Adhesives Mag logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Adhesives Mag logo
  • NEW PRODUCTS
  • NEWS
    • Adhesives & Sealants Headlines
    • Mergers/Acquisitions
    • Events Calendar
    • Market Trends
  • TOPICS
    • Finished Adhesives and Sealants
    • Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs)
    • Coatings
    • Raw Materials and Chemicals
    • Materials Handling/Processing
    • Meter/Mix/Dispense
    • Curing
    • Testing/Quality Control
    • Packaging of Adhesives & Sealants
    • Converting/Packaging
    • Composites
    • Sustainability
  • COLUMNS
    • European Perspectives
    • Strategic Solutions
    • Supply Chain Strategies
    • Tape Talk
  • TOP 20
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Webinars
    • eBooks
  • EXPLORE
    • Adhesives in Action
    • Blog
    • ASI Store
    • Industry Links
    • Market Research
    • Classifieds
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Buyers' Guide
    • Global Adhesives & Sealants Directory
    • Raw Materials, Chemicals, Polymers and Additives Handbook
    • Equipment Handbook
    • Distributor Directory
  • EMAGAZINE
    • EMAGAZINE
    • ARCHIVE ISSUES
    • ADVERTISE
      • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • CONTACT
  • SIGN UP!
Adhesives and Sealants TopicsColumnsEnd UserFinished Adhesives and SealantsPressure-Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs)Tape TalkEnd User Features

Tape Talk

Holding the Holidays Together with Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Tapes

Not all PSA tapes are alike; it’s important to use the correct one for each project.

By Michel Merkx
asi1118-TapeTalk-img
November 7, 2018

As the holiday season approaches, millions of people will turn to pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) tape to help check off their to-do list. From hanging decorations to wrapping gifts, PSA tape is a useful tool in a person’s seasonal arsenal.

However, not all PSA tapes are alike. When a pressure-sensitive tape is bonded to a surface, many different processes take place. Understanding these processes will help ensure that tapes are bonded correctly and perform as expected. The polymers used to make PSA tapes can behave as both liquids and solids, depending on the circumstances. It is the tapes’ liquid behavior that becomes important initially when sticking to surfaces.

 

Gift Wrapping

While we don’t typically address gift wrapping as an association, the holiday season makes it relevant. After all the effort made in choosing just the right gift, a perfect wrapping job finishes the gift-giving process. When choosing the right PSA tape for gift wrapping, it’s good to keep in mind the tape will likely be visible. Double-sided PSA tape has adhesives on both sides, making it easier to place wrapping paper directly over the tape and hiding it completely. This is a great tool to consider when using a thicker type of wrap, such as packaging paper.

 

Decorating

Using tape for decorating purposes has become popular within the last few years. Although taping lightweight décor on the walls may seem like the easiest solution, it is important to ensure the correct PSA tape is used. Certain brands and styles are easily removable; these include a pull tab that allows foam pad and adhesive to be quickly and easily removed from the wall. Other styles are designed to be permanent and require cleaning for full removal. To permanently mount a mirror or temporarily affix lightweight decorations to the wall or ceiling without using nails, double-sided tape is a great choice.

Depending on the components used within a tape, the type of adhesives, backings and primers making up the adhesive tape define its characteristics and can be adjusted to the demands of an application. If looking to avoid obvious seaming or nail holes is the objective, PSA tape can be easily hidden behind objects without compromising the adhesive strength.

Several factors can affect bonding when applying tape to curved or non-flat surfaces. The curved surface will induce forces on the edges or bend points in the tape, which can result in a de-bonding peel force that causes the tape to pull away from the surface. In these cases, the tape selected must have a strong enough adhesion to overcome these forces. This may require selecting a much different tape than would be used to bond to the same material on a flat surface.

For permanent applications, it is important to apply a PSA such as double-sided tissue or acrylic foam tape, which provides a range of options from which to choose. Similarly, options for permanent or semi-permanent differential PSA tapes are available to users, with clean removal tapes allowing for little (to no) damage to the surface of the wall or ceiling being adhered to, which is typically difficult to achieve with other adhesives or mechanical fasteners.


Michel Merkx is president of the Pressure Sensitive Tape
Council and corporate vice president and general manager of American Biltrite Inc. For more information, visit www.pstc.org.


Any views or opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not represent those of ASI, its staff, Editorial Advisory Board or BNP Media.

KEYWORDS: adhesives in packaging consumer adhesives tapes

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Michel Merkx is president of the Pressure Sensitive Tape and is on the council, corporate vice president and general manager of American Biltrite Inc. For more information, visit www.pstc.org.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • mouse in hole

    Using Foam Sealants for Pest Prevention

    According to the National Pest Management Association,...
    Adhesives and Sealants Topics
    By: Kevin Corcoran
  • linked network nodes

    Using the Power of AI for Adhesive and Sealant Formulation

    With the help of software solutions, adhesive formulators...
    Raw Materials and Chemicals
    By: Karen Parker
  • top20-hero.jpg

    2024 ASI Top 20: Leading Global Manufacturers of Adhesives and Sealants

    ASI's annual ranking of the top 20 global adhesive and...
    Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs)
Subscribe For Free!
  • eMagazine Issues
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Popular Stories

Picture of white beads of hot-melt adhesives

Henkel and Synthomer Work to Cut Carbon Emissions in Adhesives

Image of a green plant

BioBond Licenses Technology Developed at Purdue to Create Biodegradable Packaging Adhesives

Photo of shoe on shovel breaking into dirt

PPG to Build New Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina for Aerospace Coatings and Sealants

ASI Top 20 website

Events

January 1, 2030

Webinar Sponsorship Information

For webinar sponsorship information, visit www.bnpevents.com/webinars or email webinars@bnpmedia.com.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Structural Adhesives: Properties, Characterization and Applications

Structural Adhesives: Properties, Characterization and Applications

See More Products

ASI CASE EBOOK

Related Articles

  • Tape Talk 2018

    Tape Summit 2018 Discusses the Ins and Outs of PSA Tape

    See More
  • asi0420-Avery-img1

    Changing the Packaging Landscape with Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

    See More
  • securing automotive heat shields

    Selecting the Correct Type of Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Tape

    See More
×

Keep the info flowing with our eNewsletters!

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey & Sample
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Youtube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing