For Emily, the owner of an online store, business was finally starting to pick up. She found herself visiting the post office each day with more and more shipments to send of her custom-made picture frames and decorative candles. There was just one problem. She was losing customers and getting bad reviews due to damaged products.
It turned out that the inexpensive packaging tape she used frequently failed to keep boxes sealed during transit, leading to complaints and returns. Choosing the wrong tape can result in a frustrating and costly experience. Desperate, Emily consulted a packaging specialist, who introduced her to various types of packaging tapes and their adhesive properties. By switching to the appropriate tape, Emily drastically reduced product damage and improved customer satisfaction.
How is the Adhesive on Packaging Tape Activated?
Packaging tape is crucial for shipping, logistics, and household applications. The adhesive on packaging tapes ensures that packaging remains securely closed during storage and transportation. Choosing the right packaging tape is crucial for ensuring the safety and integrity of shipped products. By understanding how different adhesives are activated, buyers can select the most appropriate tape for their needs, considering factors like the type of surface, environmental conditions, and the required bond strength. With that in mind, here are the basic types of packaging tapes. She understood that cheaper isn’t necessarily best for tapes, and it was worth investing in a better solution.
Types of Packaging Tapes
There are three main types of packaging tapes based on their adhesive activation methods:
- Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs)
- Water-Activated Adhesives (WAAs)
- Heat-Activated Adhesives (HAAs)
Each type has distinct properties and activation mechanisms, making them suitable for different applications and environments.
Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs)
Pressure-sensitive adhesives are known as non-reactive types of adhesive. These types of packaging tapes are formed by a mixture of elastomers and tackifiers. Elastomers may be natural and synthetic rubber, and tackifiers are resins that provide stickiness. Furthermore, more additives performance such as strength, strong adhesion, and temperature resistance. This activation method makes PSAs suitable for various applications, including sealing cartons and boxes, and various uses, such as labeling products in food, pharmaceuticals, and retail, as well as masking tapes for painting and surface protection. PSAs are also found in office supplies like Scotch tape and Post-it notes, medical tapes for dressings and devices, and automotive tapes for trim and molding.
Activation Mechanism
PSAs are activated by applying pressure on the tape against the bonding surface. The adhesive forms a bond through physical contact, creating a quick and effective seal.
Water-Activated Adhesives (WAAs)
Water Activated Tape (WAT) is the most used tape in the packaging industry. It is a paper-based tape with an adhesive that is dry to the touch until activated with water. The water turns the dried glue into cheesy liquid glue that sticks to corrugated cardboard boxes. Unlike several other tapes on the packaging market, water-activated tape has a unique feature – sealing packaging tightly. There are two types of Water Activated Tape: reinforced and non-reinforced, as shown in the figure below:
Reinforced Water-Activated Adhesives
The reinforced product is strengthened using reinforcing fibers traditionally made of glass or polyester. Adding reinforcement increases the tape closure’s strength and is ideal for shipping boxes. The reinforcement is inserted between the kraft paper sheets along the laminate adhesive, covering all fibers completely. Water-activated adhesives are typically used on corrugated cardboard boxes, heavy-duty shipping containers, paper-based packaging, palletized loads, and tamper-evident packaging, providing a strong, secure seal ideal for various shipping and storage needs.
Non-Reinforced Water-Activated Tape
Non-reinforced water-activated tape lacks reinforcing fibers and, therefore, does not have the same degree of strength as reinforced tape. However, non-reinforced tape has certain blessings, including value and sustainability. The most common packaging for non-reinforced tape is lightweight packaging containers and pallet applications, which can be used for male or female packages.
In both unreinforced and reinforced varieties, the adhesive penetrates the fibers of the corrugated field. Once the glue dries—within 5-7 seconds—it bonds the tape and container together. The easiest way to remove the tape is to destroy the seal, leaving a clear mark that the container was intentionally opened.
Activation Mechanism
Water-activated tape’s mode of action is based on water. Water is required to activate the adhesive properties. The activation procedure starts when the adhesive side of the tape is wetted with a water-activated tape dispenser or a sponge. Once moistened, the adhesive becomes sticky and can be applied to a packaging surface. When it is applied to the packaging container, it dries and makes a strong bond with the surface, which ultimately provides tamper-evident properties.
Heat-Activated Adhesives (HAAs)
A heat-activated adhesive is a type of adhesive usually applied to the surface of the tape to prevent it from sticking at normal temperatures. Instead, it turns sticky at certain temperatures, where adhesive chemicals are activated and can form a bond. Heat-activated adhesives are commonly used in packaging for electronic devices and components, as well as in high-end retail packaging where a strong, durable bond is required, such as for luxury goods or protective packaging for sensitive equipment.
Heat-activated tapes are extremely flexible and are used for bonding in many projects. As the name suggests, heat-activated adhesive is a non-sticky adhesive that generally won’t stick at normal temperatures. Because of its arrangement, this glue sticks when heated. They provide a range of versatility in their design and application. It is a business in scale and function that has grown noticeably in popularity over the past few decades.
There are two types of heat-activated adhesives that have different characteristics: thermosets and thermoplasts. Thermosets heat to the ideal temperature and permanently bond where they are. They are one of the best solutions for a permanent and long-term bond between the tape and the packaging surface. Thermoplastics, on the other hand, can be melted and solidified multiple times. If you want tape with quality binding for a short-duration application, you can consider thermoplastics.
Activated mechanism
When activated by a heat source, the adhesive goes through two stages:
- The first stage takes place within seconds of the heat activation system. Bonding occurs between the two components, and after heating, the adhesive tape begins to develop. I don’t know what this means regarding the adhesive tape beginning to develop..
- The second phase is carried out over the next few minutes. Once the adhesive begins to settle, the chemicals on the tape crystallize, increasing the bond strength between the tape and the surface.
Depending on the type of material you are bonding, heat-activated adhesives are also available in exclusive variations. A good heat-activated adhesive will bond surfaces to suit your needs, whether it’s plastic, metal, wood, or any other type of floor.
Conclusion
Depending on the type of adhesive used, packing tape’s adhesive can be activated by pressure, water, or heat. Understanding the activation mechanisms and properties of each type of adhesive is important to choosing the right tape for your specific needs.
By considering the type of surface and environmental conditions and taking an active approach, you can ensure that your applications continue to be securely protected. Whether you are using pressure-activated, water-activated, or heat-activated tape, following the right performance strategies will enhance the overall performance and reliability of your packaging solutions.
Further Reading
Four Types Of Packaging That Prevent Tampering With Medicine
Faisal Ur Rehman is SEO advisor at Reusable Packaging News and co-owner and content editor at Forklift News. He brings more than six years of hands-on experience with Blue Box Packaging, a U.S. custom box manufacturer, where he gained firsthand knowledge of packaging production processes and manufacturing equipment. Faisal has also worked with Reusable Packaging News for more than four years. His coverage includes packaging compliance, reusable transport packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, material handling and supply chain logistics. Connect with Faisal on LinkedIn or view his journalist profile on Muck Rack.
