Tapes of various kinds have become so much a part of our lives that we often don’t think of how we use them on a daily basis and even of the many kinds of tape that are available. One of these is foam mounting tape that can be used for making tight seals between two objects or as a quick gasket replacement in a piece of machinery.
foam mounting tape is a double-sided adhesive, either 1/8-inch of 1/16-inch thick, that is high performing in nature, easy to handle, requires almost no clean-up and can be consistently and applied evenly by hand and adapted to many applications. Weather does not adversely affect the tape, and there are not any environmental problems or issues when it comes to disposal.
Anatomy of Foam Mounting Tape
There are three components to this kind of tape. The foam core is critical to the adhesive process. Stress can be distributed evenly throughout the length of the tape and transferred away from the bond line of the adhesive using the core. The thickness of the core allows for bonding of surfaces that do not match and between dissimilar materials. The core also ensures that the surfaces are separated so as to prevent catalytic corrosion.
The adhesive is either rubber or acrylic and is pressure sensitive with “quick-stick” properties, meaning that pressure is applied, and the tape is attached without any additional procedures required. No curing time is needed so that production is simple and quick.
A liner is used to provide an easy release from the tape. Also, the liner keeps the material clean during storage and use and helps to maintain the integrity of the roll.
Advantages of Foam Mounting Tape
As opposed to using mechanical fasteners to attach or bond two items, this kind of tape is easier to apply and takes less time than using mechanical fasteners so as to reduce labor time and costs. It also is non-conductive so that it provides better acoustical and thermal insulation and can help to isolate vibration. No special skills, tools or equipment are needed to apply it and even then it has a neat and clean appearance. Finally, it can provide a seal also to attachment making it a multi-purpose product.
Engineered Materials, Inc. fabricates and supplies industrial tapes, sealants and adhesives and fabricated sandwich panels from foam and honeycomb for insulated and structural panel applications. The company can meet the specific requirements of its customers and deliver customized solutions. Visit engineeredmaterialsinc.com for more information.
