Product made using all production tools, processes, equipment, environment, facility; and cycle time.
Protective Tapes - Protective tape prevents marring, scratching, or UV tainting of exposed surfaces on metal, wood, glass, plastics and other materials. Specialty formulated adhesives offer clean, stain-free removal after application. Protective tapes are often used in the aerospace, automotive, electronics, furniture, glass and mirror, graphic arts and metal industries.
PTFE / Polytetrafluorethylene - PTFE is known for exceptional resistance to high temperatures, chemical reaction, corrosion and stress-cracking. DuPont™ Teflon® is the registered trademark name for polytetrafluorethylene.
PVC / Plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride - PVC includes films, foams and tubing with and without adhesives.
Quick stick (see tack)
Random Length - A unit of material which does not fall into any current classification for standard length.
Rebound - Rebound is a measure of the resilience, usually as the percentage of vertical return of a body which has fallen and bounced.
Reclosable Fasteners - 3M Scotch® brand Reclosable Fasteners can attach firmly in place, but provide multiple openings and closings. Having super strong adhesion, they are ideal for indoor or outdoor use, Other hook and loop fasteners include 3M Dual Lock®, Scotchmate®, Velcro USA® and Back to Back.
Reinforced Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tape - In addition to the backing and adhesive, these tapes include a reinforcement layer of woven or knitted cloth or glass strands parallel to the machine direction. Typical backings include polymeric films such as polyethylene and polyester. Rubber based adhesives are the most common but others can be used. Examples of reinforced tapes are duct and filament tapes
Reinforcements - A material added to a tape to provide additional strength.
Relative Humidity - The ratio of the quantity of water vapor actually present in the atmosphere to the greatest amount possible at the given temperature.
Release - The force required to remove the release liner from the face stock at a specified speed and angle.
Release Coat Transfer (Silicone Transfer) - Particles of the release coat stick to the adhesive on unwind; the resulting tape will have little or no ability to stick.
Release Coating (Easy Unwind Treatment) - A coating applied to the backing on the side opposite the adhesive that provides ease of unwind and prevents delamination or tearing. Without a release coating, the tape would adhere to its own back and would not unwind.
Release Liner - Siliconized paper or film coated on one or both sides that protects the adhesive until use. The liner is removed and discarded before application. Most frequently found on double-coated tapes and labels. Fluorosilicone liners are available in special situations that required silicone adhesive to release.
Reliability - The probability that an item will continue to function at customer expectation levels at a measurement point, under specified environmental and duty cycle conditions.
Removability - Ability to remove the tape from the substrate without damaging or contaminating the substrate under specified conditions, usually after a long period of time.
Removable Adhesive - A pressure-sensitive adhesive characterized by low ultimate adhesion and clean removability from a wide variety of surfaces.
Repositionability - Ability to remove the tape from the substrate without damaging or contaminating the substrate under specified conditions, yet retaining bond strength when re-applied, usually after a short period of time.
Reproducibility - The variation in the average of measurements made by different operators using the same gage when measuring identical characteristics of the same parts.
Residue - Adhesive left on the substrate after removal.
Resilience (Resilient) - The property of a material that enables it to return to its original size and shape after removal of the stress which causes the deformation.
Resistance to Ageing - The ability of a tape to withstand normal exposures, after application, and to perform satisfactorily.
Resistance to Oils, Grease and Solvents - The ability of a tape to resist exposure to chemicals after application, and to perform satisfactorily.
Reversion - A deterioration of physical properties that may occur after air aging at elevated temperatures, evidenced by a decrease in hardness and tensile strength, and an increase in elongation; Natural rubber, butyl, polysulfide and epichlorohydrin polymers exhibit this effect (extreme reversion may result in tackiness). Most other polymers will harden and suffer loss of elongation on hot air aging.
Rewind Slitting - Preferred method for slitting large volumes of standard sized rolls of pressure-sensitive tape. In this process, large master rolls of jumbos are used to unwind tape and then are rewound layer over layer across a set of pre-spaced cores.
Rewinding - The operation of winding the web stock from the reel onto a core to produce rolls of the desired width, diameter and tension.
Rigid PVC Film - Polyvinyl chloride film whid do not incorporate plasticizers or do so in such significantly low amounts so as not to lower the modulus (stiffness) appreciably. Also known as unplasticized PVC. When formed or molded, it maintains its shape when empty or unsupported.
RoHs (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) - A European Directive (2002/95/EC) which restricts the use of specific heavy metals and flame retardants in electrical and electronic equipment.
RMS / Root Mean Square - The measure of surface roughness, obtained as the square root of the sum of the squares of micro-inch deviation from true flat.
Roll - Sheet rubber and gasket material of a uniform width rolled up on itself from which gaskets and other products of lesser dimensions and various shapes may be cut.
Rotocure - Rotary press.
RTV / Room Temperature Vulcanization - Generally, silicone rubber after mixing will cure when exposed to air.
Rubber - A material that exhibits elastic properties that allow recovery from large deformations quickly and forcibly, and can be, or already is, modified to a state in which it is essentially insoluble (but can swell) in boiling solvent, such as benzene, methyl ethyl ketone, and ethanol-toluene azeotrope.
Rubber Adhesive - A pressure sensitive, viscoelastic blend of polymeric rubber-based materials and tackifying resin. The rubber materials may be natural or synthetic. Rubber adhesive are a very broad class of materials and come in many types to achieve different properties. Typically, rubber adhesives have a high initial bond, adhere to a wide variety of surfaces, but have poor aging qualities and fair chemical, UV and solvent resistance.
Rubber - Based Adhesive - A natural or synthetic rubber-base adhesive bonds immediately to various surfaces makes it the first option when using double adhesive foam tape. It has good shear strength, moderate temperature resistance, and fair UV resistance.
Rubber Gaskets - Gasket materials including neoprene, EPDM, Buna-N, PORON®, Nomex®, natural & synthetic rubber, plastic, vinyl, Lexan®, UL & FR materials, Mylar®, Kapton®, thermoplastic rubber, silicone rubber, films, woven/non-woven fabrics, cork/rubber and chipboard.
Rubber Latex - Colloidal aqueous emulsion of an elastomer.
Rubber Silicone - Silicone rubber is available in many thickness and widths in roll form or sheet form in many grades including FDA and Medical grades with and without adhesive. Often used in general manufacturing, paper & packaging, construction & glazing, electronics, plastics, medical and the personal care industries.
Rubber (Natural) - Raw or crude rubber obtained from vegetable sources.
Rubber (Synthetic) - Manufactured or man-made elastomers.
Runner - The distribution system within a mold connecting the sprue to the gates.
Repulpable - Paper tapes that can be recycled to the process without contamination of the broke pulp.
Saturation (Impregnation) - Adding material (saturant) to the backing for improvement of physical properties and resistance to various deleterious environments.
SBR / Styrene Butadiene - SBR is a synthetic rubber copolymer that has excellent abrasion resistance, but sensitive to oil, wastewater and ozone. Also referred to the brand name Buna S.
Scorching - Premature curing or setting up of raw compounding during processing.
Self-bonding - Tape that will adhere to itself without fusing so that the individual layers can be separated cleanly if required.
Self-extinguishing - The ability of the tape to cease burning once the flame is removed.
Self-Wound Roll - A roll of tape in which each layer of tape is directly on top of the last one. The roll contains no liner.
Service Temperature - The temperature range that a pressure-sensitive adhesive will withstand after 72-hour residence time on the substrate.
Shear Strength - The ability of the adhesive to resist force applied across the tape, forcing the substrates to slide over each other.
Shelf Life - The period of time during which a product can be stored under specified conditions and still remain suitable for use.
Shore Hardness - An indentation method of rating the hardness of rubber using a Shore Durometer with the A scale from 0 to 100.
Short Term Temperature Resistance - Maximum short term is a matter of seconds or minutes rather than hours. Tapes with short-term high temperature resistance are used in manufacturing processes. Machine speed, tensions and temperatures reached will need to be taken into account and the tape trailed prior to full implementation.
Shrinkage - Decreased volume of seal, usually caused by extraction of soluble constituents by fluids followed by air drying.
Silicone - A unique polymer system that can be a very effective release coating or a pressure sensitive adhesive capable of functioning effectively at extreme temperatures.
Silicone Adhesive - A pressure sensitive, viscoelastic blend of polymeric silicone-based materials and tackifying resin. The silicone materials may be natural or synthetic. Silicone adhesives have a wide temperature performance, low temperatures to 600 F° and have excellent chemical, UV, solvent and aging resistance.
Silicone Rubber - Elastomer that retains good properties through extra wide temperature range.
Simulation - The practice of mimicking some or all of the behavior of one system with a different, dissimilar system.
Single Coated (Linered) - The adhesive is coated on one side of a face stock and lined with a paper or film release liner to protect the adhesive. Examples include foil insulation tapes and label stock.
Single Coated (Self-Wound) - The adhesive is coated on one side of a face stock and the other side is generally coated with silicone to enable the tape to unwind easily. Good for wrap around sealing, closure systems, label stock and provides moisture vapor barrier.
Single Coated Tape (Single Faced or Single Sided) - The pressure sensitive adhesive is applied to one side of the backing. The backing composition may be paper, film, foil, nonwoven or high thread count woven cloth. The adhesive composition may be an acrylic, rubber or silicone. Examples of single coated tapes are electrical, masking, carton sealing and medical tapes.
Sinks - A collapsed blister or bubble leaving depression in the product.
Skin - A relatively dense layer at the surface of a cellular material.
Skived - A manufacturing process where material is shaved (like shaving of a layer of soap). Usually better for wrapping than extruded materials.
Slip Sheet or Interliner - A treated sheet used to cover the adhesive to facilitate handling.
Solvent Adhesive - An adhesive component that is dissolved in an organic solvent for coating. Rubber or acrylic based systems can be coated this way.
Solvent Resistance - The resistance of a pressure-sensitive adhesive to the destructive action of specific organic liquids.
Solvent - A dissolving, thinning, or reducing agent. Specifically, a solvent is a liquid that dissolves another substance.
Specific Adhesion - The relative tendency of an adhesive to form a bond on a specific surface. For example, some adhesives may be permanent on one surface and removable from another.
Specific Gravity - The ratio of the mass of a unit volume of a material to that of the same volume of water at a specified temperature.
SPI Resin Codes - The SPI resin identification coding system was developed by the Society of Plastics Industry (SPI) in 1988. It is sa set of symbols ranging from 1 to 7 plced on plastics to identify the different polymer types and allow efficient separation for recycling. It has since been used internationally.
Splice - A joint or junction made by lapping or butting edges, straight or on a bias, and held together through mechanical means. Also defined as a point at which two separate lengths of tape are joined together.
Sponge Rubber - Cellular rubber consisting predominantly of open cells made from a solid rubber compound.
Sponges - Sponge materials including neoprene, neoprene blends and silicone.
Spool (Traverse) Wound Rolls - One layer of tape starts on a side of the core. The next layer overlaps with the first one and then the tape is wound back and forth traversing from one side of the core to the other. This process allows for much longer rolls (up to 33,000yds depending on the width and thickness of product) thus reducing the downtime involved with constant roll changes.
Stabilize - To increase the steadiness of a film and keep it from changing or fluctuating. Usually laminating polyester to one or both sides of the vinyl stabilizes vinyl films.
Stainless Steel Foil Tapes - Foils include stainless steel, lead, aluminum, brass, and copper. Electrically and thermally conductive adhesive tapes and foils serve the electronics, medical, transportation, construction markets.
Static Seal - Referring to a gasket, a part designed to seal between parts having no relative motion.
Stress - Force per unit of original cross sectional area required to stretch a specimen to a stated elongation.
Stress Relaxation - The decrease in stress after a given time of constant strain.
Substrate - The surface to which an adhesive is applied for any purpose such as bonding or coating.
Surface Energy - The measure of surface tension in dynes. The lower the surface energy of a substrate, the more difficult it becomes for an adhesive or coating to wet out that surface. Low Surface Energy LSE materials resist adhesive spread over the substrate while High Surface Energy HSE materials allow excellent spread and provide the best adhesion.
Swelling - The increase in volume or linear dimensions of a specimen immersed in a liquid or exposed to a vapor.
Tack (Quick Stick, Initial Tack, Finger Tack) - The ability of an adhesive to latch onto a substrate or surface with a minimum of pressure or to adhere to itself.
Tacky - The condition of the adhesive when it feels sticky or highly adhesive. Sometimes, used to express the ideas of pressure sensitivity.
Tape - Types of tape include adhesive transfer tapes, single coated tapes and double coated tapes, typically constructed with a substrate and an adhesive on a roll. A carrier can be polyester, polyethylene or vinyl film with acrylic, rubber and silicone adhesive. Other materials are foils, fabrics, foams, polyimide, polycarbonate, UHMW and the list goes on. Uses include masking, reflective, decorating, sealing, attaching, bonding, identifying, insulating, surface protection and many more.
Tear Resistance - The ability of a tape to resist tearing after a tear have been started by cutting or nicking of the edge. Commonly expressed as "pounds per inch thickness".
Tear Strength - The maximum load required to tear apart a specified specimen, the load acting substantially parallel to the major axis of the test specimen.
Tearability - How easy the tape is to tear by hand by a person of average strength without the need for any cutting tools. Where tear-ability is indicated as difficult, tools may be needed to cut the tape.
Tearing - Breaking or slivering of a tape during unwind.
Teflon® - Teflon® is a registered trademark of DuPont™ known for exceptional resistance to high temperatures, chemical reaction, corrosion and stress-cracking. Generically, it is known as tetrafluoroethylene film. Applications include bonding, masking, reflective, insulation & surface protection.
Telescoping - A sideways sliding of the tape layers, one over the other, such that the roll looks like a funnel or a telescope.
Temperature Range - Lowest temperature at which rubber or other tape materials remains flexible and highest temperature at which it will function.
Tensile Strength (Brake Strength) - The force required to break a piece of tape by pulling straight on opposite ends of the piece under specified conditions.
Tensile Stress at Given Elongation - The tensile stress required to stretch a uniform section of a specimen to a given elongation.
Tension Set - The extension remaining after a specimen has been stretched and allowed to retract.
Thermal Conductivity - The measure of heat transmission through a cellular material. Determined by the base material, cell size, density and often water resistant properties.
Thermal Expansion - Expansion caused by increase in temperature. May be linear or volumetric.
Thermoforming - Common post extrusion process for plastic sheet stock where the sheet is heated until soft and formed via mold into a specific shape.
Thermoplastic Rubber - Rubber that does not require chemical vulcanization and will repeatedly soften when heated and stiffen when cooled; and which will exhibit only slight loss of its original characteristics.
Thermosetting Adhesive - An adhesive, which becomes firmer during heating and remains so on cooling. Thermosetting of adhesive improves solvent resistance and increases softening temperature.
Thickness - Distance from one surface of a tape, backing or adhesive to the other surface, usually expressed in mils or thousandths of an inch. This is usually measured under slight pressure with a special gauge. (Excludes release-paper where applicable).
Tight Release - The adhesive does not release from liner freely.
Tolerance - Maximum allowable variation from agreed-upon or specified dimension.
Transfer Tape (Unsupported) - An adhesive put on a differential release liner in such a manner as to have a higher value of release from one surface than from the other. Thus, if the backing is pulled away from the adhesive after application to the substrate, it will remain on the side with the higher release. Transfer tape offers superior conformability and is often used for foam bonding and nameplate mounting.
Transparency - The ability of a tape to allow transmission of light. A tape is rated as transparent if 10 point type can be read easily when the tape is applied directly over it.
Traverse Direction (Cross direction) - The direction of a substrate from left to right and from side to side as opposed to the web direction (90 degrees to the machine direction).
UV / Ultraviolet Light - That part of the spectrum wherein the wavelength of light is shorter than that of visible light.
UV Resistance - The ability of any material to withstand extended exposure to ultra-violet rays without degradation, hardening, or excessive discoloration.
UV Curing - A system that uses ultraviolet rays to facilitate the curing process of adhesives and inks.
UHMW / Ultra High Molecular Weight Film - A high performance polyethylene that is highly resistant to abrasion, and corrosive chemicals.
Ultimate Elongation - The maximum elongation prior to rupture.
Under cure - State of vulcanization less than optimum. It may be evidenced by tackiness or inferior physical properties.
Uniformity - The consistency of a single type of tape either within a roll or from roll to roll or from lot to lot.
UPVC / Unplasticized Vinyl - A tough durable plastic film, differing from PVC principally in the UPVC is not very stretchy.
Unsupported Pressure Sensitive Adhesive Tape (Adhesive Transfer Tape) - Unsupported PSA tapes consist of release liners and adhesives. The release liners are commonly paper and coated on both sides of the paper with silicone release agents creating a differential release. Acrylic adhesives are commonly used in this application. Examples of unsupported tapes are envelope sealing, graphic attachment and splicing.
Unwind or Unwind Adhesion (Unrolling) - The force required to remove tape from the roll.
Vinyl Nitrile Sponge Rubber - Closed cell, adhesive one side, offers good oil resistance and shock absorbency.
Vinyl / PVC / Plasticized Polyvinyl Chloride - A synthetic plastic, known as PVC or polyvinyl chloride, can be manufactured in rigid or flexible constructions. This tough, durable plastic film is resistant to oils, chemicals, and many solvents. It has excellent abrasion resistance. It also can be colored. Its high stretch is due to the addition of a plasticizer and is generally more flexible and formable than polyesters
Viscosity - The flow rate of an adhesive or the resistance of a material to flow under stress and change shape.
Void - A bare uncoated area on either the adhesive or release-coated side of the tape where not intended.
Volume Swell - Increase in physical size caused by swelling action of a liquid.
Vulcanization - An act or process of treating an elastomer or compound to improve its useful properties, usually accomplished by application of heat.
Warp - The yarn that run lengthwise in a woven fabric.
Water Absorption - The increase in weight and volume after immersion in water.
Water Penetration Rate - The weight of water transmitted through a controlled area of tape under a specified time and conditions.
Waterproof (Water Resistant) - The ability of the tape to withstand water for a specified time and temperature without the tape bond altering.
Weather-ability (Weather Resistance) - The ability of the tape to perform satisfactorily after exposure to specified conditions such as cold, water and ultra-violet rays.
Weaving - A poorly wound roll of tape in which the individual layers of tape are not in alignment with the other layer.
Web - The width of any material going through a machine.
Wet Out - The ability of an adhesive to spread, thereby filling in the hills and valleys of the substrate.
Wet Tensile - Tensile strength of tape that has been kept wet for a specified period of time. Measures ability of tape to function satisfactory when exposed to moisture.
Writable Surface - A surface, which can be written on with ball point or marker pen. Particularly useful if the tape is to be used in identification applications.
Yellowing - A gradual change in the original appearance of a material characterized by the development of yellow and brown hues.