How long does double-sided adhesive tape last? Product life

How long can double-sided adhesive last?

This is an absolutely legitimate question. Let’s consider someone who wants to hang a picture on the wall, to install the mirror in the bathroom, to place a shelf in their room and so on.

Of course, using double-sided adhesive tape instead of nails, screws, and liquid glue gives a great advantage. You will not need to pierce the wall, you will not need to use hammers or drills, you will not make any noise or produce any dust, and it will all be done in a moment, without requiring then, at a later time, to grout or scratch the area.

But how long does double-sided adhesive last? It certainly cannot be eternal, as no bonding agent can possibly be so.

The point, therefore, is to understand what the duration of the double-sided adhesive tape that one intends to use can be, to understand if it might be better to switch to another type, to a wider double-sided adhesive tape and so on.

How long does double-sided adhesive last?

Let’s say it right away: there is no certain and unique answer to the question “How long does double-sided adhesive last?”. The reason is simple: the duration changes based on a long series of factors.      
It has to do with the type of double-sided tape used, of course, and its size; but also with the way in which that tape was stored before it was used: a roll of double-sided adhesive which has been on a shelf in a wet workshop for years could obviously be less effective than a roll which just came out of the factory.              
Even the surfaces on which that industrial double-sided adhesive tape is used have an important impact on the durability of the adhesive capacity itself: a metal surface will offer a much longer life, on average, than wooden surfaces, or a plastered surface.           
And, of course, the weight of any object that the double-sided adhesive tape must support also counts: a tape chosen to support a light picture will be more likely to last much longer than the same kind of tape, used on the same surface, which has to bear the weight of a heavier shelf.             
So, let’s have a look below on how to make sure that the chosen double-sided tape lasts to the fullest of its ability!

The factors that change the duration of the double-sided adhesive tape

·         The right double-sided adhesive tape: it is, first of all, fundamental to choose the right double-sided adhesive tape, i.e., to think about the actual use the tape will have to be able to choose the most suitable one. There are double-sided adhesive tapes meant for smooth surfaces and rough surfaces, with different thicknesses, for the fitting of carpeting and rugs, used to replace sealants, sheets ones, and so on. You’ll be able to discover all the different types inside our category dedicated to professional adhesive tapes!

·         Keep in mind the temperature: the temperature of the environment and the surfaces on which the industrial double-sided adhesive tape will be employed can also have an important influence on its durability. More specifically, both particularly low and particularly high temperatures can reduce the life of the double-sided adhesive tape; however, there are double-sided adhesive tapes expressly made withstand extreme temperatures.

·         Clean the surfaces: before applying the double-sided adhesive tape, it is essential to carefully clean the surface that will host it. Dirt, dust, grease layers: all of them can create a film which does not allow for optimal adhesion to the medium support, thus compromising the life of the tape from the start.

·         Incorrect storage: many do not think about it at all, but even incorrect storage of adhesive tape can compromise its performance at the time of use, as much as in the following months and years. To answer the question “how long does double-sided tape last” it is therefore important to know how it has been stored over time: whether it stayed at room temperature, away from moisture, and so on.

·         Width of the adhesive surface: the width of the adhesive surface is fundamental to increase the duration of the double-sided adhesive tape as well, because at its increase it will reduce the strain which the adhesive is subjected to. It is therefore essential, depending on the weight of the object to be secured, to choose double-sided adhesive tapes of a suitable width, as well as to use a sufficient number of adhesive strips.

·         Exposure to ultraviolet rays: ultraviolet rays are not friends to synthetic adhesives and rubber. It is therefore possible that adhesive tapes not designed for outdoor use or exposed to UV rays for any other reason suffer over time because of this prolonged exposure.

·         Chemical migration: those who plan to use strong double-sided adhesive tape on plastic surfaces, such as PVC, must take into account the phenomenon of chemical migration. It is possible that with time part of the plastic material on the surface, due to its reduced specific weight, might migrate towards the adhesive, compromising the sealing of the tape. Therefore, it is much better to choose high quality tape, possibly designed specifically for use on plastic surfaces.

·         Proper use of double-sided tape: finally, the way in which the double-sided tape is applied in the moment also affects its durability. It is therefore good to avoid creases, apply sufficient pressure and, of course, remember to completely remove the protective liner, from all the applied strips.