| Packaging tape is a type of adhesive tape purposed for general sealing, wrapping, enclosing, and bundling to prepare items for handling, storage, or shipping. Packaging tape and film is widely used to seal boxes, bottles, and other isolating storage units, but is only temporary.

Packaging tape operation is consistent, despite the mechanism of adhesion. Packaging tapes are applied to the seams and joints of various storage receptacles to maintain a tolerance that keeps cargo within the restraint of the receptacle. Packaging tapes are common for sealing box seams in parcel delivery; sealing caps of bottles; tamper-proofing pill and food containers; the bundling of similarly-shaped items into one larger, more manageable footprint; and the enclosure of items in a protective film or liner. Tapes contrast by the materials of construction, as well as the type of adhesive employed.

Package tapes are often applied by the use of a dispenser, which eases the unraveling and cutting of the sticky adhesive. Production processes often automate packaging with the use of a carton sealer.  

Materials

Adhesive

Carrier

Common Types of Packaging Tape/Film

Parcel tape, colloquially box tape or packing tape, is a simple, medium-strength tape designed for sealing corrugated fiberboard seams. It is widely used in package delivery and mail services, as well as general sealing and enclosing. Brown-colored and translucent tape is most common, but other designs with messages or patterns are manufactured. Adhesion is achieved by pressure sensitive or water-activated designs on a paper, polymer, or acrylic carrier.
Filament tape (a.k.a strapping tape) is a high-strength, pressure adhesive type of packaging tape, and is most often used for bundling items, pallet stacking, and seam sealing. The carrier is frequently polyester or polypropylene and fiberglass, providing the capability to withhold several hundred pounds of pressure. Multiple pieces of tape in a cross-seam orientation can significantly increase box strength.
Light-duty packaging tape is used for simple sealing and enclosing operations. It typically has a rubber resin, pressure sensitive, or acrylic adhesive. Easy to dispense and handle, some durability and strength have been sacrificed for a consumer-friendly design.
Security packaging tape is applied to containers to provide a tamper-evident seal. This is common for medicinal and nutritional products. It is usually a secondary form of packaging.
Wraps are self-adhering films that envelope items in a polymer layer. These are helpful for waterproofing and containment. The most common packaging wrap is shrink wrap, which provides a profile-clinging boundary when heat is applied to the wrap.
Corrosion inhibiting packaging films and wraps are coated with rust-inhibiting chemicals that migrate to packaged metal components. This helps prevent oxidation during long periods of transportation or disuse. These are easy solutions to rust prevention, and are non-toxic.

Packaging Tape Specifications

Tape Dimensions

For tapes, there are two important geometrical aspects to consider, width and thickness. Length is unimportant because this is determined by the user at the point of application.

• Width is the measurement across predetermined edges of the tape. Tapes can be cut by the customer to smaller widths.

• Thickness is the distance between the two, flattened surfaces of the tape (carrier and adhesive). It is usually expressed in mils or thousandths of an inch and is measured under pressure with a gauge.

Wraps are produced in rolls or large cuts, which are then resized or shrunk by the consumer.

Tape Features

• Tensile strength is the maximum load the tape can withstand. Packaging tape strength ranges from a few ounces to hundreds of pounds, and is important for keeping items sealed.
• Peel strength is the amount of force needed to separate two bonded surfaces.
• Temperature resistance is the amount of heat the tape can be subjected to without compromising the tape's performance. Packaging tape typically does not have enhanced temperature properties, and packaging film has a molecular structure that aligns and tightens when heated.
• Abrasion resistance is the level of scratch resistance and ruggedness of the tape.
• Transparent products allow the transmission of light. A tape is rated as transparent if 10-point type can be read easily when the tape is applied directly over it.
• Once applied, products become permanently bonded to the substrate.

• Weather resistant products are suitable for outdoor use and resistant to ultraviolet (UV) light, cold, heat, water or other weather conditions.

• Safety film and tape products are used for flagging or as barricade tape. Reflective tapes are often used in safety applications. Multi-colored tapes can be used to differentiate seams 

Tape Standards

Federal mail organizations and private delivery services often dictate suitable types of packaging tape. Pressure sensitive, water adhesive, and rubber resin tapes that are brown or clear may be the only acceptable taping options. Confer with each shipping carrier.

ATSM has several standards related to the manufacture of quality box sealing tapes and films. The U.S. Federal Government has internal regulations for the use of quality packing tapes and vinyls. The Pressure Sensitive Tape Council is a trade association that works with ATSM to establish North American quality guidelines for adhesive tapes, including packaging tape. ISO compiles quality standards through its series on adhesives.

Applications

As stated, the most extensive use of packaging tape is mailing and shipping, as well as product sealing. These tapes are removable, and are recommended to be applied to box seams in an 'H' pattern. Packaging tape is also designed to provide visual indication when package has been tampered with, including attempts to tape over the original seal. Strapping tape is particularly useful for bundling pipes and tools. Individually wrapped foods, cigarettes, and even homes are commonly placed in shrink wrap to isolate the items from decay and/or water.

Resources

Wikipedia - Box-sealing tape; Pressure Sensitive Tape

Green Packaging, Inc. - Green VCI

3M U.S. - Packaging Tapes and Equipment

Image Credits:

Office Buy | Transpack | Sydney Packaging and Labels | 3M | Sydney Packaging and Labels | Salesmaster Corp. | SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden | FedEx