Description

Safety and reflective tapes are highly visible in order to warn personnel of hazards or construction conditions.

Application

Safety tapes are used in flagging applications or to mark an area’s perimeter. Reflective tapes are used in rotating or moving equipment to trigger proximity sensors, or enable a tachometer to make readings.

Some products are designed for other applications including:

• Automotive
• Aerospace
• Building and construction
• Cable
• Ductwork
• Electrical
• General-purpose
• Graphics
• HVAC systems
• Medical
• Packaging
• Plumbing
• Printing
• Signage

Specifications

• Length
• width
• Thickness
• Peel strength or adhesion
• Tensile strength
• Temperature resistance
• Dielectric strength

Adhesive Type

There are two choices for adhesive type: non-adhesive and single-sided adhesive. Non-adhesive safety tapes and reflective tapes not have an applied adhesive, but may be self-adhering. PTFE thread sealing tape or Teflon^® tape is a type of non-adhesive tape. Teflon is a registered trademark of DuPont Dow Elastomers.

With single-sided safety and reflective tapes, only one side of the backing or carrier is coated with adhesive.

Backing Material

• Cloth
• Metal
• Paper
• Plastic
• Rubber 

Substrate Compatibility

In terms of substrate or material compatibility, choices include:

• Ceramic
• Concrete
• Composite materials
• Fabric
• Foam
• Glass
• Leather
• Metal
• Paper
• Plastic
• Rubber
• Textiles
• Wood 

Features

Electrically-conductive safety and reflective tapes are used in electrical heating or other electronics applications.

Cryogenic products can withstand or be used in very low temperature conditions, and often include labels or marking tapes for biological samples stored in liquid nitrogen.

Transparent safety tapes and reflective tapes allow the transmission of light.

UV-resistant safety and reflective tapes resist ultraviolet (UV) light and are suitable for outdoor use.

Other features may include:

• Anti-static
• Static dissipating
• Electrostatic discharge (ESD) control
• Electromagnetic interference (EMI) protection
• Radio frequency interference (RFI) protection
• Extractable
• Laminated
• Moisturized
• Permanent
• Removable
• Repositionable

Standards

Many safety tapes and reflective tapes are tested according to published standards or test methods from organizations such as the Pressure Sensitive Tape Council (PSTC) or the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM).

ASTM D4592 - This specification covers white or yellow preformed retroreflective pavement marking tapes that are designed to provide a service life of typically 3 to 6 months, depending on wear and durability factors.

CCC-S-320 - Reflective tape, adhesive backing 

References

Image credit:

New Pig Corporation