Everyone with the word "scotch" (scotch) have completely different associations. Someone will think about the people of one of the parts of the UK, namely, the Scots and Scotland.
And someone, starting to prepare for Christmas, will buy such a great drink as scotch tape. And others, looking with annoyance at the never-ending repairs, will remember that they again forgot to buy a masking tape. Something like that. Nevertheless, in this article we will talk about varieties of construction tape and areas of its application.
The history of the word "adhesive tape"
Scotch - what is it? What is the story of his “birth”? Oddly enough, but scotch tape is not a Scottish invention, as many might have thought. It was invented by Americans in 1930, or, to be more precise, the technician at the laboratory of Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (currently this ambitious corporation is known as ZM) by the name of Richard Drew, who plays his free time on an exotic instrument - the banjo.
It all started in 1925, when Drew, on the instructions of the administration of his company, monitored the process of testing the new Wetordry skin in a car service center. His attention was attracted by the actions of masters involved in body painting. The fact is that they did not succeed in applying high-quality paint to two or more colors on the surface. Each time, the dividing line was sloppy and blurry. Drew became interested in this issue and after a while suggested that the workers try a tape (about 5 cm wide), which had an adhesive base and adhesives on each edge.
Testing of the product did not end very well, since the tape simply curled up immediately after using paint of the same color. And that was it. The reason for the failure was that the adhesive tape was glued exclusively around the edges. Why was the adhesive not applied in the middle? Now it’s hard to say: either because of an omission, or because of frugality (which, incidentally, the Scots were famous for). But, nevertheless, the worker shouted in anger: “Return the tape to your Scottish bosses (scotch bosses). Let them make it more sticky! ” Naturally, Drew did not have any Scottish bosses, but the word scotch is great! And so it went.
Drew did not stop in his search, and now, in the fall of 1930, the final version of the "Scottish" tape cellophane roll was made. Testing was carried out in Chicago. The test result read: “We are launching this product on the market.”
What is scotch tape?
Adhesive tape is nothing more than a sticky or sticky tape, which is successfully used either for gluing objects together, or as a protective coating for them not only in everyday life, but also in production. The principle of action is a physical phenomenon such as chemical adhesion, that is, adhesion that occurs as a result of applying glue to the film. Everything is very simple. It is adhesion that is the main characteristic of adhesive tape, which determines the quality of the product.
The tape is either taped on one side or two (it all depends on the area of use). The thickness of the adhesive (rubber or acrylic) varies from 1 to 3 cm. Apply it to materials such as paper, plastic film, foil and the like. But most often adhesive tape is a polypropylene tape.
Varieties of scotch tape
The very first adhesive tape included:
- oils;
- rubber;
- cellophane-based resins.
Today, there are about 900 items that are part of the ZM adhesive tape family: they all differ in width, stickiness and transparency. This is a well-known masking tape; adhesive tape, which includes polymer fibers (to give it greater strength); product that is used in medicine; plumbing tape and many others.
Scope of a masking tape
Most often, this type of mounting tape is used in the process of plastering and painting (probably, hence its name). The goal is to protect surface areas (to be painted) that are in close proximity to each other (i.e. are adjacent). Moreover, either they are painted in different colors, or one is painted, and the other is not.
Masking tape (or crepe) is a self-adhesive product, which basically has a component of paper. The main advantage of this mounting tape is that after use it can be quite easily removed from the surface without leaving any residue.
Important! Do not leave masking tape stuck on for a long time. It is intended exclusively for the period of painting or installation work. And two more points: the surface on which the adhesive tape is glued must be dry and clean. Otherwise, sticky dust and dirt will have to be thoroughly washed. And this is sometimes not so simple. We recommend using special-purpose adhesive tape for window insulation. It combines “two in one” - good adhesion and the absence of traces when removed.
Application Cases:
- When painting the ceiling or walls. The tape is glued either to the walls or to the ceiling, respectively.
- Application of paint on window frames. Adhesive tape is applied to the glass surface end-to-end to the surface of the frame to keep the glass clean.
Popular ways to use masking tape
There are a large number of folk ways to use masking tape:
- They broke something glass. How to quickly and safely collect even the smallest shards? Of course, using this tape.
- To prevent the paint from flowing into the grooves of the can (after opening and using it), paste over the edges of the container with tape.
- Want to get a virtually clean cut when working with wood? Clean means no chips. Anything is possible: just wrap the place of cut with duct tape.
- Do you work with tiles (glass or tile)? Should I cut it or make a hole in it? Easy. In the marked place (on the surface of the tile) stick the adhesive tape and already cut or drill on it. A rough surface will not allow the tool to slip.
- Perfectly helps when pasting wallpaper end-to-end.
- Are you moving? Very well. Want to keep furniture (especially corners), mirrors, and the like intact? Stick the tape in the most vulnerable places.
- Scotch tape will help with packaging and labeling. Moreover, on it you can write anything you want.
Scope of double-sided tape
Double-sided tape is characterized in that the adhesive base is applied on both sides. Moreover, one of them is protected by a strip of waxed paper. Scotch tape can have a completely different basis:
- tissue;
- polymer;
- paper;
- rubber;
- polyethylene (for example, foamed).
Application:
- arrangement of false ceilings;
- gluing carpet (or linoleum);
- for mounting mirrors (for this, a foam-based tape is used, which has a significant thickness and increased stickiness);
- arrangement of wall panels;
- bonding of paper, cardboard and wood;
- fasteners of plastic skirting boards, borders, billboards, posters, plates, car moldings and other decorative products.
The main advantages of double-sided tape include:
- strength;
- profitability (both in terms of time, material costs, and labor costs);
- elasticity;
- aesthetics.
Features of use
In order for gluing work to be carried out efficiently, the following recommendations should be followed:
- Surfaces to be glued are carefully calculated and adjusted to each other. The fact is that the adhesive tape seizes instantly, and then there will be no possibility to fix something later.
- We put the tape with the adhesive side on the surface, which is the base.
- Now on the reverse side of the tape remove the protective film and apply a second object to it.
Scope of adhesive tape transparent
It is a transparent variety of adhesive tape that takes first place in popularity. Basically, it is used:
- for packing goods;
- with it glued worn and torn from time to time documents, books or banknotes.
The advantages of such a tape include its moisture resistance and ability to withstand fairly low temperatures.
Reinforced adhesive tape
The main components of such a product are absolutely waterproof and impregnated with a special adhesive, which is also moisture resistant. Reinforcing tape is an excellent insulating material reinforced with very strong fabric fibers, the main component of which is PVC. Differs in multilayer: the top layer is polyethylene (protected from moisture); the lower one is an adhesive composition with excellent adhesion characteristics.
The main purpose of reinforced adhesive tape is to quickly restore the tightness of plumbing pipelines and its various parts (for example, joints or seams). In addition, the reinforced tape is excellent in order to ensure proper protection of goods from the penetration of moisture. But “control packaging” using this tape is also actively practiced. After all, it is impossible to open goods packaged and sealed with it without violating the integrity.