2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16
Everyone has completely different associations with the word "scotch". One thinks of the people of one part of Great Britain, namely the Scots and Scotland.
And someone, starting to prepare for Christmas, will buy such a great drink as scotch. And others, looking with annoyance at the never-ending repairs, will remember that they forgot to buy masking tape again. Something like that. However, in this article we will talk about the types of construction tape and its areas of application.
The history of the word "scotch"
Scotch - what is it? What is the history of his "birth"? Oddly enough, scotch tape is not a Scottish invention, as many might think. It was invented in 1930 by the Americans, or to be more precise, by a laboratory technician from the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing company (currently this grandiose corporation is known as ZM) named Richard Drew, who plays an exotic instrument - the banjo in his spare time.
It all started in 1925, when Drew, on the instructions of the administration of his company, followed the process of testing the new Wetordry skin in a car service. His attention was drawn to the actions of the masters involved in painting body work. The fact is thatthey never managed to qualitatively apply paint of two or more colors to the surface. The dividing line each time turned out to be sloppy and blurry. Drew became interested in this issue and after a while suggested that the workers try the tape (about 5 cm wide), which had an adhesive backing and band-aids on each edge.
Tests of the product did not end very well, because the tape simply curled up immediately after using paint of the same color. And that's where it all ended. The reason for the failure was that the adhesive tape was glued exclusively around the edges. Why was the adhesive not applied in the middle? Now it is difficult to say: whether because of an omission, or because of thrift (which, by the way, the Scots were famous for). But, nevertheless, the worker shouted in anger: “Give the tape back to your Scotch bosses. Let's make it stickier! Naturally, Drew did not have any Scottish bosses, but the word scotch is great! And so it went.
Drew did not stop in his search, and so, in the fall of 1930, the final version of the cellophane roll of "Scottish" tape was made. Testing was carried out in Chicago. The test result read: "We are releasing this product to the market."
What is tape?
Adhesive tape is nothing more than a sticky or adhesive tape, which is successfully used either for gluing objects together or as a protective coating not only in everyday life, but also in production. The principle of operation lies in such a physical phenomenon as chemical adhesion, that is, adhesion,which occurs as a result of applying glue to the film. Everything is very simple. It is adhesion that is the main characteristic of adhesive tape, which determines the quality of the product.
The tape is produced either glued on one side or on both sides (it all depends on the area of use). The thickness of the adhesive (rubber or acrylic) varies from 1 to 3 cm. It is applied to materials such as paper, plastic film, foil, and the like. But most often the adhesive tape is polypropylene tape.
Varieties of adhesive tape
The very first tape included:
- butter;
- rubber;
- cellophane-based resins.
Today there are about 900 items that are part of the ZM adhesive tape family: they all differ in width, stickiness and transparency. This is the well-known masking tape; adhesive tape, which includes polymer fibers (to give it greater strength); a product used in medicine; sanitary tape and many others.
Scope of masking tape
Most often this type of mounting tape is used in the process of plastering and painting (probably hence its name). The goal is to protect surface areas (to be painted) that are in close proximity to each other (i.e. are adjacent). Moreover, either they are painted in different colors, or one is painted and the other is not.
Masking tape (or krepp) is a self-adhesive product, which is based on a component ofpaper. The main advantage of this mounting tape is that after use it can be quite easily removed from the surface without leaving any traces.
Important! Do not leave masking tape stuck for a long time. It is intended exclusively for the period of painting or installation work. And two more points: the surface on which you glue the adhesive tape must be dry and clean. Otherwise, you will have to carefully wash off the stuck together dust and dirt. And sometimes it's not so easy. To insulate windows, we recommend using adhesive tape for special purposes. It combines "two in one" - good adhesion and no residue when removed.
Uses:
- When painting the ceiling or walls. The tape is glued either to the walls or to the ceiling, respectively.
- Applying paint to window frames. The adhesive tape is applied to the glass surface end to end with the frame surface to keep the glass clean.
Folk ways to use masking tape
There are many folk ways to use masking tape:
- Smashed something glass. How to quickly and safely collect even the smallest fragments? With this tape, of course.
- So that the paint does not flow into the grooves of the can (after opening and using it), cover the edges of the container with tape.
- Want to get a near-clean cut when working with wood? Clean means no chips. Anything is possible: just wrap duct tape around the cut.
- Work withtiles (glass or tiles)? Should I cut it or make a hole in it? Easily. In the marked place (on the surface of the tile), stick the adhesive tape and cut or drill it already. The rough surface will prevent the tool from slipping.
- Great for back-to-back wallpapering.
- Moving? Very well. Do you want to keep furniture (especially corners), mirrors and the like intact? Stick the tape in the most vulnerable places.
- Scotch tape will also help with packaging and labeling. Moreover, you can write whatever you want on it.
Application area for double-sided tape
Double-sided tape differs in that the adhesive base is applied on both sides. Moreover, one of them is protected with a strip of wax paper. Scotch tape can have a completely different base:
- fabric;
- polymer;
- paper;
- rubber;
- polyethylene (for example, foam).
Application:
- arrangement of suspended ceilings;
- gluing carpet (or linoleum);
- for mounting mirrors (for this, a foam-based tape is used, which has a significant thickness and increased stickiness);
- arrangement of wall panels;
- gluing paper, cardboard and wood;
- fastening plastic skirting boards, borders, billboards, posters, signs, car moldings and other decorative items.
The main advantages of double-sided tape include:
- strength;
- economical (both in terms of time, material costs, and labor costs);
- elasticity;
- aesthetic.
Features of use
In order for the gluing work to be carried out efficiently, the following recommendations must be followed:
- The surfaces to be glued are carefully calculated and adjusted to each other. The fact is that the tape seizes instantly, and there will be no possibility to fix anything later.
- Apply the tape with the sticky side on the surface that is the base.
- Now, remove the protective film from the back of the tape and apply a second object to it.
Scope of transparent adhesive tape
It is the transparent variety of adhesive tape that ranks first in popularity. Basically, it is used:
- for packing goods;
- use it to glue frayed and torn documents, book products or banknotes.
The advantages of this tape include its moisture resistance and the ability to withstand fairly low temperatures.
Reinforced tape
The main components of such a product are absolutely waterproof and impregnated with a special adhesive, which is also moisture resistant. Reinforcing tape is an excellent insulating material reinforced with very strong fabric fibers, the main component of which is PVC. Differs in multilayeredness: the top layer - polyethylene (is protected from moisture); bottom - adhesive composition with excellentadhesion characteristics.
The main purpose of reinforced tape is the rapid restoration of the tightness of plumbing pipelines and its various parts (for example, joints or seams). In addition, reinforced tape is excellent for ensuring that goods are properly protected from moisture penetration. But "control packaging" with the help of this tape is also actively practiced. After all, it is impossible to open the goods, packed and sealed with it, without violating the integrity.
