
Which Packing Tape Should You Use?
You might think that all packing tape is the same and simply seals a box and that’s it. But not all packaging tape is the same, and with a wide variety of different types to use out there, it can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming trying to pick the one best suited to your needs. Acrylic, Hotmelt, or Solvent Adhesives There are three different types of adhesives available for tapes, Acrylic, Hotmelt, and solvent. Each adhesive has different properties which make them more suitable for different situations. Acrylic adhesives work in a wider temperature range than hotmelts (0°C to 65° compared with 3°C to 50°C) as well as in more humid environments. Hotmelts, however, have a stronger adhesion than acrylics on many surfaces including cardboard and perform better under constant stress. Solvent-based tapes (Vinyl tapes can only use solvent adhesive) have the strongest adhesion properties and deal with extreme temperatures and high humidity the best, making it the favorite choice for heavy-duty packaging and export packaging. Acrylic – Low cost, good for the majority of standard packaging needs Hotmelt – Stronger adhesion than acrylic, and are more resistant to stress Solvent – The strongest adhesive, works in extreme temperatures but is also the most costly Polypropylene Packing Tape Polypropylene tape is the most commonly used packing tape and is usually colored clear or brown. It’s very strong, durable, and resistant to breaking during the shipping process. It is generally the most economic type of packaging tape out there and