How thick is double-sided adhesive tape? Interesting facts and characteristics
How thick is double-sided adhesive tape? In many cases it may be important to know exactly what is the thickness of the double-sided tape which will be used.
Of course, in cases where you simply want a tape to attach drawings or postcards to a wall or refrigerator door, the thickness will generally be quite thin, without any particular need for precision.
Adhesive tape which will be used in the industrial or construction fields is a different story: in these situations, half a millimetre more or less might compromise the final result, as well as the very grip of the tape used.
It should also be mentioned that the thickness of double-sided adhesive tape is a direct consequence of its functionality. In this article we will go deeper into this aspect: for now, it is just important to keep in mind that in general thinner double-sided adhesive tape is designed to be used on perfectly smooth surfaces, while thicker ones are meant to be attached to rough surfaces, so as to fill any unevenness.
That said, let’s see how thickness changes between different types of tape.
The thickness of the double-sided adhesive tape: a matter of support
What do we refer to, specifically, when we talk about the thickness of strong double-sided tape? Well, as we know well, these tools for bonding two surfaces are made of different elements, each of which has different functions.
Of course, there are the two adhesive sides, which can be created with different kinds of adhesives, depending on the performance the tape requires to carry out, and on the usage conditions and temperature.
To protect the adhesive parts, then, there is a releasable liner that, once the tape is wrapped in the roll, protects both adhesive sides. Finally, there is the skeleton of the double-sided tape, the central layer, which gives structure to this tool.
That is what we call the support, which can be made with different materials and can, in fact, have different levels of thicknesses. It is therefore the support that changes in concrete ways the thickness of the industrial double-sided adhesive tape: in the case of very thin ones, simple film tape will be used, while in the case of thicker tapes supports made with other materials will be employed, up to, for example, foam, which is able to adapt to different surfaces, to dissipate stress, and to perfectly seal the closure.
Types of double-sided adhesive tape
We have outlined how the thickness of the industrial double-sided tape depends in fact on the thickness of the support used. Based on this element, and depending on the type of adhesive used, double-sided adhesive tapes of different kinds will be present. Think, for example, of adhesive tape used at an industrial level to fix screens inside smartphones or GPSs: in this case, powerful but very thin adhesive tape.
In other cases, such as in the manufacturing of household appliances such as refrigerators, ovens and air conditioners, double-sided adhesives with a slightly greater thickness can be found, ups to the ample thicknesses of double-sided foam tape.
In this case the increased thickness of the “soft” support ensures adherence even on rough or discontinuous surfaces, as well as accommodating any expansion and contraction processes, without affecting the seal.
Think, for example, of bonding surfaces made of different materials, with different expansion values according to changes in temperature, such as metal and plastic: in that case, using foam tape, thicker but more flexible, can make a big difference.
How thick is double-sided adhesive tape? Some examples
In our e-commerce site for adhesive tape meant for industrial use and more, there are double-sided adhesive showing many different thickness levels. The typical transparent double-sided adhesive tape with a width between 1 and 2 cm (0.3 0.7 in) usually is quite thin: the purpose in this case is usually to adhere smooth surfaces which offer high adhesion, as well as light ones.
The reduced thickness is therefore an advantage in this cases, to ensure the “disappearance” of the double-sided adhesive. In other cases, however, the thickness of the tape increases.
Think for example of our Extra Strong Transparent Thick Double-sided Blister: this case, a transparent double-sided tape which, however, to ensure adherence even in outdoor environments and on difficult surfaces (from bricks to tiles) has a pure acrylic highly thick support, for a total of 1 mm (0.03 in). Another larger double-sided adhesive is the 3M structural tape, which has a thickness of 0.64 mm (0.02 in), to be able to adhere to wood and concrete as well.
