Glossary of Terms
Adhesion: The strength of the bond of a tape to the surface.
Baloney Slitting: The common method of slitting pressure-sensitive tapes, producing per step or cycle. Also referred to as lathe slitting, lever or single-knife cutting.
Butt-Cutting: A die-cutting process where a kiss-cut is performed but no matrix is created. The parts are directly next to each other. For example: consecutive squares where the back edge of one die-cut piece is actually the location of the die strike of the front edge for the next piece.
Cohesion: The internal strength of an adhesive.
Conformability: The ability of tape to remain in full contact with the surface of an irregular-shaped object without puckering or creasing.
Cross-Linking: The development of a three-dimensional structure within an adhesive in order to improve bond strength and resistance to temperature, oil or solvents.
Delamination or Adhesive Transfer: When the backing and adhesive is separated into two distinct layers.
Die-Cutting: Fabricating process to make any shape or geometric pattern, design, square, rectangle, circle, etc. through the use of steel-rule dies, rotary or circular dies, thermal and clicker dies, as well as machined compound and progressive die tooling.
Elastic Memory: The tendency of some tapes` backings to go back to their original length after being elongated.
Elongation at Break: The increase in length of tape that is subject to a force, which causes it to break. Usually expressed as a percentage of the initial length.
Flame Retardant/Self-Extinguishing/Fire-Resistant: The ability of tape to withstand exposure to a flame. Flame-retardant materials burn in direct contact with a flame but combustion is not maintained when the flame is removed. Nonflammable materials do not burn even when they are in direct contact with a flame.
Flexibility: The ability of a tape to be conformable or pliable during application. Particularly affects low-temperature uses.
Heat Resistance: The ability of a tape to withstand a given temperature under specific conditions.
I.D.: Inside diameter
Impact Resistance: The ability of an adhesive tape to withstand sudden shocks and loads. This is especially important for tapes used in packaging.
Kiss-Cutting: Die-cutting process where the die strike depth is controlled down to the release liner but not through it. For example, pressure-sensitive labels in roll forms-the usable product is left on the roll and the matrix is usually removed.
Laminating: The joining of two or more layers of materials using pressure-sensitive adhesive products. The process involves nip or compression of the layers, usually through a set of rollers with controlled pressure and speed.
Matrix: The pattern arrangement of removed material to allow for a pre-spaced concept of die-cut parts.
Mils: Regarding thickness of materials, inferring thousands of an inch. For example: 4 mil thick material is actually .004″.
Moisture Absorption: Measures the amount of moisture that is absorbed and retained by a tape under certain specified conditions.
O.D.: Outside diameter
Pancake Wound: The typical form of a roll of tape where each layer is directly on top of the next one. Also referred to as planetary wound.
Primer: A coating that is used to enhance the bond of an adhesive to a backing.
Printability: The ability to accept printing inks and maintain graphic presentation after winding and application.
Release Coating: A coating applied to the outer surface of a backing, enabling a tape to unwind from the roll.
Release Liner: A paper or plastic material-usually with a silicone coating on one side-that is used to allow a tape to unwind from a roll. This is typically used for double-coated tapes and transfer adhesives.
Resistance: The ability of a tape-once applied-to remain effective under such conditions. For example: weathering, oils, grease, solvents, acids, bases, etc.
Rewind Slitting: This method is for producing multiple cuts per cycle. This has a longer setup than baloney slitting. The process actually rewinds the material layer by layer across a set of pre-spaced knives and spacers on to a rewind shaft that is set with pre-slit cores and spacers with each individual slit roll wound on individual tension-controlled cores.
Scoring: Creasing or bending line that assists subsequent usage.
Self Wound or Single Wound: Used often in reference to pressure-sensitive tapes when comparing them to linered tapes. Each subsequent layer had the exposed adhesive in direct contact with the backing of the previous layer.
Shear: Ability of an adhesive to resist creep or slippage.
Tensile Strength: The load, or force, at which an adhesive tape breaks. This is especially important in tapes used for baling and bundling.
Thickness: The distance between the two opposite surface of the whole tape.
Transfer Adhesive/Transfer Tape: A layer of adhesive-without a backing-coated onto a release liner so that it can be unwound. Oftentimes, the adhesive has a reinforcing material to enhance the strength and handling.
Traverse Wound: Also referred to as level winding, spool wound and reel wound. For example: sewing machine thread or fishing line.
Water Vapor Transmission Rate: The weight of the water vapor passing through a defined tape surface under certain defined conditions of humidity, temperature and time.
Wet Grab/ Tack/Quick Stick: The ability of a tape to create an immediate bond with a measurable strength-during the contact of the adhesive with the substrate-without applying external pressure.