Glossary

ABRASION RESISTANCE
The ability of a tape to withstand rubbing and friction and still function satisfactorily.

ACCELERATED AGEING
A means whereby the deterioration of a tape may be accelerated in the laboratory.

ACCELERATED WEATHERING
A means whereby the deterioration of a tape caused by outdoor exposure may be accelerated in the laboratory.

ACETATE - FILM
A transparent film which is used for various reasons as a tape backing. Its primary characteristic is that it is more moisture resistant than cellophane.

ACRYLIC POLYMER
A synthetic polymer with excellent ageing characteristics that can be used either as a single component adhesive or a coating or saturate, depending upon composition.

ADHESION
The state in which two surfaces are held together by interfacial forces.

ADHESION BUILD UP
An increase in the adhesion value of a pressure sensitive tape after it has been allowed to dwell on the substrate.

ADHESION TO BACKING
The force required to remove a tape (in the same manner as peel adhesion) from its own backing to which it has been reapplied with a defined pressure after being removed from the roll.

ADHESIVE DEPOSIT (RESIDUE)
Adhesive, which is pulled away from the tape on removal and remains on the substrate.

ADHESIVE FAILURE
Failure of an adhesive bond, such that the separation is at the interface of adhesive and substrate, leaving no residue.

ADHESIVE MASS
See Pressure Sensitive Adhesive

ADHESIVE RESIDUE
See ADHESIVE DEPOSIT

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.

BACKING
the flexible supporting film, fabric, foil, or paper, to which a pressure sensitive adhesive is applied.

BLEEDING
See MIGRATION

BLOCKING
An undesired adhesion between touching layers of material.

BREAKING LOAD
The force required to break a unit width of tape under prescribed conditions.

BREAKING STRENGTH
See BREAKING LOAD

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

CALIPER
See THICKNESS

CARRIER
The base material onto which a pressure sensitive adhesive is applied, on both faces, to produce a double-sided tape.

CELLOPHANE - FILM
A thin transparent film manufactured from wood pulp.

CELLULOSE ACETATE
See ACETATE

CLOSED SIDE (ADHESIVE)
That surface of the adhesive on a double sided tape, which normally remains in contact with the release liner on unwinding.

CLOSED SIDE (LINER)
Is that surface of a release liner, which normally remains in contact with the adhesive on unwinding.

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

COHESION
The ability of an adhesive to resist splitting.

COHESIVE FAILURE
Failure of an adhesive bond such that the separation is within the adhesive

COHESIVE STRENGTH
As COHESION

COLOUR
Usually describes the colour of a tape when looking at the backing, regardless of the colour of the adhesive.

CONDITIONING
The process of subjecting material to specific temperatures and relative humidity conditions for a stipulated period of time.

CONFORMABILITY
The ability of tape to fit snugly or make essentially complete contact with a surface or an irregularly shaped object without creasing or folding.

CORE
The inner cylinder of cardboard or plastic on which the tape is wound.

CREEP
A flow or movement of the adhesive or backing under stress.

CREPE PAPER
Paper which has small regular folds in it giving it a higher stretch than a flat back paper of the same weight.

CROSS-LINKING
The development of a three dimensional structure within an adhesive to improve cohesive strength, temperature, oil or solvent resistance.

CURED
See CROSS-LINKING

CURLING
The tendency of a tape to curl back on itself when unwound and allowed to hang from the roll

DEAD STRETCH
The increase of length of a piece of tape after it has been stretched without breaking and allowed to recover.

DELAMITATION
A splitting of the backing or carrier into two distinct layers.

DISHING
See TELESCOPING

DOUBLE COATED
A tape which has two available pressure sensitive adhesive coated surfaces.

DOUBLE FACED
See DOUBLE COATED

DOUBLE SIDED
See DOUBLE COATED

EASY UNWIND TREATMENT
See RELEASE COATING

EDGE CURL
The peeling back or lifting of the outer edge of a tape after application.

ELASTIC MEMORY
A tendency of some tape backings to attempt to return to their original length after being elongated.

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.

ELECTROLYTIC CORROSION FACTOR
An indirect measure of the tape’s corrosive effect on a copper conductor.

ELONGATION AT BREAK
The amount a tape has stretched lengthwise at the point of breaking. It is expressed as a percentage of the original unstretched length

FILAMENTS
Thin longitudinal threads of glass, polyester, Nylon or other high strength materials.

FILM
Uniform, homogeneous, non-fibrous synthetic webs.

FISHEYES
Relatively small deformations (pockmarks) in the adhesive caused by the entrapment of air between layers in the roll. These are not a indication of a quality defect.

FLAGGING
A peeling away from the surface or tape backing of the end of a length of tape, particularly in a spiral wrap application.

FLAME RESISTANCE
The ability of a tape to withstand exposure to flame, fireproof materials will not burn when exposed to flame. Flame resistant (fire retardant, self – extinguishing) materials will burn when exposed to flame but not continue to burn after the flame is removed.

FLATBACK
A term used to describe a smooth paper backing for a tape to distinguish it from crepe paper backings.

FLEXIBILITY
The ability of a tape to be freely bent or flexed during application, particularly applicable in low temperature use.

FLUTING
Distortion of a roll of tape such that layers no longer form a circle.

FOAM
A soft cushion material formed by creating bubbles in base materials, such as natural or synthetic rubbers, or other elastomeric materials.

GAPPING
Opening between layers of tape in a roll.

GAUGE
See THICKNESS

GLOSS
The measure of the reflectiveness of a tape backing, generally expressed by such terms as glossy, low gloss, dull, etc. A more specific definition is on the Gardner scale which measures absorption of light reflected from a beam with a stated angle of incidence.

HEAT RESISTANCE
The ability of a tape to withstand a specified temperature under well defined conditions.

HIGH SPEED UNWIND
Unwinding or dispensing of tapes at a relatively high speed, usually over 15 meters per minute.

HOLDING POWER
The ability of the adhesive to resist forces applied in the same plane as the tape.

HOT MELT PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE
A pressure sensitive adhesive applied to the backing in a hot molten form, which cools to form a conventional pressure sensitive adhesive.

IMPACT RESISTANCE
The ability of a tape to resist sudden shocks as may sometimes be encountered by packages in transit.

INSULATING TAPE
Normally applies to tape used for electrical insulation.

INSULATION RESISTANCE
The ability of a tape to prevent the flow of current across the surface of the backing.

INTERLEAVE
See RELEASE LINER

INTERLINER
See RELEASE LINER

INTERNAL BOND
As COHESION

KRAFT
A Sulphate wood pulp paper.

KEY
The bond between the adhesive and the carrier or backing.

KEY COAT
See PRIME COAT

KEY FAILURE
Failure of an adhesive bond such that separation is at the interface of adhesive and carrier or backing.

LABEL STOCK
Pressure sensitive materials which are usually printed, frequently die cut, furnished in roll or sheet form with an interleave, and intended for use as labels.

LAMINATE, LAMINATION
Combinations of two or more materials which function as one backing e.g. Polyurethane foam and Polyester film.

LIFTING
Occurs when sections of tape lose contact with the surface to which the tape applied.

LINER
See RELEASE LINER

LOW TACK TAPE
Used (often incorrectly) to describe a pressure sensitive tape which has low adhesion.

METAL FOIL
Thin flexible sheets of metal such as aluminium or lead used as tape backing.

MIGRATION
The movement over a period of 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 substrate.

OFF CORE
Layers of tape are in correct alignment, but tape is displaced sideways on the core.

OFFSETTING
The movement of a component of a tape, usually the adhesive, from its backing; this transfer may occur during unwinding of tape, or on removal of the tape from a substrate.

OOZING
A squeezing out of the adhesive from under the backing, occurring when the tape is in roll form.

OPACITY
The ability of the tape to prevent transmission of light.

OPEN SIDE (ADHESIVE)
That surface of the adhesive on a double sided tape which is exposed on normal unwinding or separation.

OPEN SIDE (LINER)
Is that surface of a release liner which is exposed on normal unwinding or separation.

PEAKING
Large singular upheavals in the outer layers of a roll of tape.

PEEL ADHESION
The force required to peel a strip of tape from a substrate at a specified angle and speed.

PERMANENT ADHESIVE
An Adhesive that has been designed to remain permanently in position under the specified service conditions.

PINHOLES
Very small defects in a tape, which may permit the passage of light, electricity or water vapour, the minute holes may be in the backing and/or the adhesive.

PLASTICISED PLYVINYLCHLORIDE
A tough durable plastic film having excellent resistance to oils, chemicals and many solvents. It has excellent abrasion resistance. It can also be coloured. Its high stretch is due to the addition of a plasticizer

POLYESTER - FILM
A strong film having good resistance to moisture, solvents, oils, caustics and many other chemicals. It is usually transparent.

POLYETHYLENE - FILM
A tough, stretchy film having very good low temperature characteristics.

POLYPROPYLENE - FILM
A similar film to polyethylene, but stronger and having a higher temperature resistance.

POLYVINYLIDENE CHLORIDE - FILM
A usually very thin transparent film with excellent resistance to acids, water and organic solvents.

PRE-RELEASE
The unwanted separation of a tape from its release liner during unwinding.

PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE
A type of adhesive, which is permanently tacky at room temperature and when applied to a variety of surfaces, forms an immediate bond. The bond strength may be increased by pressure and/or time.

PRESSURE SENSITIVE TAPE
A term used to describe a category of tape coated on one or both faces with a pressure sensitive adhesive. It is permanently tacky at room temperature and requires no activation by water, solvent or heat to adhere to a variety of dissimilar surfaces upon contact. In some cases the adhesive may be further cured by heating after application. The bond strength may be increased by pressure and/or time.

PRIME COAT
A coating on the adhesive side of the backing, which serves as a bonding agent between adhesive and backing.

PRINTABILITY
The ability of a tape to accept and hold a printed legend, and especially to resist offsetting of the print when unwound from a roll.

QUICK STICK
See TACK

REINFORCEMENT
A material, which strengthens the backing and/ or the adhesive.

RELEASE COATING
A coating applied to a tape backing to facilitate the unwinding of the tape.

RELASE LINER
A removable material, which protects the adhesive face or faces.

REMOVAL
The act of pulling tape away from the substrate.

REMOVABLE ADHESIVE
An adhesive that has been designed to allow subsequent removal, without damaging or contaminating the substrate under specified conditions.

RESISTANCE TO ACIDS, ALKALIES
The ability of a tape to resist exposure to such conditions after application and to perform satisfactorily.

RESISTANCE TO OILS, GREASE, SOLVENTS etc
The ability of a tape to resist exposure to such conditions after application and to perform satisfactorily.

RESISTANCE TO WEATHER
The ability of a tape to resist exposure to such conditions after application and perform satisfactorily.

ROLL AGEING RESISTANCE
See STORAGE STABILITY

SHEAR ADHESION
See HOLDING POWER

SHOCK RESISTANCE
See IMPACT RESISTANCE

SHRINKAGE
Reduction of any dimension of a tape.

SINGLE FACE
The adhesive is applied to one surface of the backing only.

SLIVERING
Tape tears or breaks into small pieces, either on unwind or on removal from a surface.

SPLITTING
See DELAMINATION

STAIN
A discoloration of the substrate.

STAIN RESISTANCE
The ability of a tape to be applied to a substrate without discolouring the substrate.

STIFFNESS
The measure of a tape’s flexibility and conformability.

STORAGE STABILITY
The ability of a tape to retain a specified level of its original properties after defined conditions and length of time of storage.

SUBSTRATE
The surface to which a pressure sensitive tape is applied.

TACK
The property of an adhesive tape that causes an instant bond, with measurable force, by the touching of the adhesive and a substrate without externally applied pressure.

TEAR RESISTANCE
The ability of a tape to resist tearing.

TELESCOPING
Describes the shape of a roll of tape which has changed from being flat to become conical or dish-shaped or like a telescope.

TENSILE STRENGTH
The force required to break a specied area of tape.

THERMOPLASTIC
Softens on heating. Reverts to original state when cooled. This process may be repeated.

THERMOSETTING
Becomes firmer on heating and remains so on cooling. Thermosetting of adhesive improves solvent resistance and increases softening temperature.

THICKNESS
The perpendicular distance between the two opposite surfaces of a complete tape.

TIE COAT
See PRIME COAT

TRANSFER
Normally refers to “adhesive transfer”, but sometimes said of any tape component which moves from its proper place to some other position during either unwind or removal.

TRANSFER TAPE
A tape having available two pressure sensitive surfaces without the need for a carrier, which may or may not have reinforcing fibres in it and with a release liner separating the adhesive.

TRANSPARENT
The ability of a tape to allow the transmission of light. A tape is rated as transparent if 10 point type can be easily read when the tape is applied directly over it.

ULTIMATE ADHESION
The maximum adhesion available from a pressuresensitive adhesive, determined from the force necessary to remove a strip of tape from a surface after an extended period of time.

UNPLASTICISED VINYL
A tough durable plastic film made from polyvinyl chloride without the addition of plasticiser.

UNWIND ADHESION
The force required to remove the tape from the roll under prescribed conditions.

VINYL
An abused abbreviation applied indiscriminately to both PVC and UPVC.

WATER ABSORPTION
The measure of the amount of water which will be soaked up by a tape under stated conditions and be retained by it.

WATER VAPOUR TRANSMISSION RATE (WVTR)
The weight of water vapour passing through a defined area of tape under prescribed conditions of humidity, temperature and time

WET GRAB
See TACK