To the general public, the difference between tapes is often seen as simply "sticky" or "not sticky." However, in the tape industry, there is a lot more science behind it beyond just adhesion.

Before designing a tape, we must first understand the customer's application, the material of the substrate, and the relevant manufacturing processes to design all the physical properties of the tape.

Using a Solar Plus Company product data sheet as an example:

1.  Product Structure

First, determine if the custom tape is a traditional tape or a label-style structure. Traditional tapes do not have a release liner, while labels do. Release paper is the backing on common stationery double-sided tape that is peeled off and discarded. Release film, for example, is the protective film on a transparent cartoon sticker or the clear layer underneath it. Solar Plus Company's UV release tapes, thermal release tapes, and wafer grinding tapes are all types of tapes that feature a release film.

The left image shows release paper peeled from double-sided tape; the right image shows a protective release film from a sticker. Both are intended to

 be removed and discarded.

2. Thickness

Since the release film or paper is eventually discarded, its thickness cannot be included  in the total thickness of the tape itself. For adhesive transfer tapes (transfer tapes without a carrier), the upper and lower release films must be excluded from the total thickness calculation.

3. Initial Tack
This is the "first impression" of stickiness you feel when touching the tape without applying pressure. If an application requires fast bonding or instant fixing with a light touch—such as carton sealing tape—the initial tack must be designed to be higher. Conversely, for processes requiring repetitive repositioning and alignment, a lower initial tack is designed.

4. Adhesion

Adhesion is the star of the show. Since Solar Plus Company generally manufactures Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSA), pressure must be applied to bond the tape to the object. This allows the adhesive molecules to fully integrate with the substrate surface. The peel strength is typically measured after 20 minutes. 

5. Release Force

This refers to the force required to peel a roll of tape, similar to the experience of peeling an orange—some are easy to peel, while others are difficult. If the release force is high, the tape is hard to peel; if it is low, it peels easily. This property is used for "error-proofing" in sandwich double-sided tapes; by designing different release forces for each side, users can easily identify which side to apply first.

6. Cohesion force

In practical applications, tape isn't just sitting still; it often needs to support weight or withstand tension. For example, after sealing a box, the flaps constantly try to spring back open. The tape must have sufficient holding power to prevent it from slowly "sliding off" over time in a warehouse, which would cause the box to open.

7. Temperature

Tape applications are highly temperature-dependent. For instance, sealing tape used in a walk-in freezer must be cold-resistant, while tape used in industrial heat processes must be heat-resistant. Generally, masking tapes used in the PCB industry require high-temperature resistance. We design the temperature resistance level based on specific requirements.

8. Storage Environment and Shelf Life

Since tape is a chemical product, the molecules within the adhesive continue to react after production until they stabilize over time. However, affected by storage temperature, humidity, and time, the components will continue to undergo chemical reactions and aging. This can lead to "adhesive ooze" (overflow) or a loss of stickiness. Therefore, tape has a limited lifespan.

Does this introduction give you a better understanding of tape product specifications? If you require customization services, please describe your tape application in detail. Solar Plus Company provides professional, free consultation services to create the perfect custom tape for you.