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When you need to join or stick two overlapping materials, adhesive tapes are used. Depending upon the type of material you want to join, different types of tapes are utilized. The tape consists of a sticky backing material lined with glue. Glue sometimes referred to as gum or adhesive is a compound that can be in the form of liquid or semiliquid.

The sticky agent is coated either on one side or both sides of the tape. Can be used for temporarily or permanent joining, tapes are sticky products that we use in our routine lives. For example, if you, accidently, tear an important document, you can use these tapes to fix the two layers of the document within no time.

Though the invention of the adhesives has become vital in our daily lives, have you ever thought about what is the idea that works behind this invention?

How they work?
Tapes work on the basis of pressure sensitive bonding agents or glues which are the soft polymer mixtures that stick to the surface when a light force applied on it (using Van der Waals force). There are many layers in a tape roll. These are the primer, release coating, and the adhesive. The materials used as adhesives are paper, polyethylene or vinyl.

Due to its release coating substance, the 3m adhesive tapes do not stick on itself. The common substance on the tape roll is polyvinyl carbamate and the other side of the roll is the primer which fastens the tape to the back of the previous layer. The glue materials used in these tapes are polymer (water-based acrylics) and other substances added during manufacturing of these sticky materials increase their stickiness.

Types of adhesive tapes:

Many of you may use transparent tapes for wrapping gifts, mending torn document, and other purposes. There are different types of adhesive tapes exist. Some of the most commonly used varieties are:

  • Duct Tape: One of the most commonly used adhesives are duct tapes, usually gray or silver in color, were previously used for air ducts. They are very strong and is used in the movie industry for various purposes.

  • Heat Shrink Tape: You may find a splice in the wire connected at both ends and cannot be moved. Made of cross-linked polyolefin, heat shrink tapes are used as a protective insulating layer. As the name reveals, these tapes are backed with a dry sticky material which activates only when heat is applied.

  • Gaffer’s Tape: Originally developed for the entertainment industry, Gaffer’s tape is flexible matte-finish adhesives used for holding down cables, and would not create an annoying glare or shine by reflecting set lighting.
  • Electrical Tape: Most common among electricians, electrical tape has good insulation property. Come in variety of color, these adhesives are perfect for protecting wire splices.

3m adhesive tapes are widely used for home and commercial uses as well. School students also use these adhesives while doing projects for art and craft classes.