What insulating tape is used for. All you need to know
What is the use of insulating tape? What are the possible uses of this specific type of adhesive tape? It is reasonable to have questions, and to wonder about the actual functions of the various types of tapes on the market.
Each of them, in fact, has been developed with a very precise task. Think for example of paper tape: it is an adhesive tape designed specifically for masking operations, making the work of painters easier and more effective.
Or, consider regular adhesive tape, which is ideal in the stationery business. Or, double-sided adhesive for carpeting operations, the most practical means to place carpeting and rugs in place. And then, there is insulating tape, which has a specific use in the electrical field and which, in case of need, can also be useful in other situations.
What is electrical tape
As it was described above, insulating tape is a special type of adhesive tape. To sum up, this type of tape has only one adhesive surface – unlike double-sided adhesive tape – and a support which is typically made of PVC, i.e., a material characterized, among other things, by extremely low conductivity.
This is the first fundamental characteristic for insulating tape; the second is that of elasticity, which cannot be counted to be a feature of most other adhesive tape types.
Insulating tape is therefore an adhesive roll which allows for the insulation of electric current, and that is elastic: let’s have a look at what an accessory with these characteristics can be used for.
What is electrical tape used for? The applications in the electrical field
It has been previously mentioned that, among the main peculiarities of insulating tape, is its low conductivity. This makes it the perfect accessory to carry out work and repairs in the electrical field, that is, where there is the need to isolate electrical voltage.
Its typical use is in taping operations, something that is done to join two electrical cables or to repair one that was damaged.
The coating of an electrical cable through electrical tape must be done carefully, following an established procedure: otherwise, you run the risk of not insulating the cable at all, putting the electrical system, the connected devices, as well as our own security at risk.
First of all, it is important to choose a good quality insulating tape, and to avoid old rolls: it should be noted that a roll left untouched for years, and perhaps subjected to sunlight and humidity, gradually loses the characteristics that make it useful and durable.
Taping is carried out on clean and dry cables, beginning to cover the cable from one side of the junction or damaged area.
After making a loop around the cable holding the electrical tape taut, continue towards the junction until you pass over it, continuing to wrap the electrical tape around the cable, making sure to always cover half of the previous layer.
Once the entire juncture is covered, it will be possible to make one last wrap, fully covering everything, this time loosening the tension on the tape.
Other repairs with electrical tape
As anticipated, insulating tape has been developed mainly for applications and work in the electrical field.
However, it should be noted that very often, especially at the domestic level, insulating tape is also used in other situations, in particular to carry out makeshift repairs. Think, for example, of a broken pen, a cracked plastic jar, and so on: insulating tape can be used to hold broken objects together until they are replaced.
However, keep in mind that the perfect adhesive tape for emergency repairs is actually American duct tape, which has a higher adhesion and a longer resistance time.
Insulating tape, however, is typically small in size (although there are also very wide models), it has a lower cost, and offers elasticity. It is no coincidence that insulating tape is sometimes used to improve drumsticks handles, baseball bats, and so on.
Insulating tape as a colourful mark
A third characteristic typical of insulating tape which has not been mentioned so far is the one related to their colours. It should be noted that, if typical insulating tape is black, grey, or white, there are also sets of colourful insulating tape rolls, which can be yellow, red, blue, and so on.
These different shades help electricians to distinguish various electrical cables. Outside the world of plant engineering, colourful insulating tape can be used as markings, to signal objects that are the same but have different functions or characteristics.
