subject: Adhesive Tapes - Getting The Right Type Of Tape [print this page] (Adhesive tape is easy to apply to sheet metal ducts and faced rigid duct boards. These tapes serve as an excellent vapour seal and are reliable in demanding temperature and humidity conditions.)
In our world today, all houses are built using some kind of foil tape or adhesive tape. These tapes come in different shapes and sizes, and have varying properties, and all of these different varieties are available for builders today. Of the tapes available, electric tape, duct tape, foil tape, reinforced tape, and double sided tape are just some of the different products that you, a home owner, or someone more qualified, like a builder, could have in their toolkit.
But adhesive tapes are so convenient and ready-to-use, they are no longer used for construction alone. Most of us are accustomed to having different adhesive tapes at home, ready to be used to fix everything from pieces of sports gear, like hockey sticks, to household items, and even cars. Professionals even use duct tape (a type of adhesive tape) to fix airplanes and other machines.
The adhesive tapes used in construction are well known by professionals in the field. Some of those tapes include aluminum tape, which is also known as reflective tape, or foil tape. This product is a necessary component used in HVAC industry for insulation of the ventilation and air conditioning ducts. For the sealing and gluing of insulation facing joins, another type of tape is useful, namely, FSK insulation tape (otherwise known as reinforced tape).
Reinforced tape is actually a common name of adhesive tapes because there are many various types of reinforcements. Most reinforced tapes, including FSK tape, are made of a layer of aluminum foil supported by fibreglass mesh, paper, or a combination of the two materials. The combination of fibreglass mesh and paper used to support aluminum foil results in the popular FSK insulation tape. Another popular reinforcement material is fibreglass fabric. High quality flame retardant tape that is frequently used in demanding applications is made of this combination of aluminum foil and fibreglass fabric.
Adhesive is another very important component of different tapes. Since properties of adhesives can be different, they define exactly what the application of the particular product will be like "" how convenient the application will be, how long the tape will likely stay in place, and what the application temperature of the tape will be. Some adhesives will melt before the boiling point, while others will emit a heavy black smoke while burning. Adhesives, which can withstand 250 oF or higher, will not support burning at all.
In conclusion, a good adhesive tape is a result of a combination of quality backing material (ex. aluminum foil), and quality adhesive. Of course, the most credible people on the matter are those who use the tapes themselves:
"I was pretty sceptical when I fist heard of foil tape, but then I used it to fix the ductwork in my basement, since it had bad leaks" The basement was basically completely useless "cause it was cold in the summer and hotter in then winter. After I bought "bout five rolls, and sealed the leaks in the metal pipes, it fixed the problem! I was very impressed "cause I can finally use the basement again! I guess I"d definitely recommend the foil tape."
-Scott Deedly, 57
As you can see from example, aluminum tape was the tape chosen by real people to fix real problems. It was an excellent choice because it did not lose it" shape or adhesion, and it did not deteriorate with time. In all cases, the tape proved to be the perfect and simple quick-fix.
