What is Adhesive Tape?

Adhesive tape (a.k.a. pressure sensitive tape, PSA tape, self-stick tape, or sticky tape) consists of a pressure-sensitive adhesive coated onto a backing material such as paper, plastic film, cloth, or metal foil.

Some tapes have removable release liners that protect the adhesive until the liner is removed. Some have layers of adhesives, primers, easy release materials, filaments, printing, etc. made for specific functions.

Pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) do not require water, solvent, or heat activation to bond to materials such as paper, plastic, glass, wood, cement, and metal.

PSA tapes are tacky at room temperature in dry form, and they adhere firmly to a variety of surfaces and require only the application of a finger or hand. Technically speaking, that’s a bonding pressure of 14.5 – 29 psi =^ 10 – 20 N/cm² or greater. Single-sided tapes allow bonding to a surface or joining of two adjacent or overlapping materials. Double-sided tape (adhesive on both sides) allows the joining of two items back-to-back.