How long can PPL/PVC adhesive tape glue last?
How long can PPL/PVC adhesive tape glue last? That is, how long does a PPL/PVC tape last once applied? Of course, when determining the durability of an adhesive tape for package sealing, there are many factors to consider.
However, asking this question is still a good idea, as everyone has different requirements as far as tape grip goes. In fact, there are companies which only deal with small and very light boxes, while others need to use packaging tape for large and heavy boxes.
Moreover, there are goods that, once sealed, will remain so for months or even years, while others will be delivered directly to the customer within a few days.
It should be noted that the storage time of the adhesive tape before they are used is also a factor (if it happened at the right temperature, in a very humid place, and so on).
And again, to understand the durability of adhesive tape glue, temperatures and humidity to which the boxes will be exposed should also be kept in mind, as well as the type of cardboard boxes, and finally, of course, the type of double-sided tape. Which lasts longer: PVC or PPL packaging tape?
Which lasts longer PPL or PVC tape?
In the world of adhesive tape there is a fairly specific and varied taxonomy. There is insulating tape, double-sided tape, packaging tape, masking tape, and so on.
Within the mono-adhesive packaging tape group, PVC and PPL tape are usually the main categories, thus the differences between those rolls tend to be stressed.
And there are indeed differences, but it should be stressed that they do not depend at all on the type of support – PPL or PVC – but rather on the type of glue associated with it.
The structure of mono-adhesive adhesive tape
It is therefore worth summarising very briefly what the structure of mono-adhesive tape for the sealing of packages is. To summarise, adhesive tape of this type is made of three different layers. On the top one, there is the support, which is what gives strong double-sided adhesive tape its “body”.
It can be made of PPL, PVC, paper, and so on. Immediately below the support there is the intermediate layer, i.e., a layer having the function of keeping the lower adhesive in place on top of the upper support: this layer is fundamental, because the moment the adhesive comes off the support, the adhesive tape becomes useless.
Finally, there is the glue layer, which can be made of different substances. Mainly hot melt adhesive, acrylic one, and natural rubber, and each of these substances has different characteristics and, yes, different resistance levels as well.
The grip power of hot melt adhesive tape
Let’s begin with hot melt adhesive tape. What is it?
It’s a hot melt adhesive which, though having several advantages from other points of view, presents disadvantages that should be kept in mind when it comes to using to seal boxes: because of this, for example, here at A.C.I.T. use this type of adhesive very little, our preference going towards adhesives which we will name in the next paragraph.
By its very nature, hot melt adhesive is affected by both UV rays and heat: specifically, hot melt tends to lose its grip when temperatures exceed 40 °C (104 °F). In any case, this industrial double-sided adhesive is at its best during the first 6 months after application, and then loses grip.
As you can imagine, therefore, it is not the best adhesive to me employed on packages which will have to last over time or will potentially be exposed to high temperatures.
Acrylic or natural rubber adhesive tape
Single-sided packaging tape made with acrylic adhesive or natural rubber are completely different.
For example, acrylic adhesive is mostly used for making PPL tapes: industrial double-sided adhesive tape meant for such packages – stored and applied well – can safely last for a couple of years, even for medium-sized or heavy boxes.
Another excellent adhesive is, of course, natural rubber, associated in most cases with double-sided PVC tape: this, too, in the absence of moisture and UV rays, can last very long.
It should be noted that, to fully understand the durability of a mono-adhesive tape, you should not only consider the materials it is made of. The type of cardboard used to make the boxes you need to seal also plays an important role in defining the overall strength.
Boxes made of recycled or very recycled cardboard, containing silicon, tend to offer less strong adhesive power.
