A Comprehensive Look at the
Different Types of Packing Tape

Proper sealing of boxes with tape is an easy way to secure products. Besides product protection, tapes can be used for labeling and sorting items. Labeled tapes help easy identification of a package among its stock. That is not all. The benefits of using tapes are unlimited. However, choosing the correct type is important because they come in a variety of types. Read on to have a comprehensive look at the different types of tapes.

Marcus Reynolds
Marcus Reynolds
Different Types of packing Tape

Integrity has been highlighted as a core business value. Besides this, brands have to offer them in pristine condition to gain customer satisfaction. As a result, brands can experience a great boost in sales. To achieve this motive, various packaging strategies prove fruitful. One among them is a secure closing of a packaging box. The most affordable and easiest way to do so is to tape the box.

Tapes are indispensable tools. Their role in homes, offices, and industries is remarkable. From simple sealing and repairing to complex industrial tasks, different kinds of tape find countless applications. If you are interested to know more about tapes and their types then continue reading. This blog post will offer a comprehensive look at the different types of tapes.

Explore Diverse Range of Tape Varieties:

Below are some important tape different types available for various applications. Getting their understanding can help you to make an informed selection. Kinds of adhesive tapes are used for various reasons. Choose the one that is better capable of meeting your needs.

Before exploring the different types of tape in detail let's first discuss what are the components of a tape?

  1. Backing Material: Its purpose is to give proper structure to the tape. It can be metal foil, paper, cloth, or plastic film.
  2. Adhesive: To make the tape sticky, adhesive plays an important role. These adhesives come in a variety of types, for example hot melt, water-activated, and many more.
  3. Releasing Coat: The non-sticky part of the tape contains the releasing coat. It tends to prevent the stickiness of the tape with itself when rolled. These coats are mainly silicon.
  4. Primer (optional): An optional layer between the backing material and adhesive is a primer. It ensures a better bond between these two layers.
  5. Additives: These impart particular characteristics to the tape. They include color pigments, UV stabilizers, and anti-oxidants.

Now you are better able to answer the question: what is tape made of?

Packing Tape:

Packing Tape

Businesses that deal with shipping products must have this type of tape. Packaging tape is also called shipping tape or simply ship tape. It seals corrugated cardboard boxes. A strong plastic or polypropylene material coated with an effective adhesive makes it useful for this purpose. It is popular as the best tape for cardboard boxes.

People often ask: What is the difference between packing tape and packaging tape? Packing tape is often used to seal packaging boxes only. It is a less broad term. On the other hand, packaging tape is a vast term that encompasses all tape-related applications. Packaging tape for boxes not only secures packaging but also offers additional advantages. These include repairing tear parts, correcting errors, and labeling for better identification and organization. However, both terms are used interchangeably.

Debates on shipping tape vs packing tape are also common. As narrated above, these terms are also linked. Tape that is used only to tape boxes containing products for shipping is referred to as shipping tape. Contrary, tape used to seal boxes for storage and transportation purposes is often called packing tape. Both are available in different colors.
Some brands sell their own packing tapes under their brand name. For example, CVS packing tape is sold under the brand name of CVS Pharmacy brand. This is mostly a white medical tape used in medical applications.

How to tape a box for shipping is often a difficult task for someone doing it for the first time. To tape a box for shipping you must use the best shipping tape. Cover the opening sides of the box properly with tape. Apply pressure to ensure good adhesion. Avoid overlapping and trim extra parts of tape for a neat look. Besides this, taping two boxes together for shipping is possible with the same procedure. Align both boxes horizontally or vertically and follow the same method to tape them securely.

Masking Tape:

Masking Tape

This is one of the most common adhesive tape types in packaging. It comes in solid colors like off-white, brown, or blue. It allows the users to label, organize, paint, and craft boxes for a short period. That is why you may notice masking tape brown around boxes lying in stores. Masking tape comes in a variety of options based on colors, thickness, and width. Some tapes are heat-resistant and can be used safely for baking. All bakery holders like to use them for this reason. So, their role in temporary and light-duty applications is appreciable and the reason behind their excessive use.

Scotch Box Lock Tape:

Scotch Box Lock Tape

Scotch box lock tape is a strong tape and plays an important role in many heavy-duty applications. It offers strong adhesion and ease of application. Moreover, it helps to make boxes durable which is important for packaging heavy items securely. The tamper-evident feature is easy to acquire with the help of this tape. This results in enhanced protection. It is also available as clear box tape to seal the box without markings or obstruction.

Duct Tape:

Duct Tape

Among the different types of taping, duct tape is a common household and business tape type. The reason behind its popularity around the world lies in its three main features. It is versatile as well as strong. The other is that it is waterproof. This type of tape comprises three layers, contributing to its enhanced functionality.

  1. A strong adhesive layer.
  2. A cloth fabric layer.
  3. The top plastic layer.

These layers enhance its adhesion and durability. Besides these, they provide a water-resistant nature. So, it is an important repair tool to keep in your toolbox. Among a variety of duct tapes, brown duct tape is common in the packaging industry as its color matches most of the materials. It also ensures that the ends of a box are firmly sealed together.

Electrical Tape:

Electrical Tape

The special type of tape used to insulate electricity-conducting materials, wires, and cables is called electrical tape. It is also called insulating tape. This type of tape is made of rubber silicone, plastic, stretchy vinyl, and often glass cloth. Electrical tape comes in a variety of types based on specific voltage and temperature applications. It is paramount to choose the correct tape corresponding to your needs. Black and white tapes are mostly used for insulating black and white wires or cables.

The comparison of electrical tape vs duct tape allows you to know the distinctive purposes of both tapes. Due to their different properties, they find different applications as already mentioned. You cannot use them interchangeably. 

Double-Sided Tape:

Double-Sided Tape

This type of tape is the same as the name indicates. It is a tape that has two adhesive sides. For applications like mounting, displaying, and bonding, this kind of tape is the best. Retailers commonly use double-sided tape to attach promotional holdings or attention-seeking stickers. In this way, they can attract more customers and showcase a professional display. Typically, these are white taping types. However, they do come in various colors. Three types of double-sided tapes are used in marketing. One type is for permanent purposes. The second type is for temporary purposes. The last type is ideal for cushioning, sealing, and packaging items. Ask for the one that better meets your needs. It can be used as white board tape to display various items to the viewers.

High Temperature Tape:

High Temperature Tape

Two variants of high-temperature tapes are common. Kapton® tape is for circuit boards, automotive sensors, and wire splicing. Glass cloth tape is the other type that is suitable for various devices. These include heat sealing machines, hot wire contacts, and pressing and ironing equipment. These tapes are flame retardant. That is why they are suitable for items that operate at higher temperatures of up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a thick tape type to support these applications precisely. Moreover, you can have them in a range of lengths, styles, and widths. Pick the one that better meets your needs.

Kraft Tape:

Kraft Tape

Sealing cardboard boxes for storing and shipping purposes is very important. For this, the use of a special type of water-activated tape called Kraft tape is common. Besides its utility in cardboard boxes, it is also suitable for use on many different types of surfaces. The reason behind its popularity lies in its excellent adhesive properties. It is applicable even if the boxes are dirty or dusty. This brown packaging tape also works well in extreme temperature conditions. Those who want to ship products in brown boxes like to seal them with brown shipping tape. As a result, boxes not only become protective but also attractive due to neat appeal.

Mostly Kraft tape comes in a natural Kraft brown color. However, it is also available as off white tape. Kraft tape is reinforced with strong fiberglass yarns to add more strength and protection. Tape brands introduce it in varying strengths and thicknesses. You can choose the one that better matches your requirements and preferences.

Final Thoughts:

Brands invest in various means to secure their products. One unnoticeable yet effective strategy to do so is to use the best packaging tapes. They are a must for secure transportation, handling, and storing of objects. The same type of tape is not suitable for a vast variety of products. That is why different types of adhesive tapes are available in the market. Choosing the best one is important for efficient results. The above blog post has narrated many types of tapes along with their characteristics and purposes. Get them now to meet your needs. If you are searching on the internet where can I buy packing tape? Then stop and relax. Not only packaging tape, also all other types of tape are present here at The Custom Boxes. You can customize and give elegant memory to your clients with stunning customized tapes with your log and beans name.

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