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How is clear tape made?

Published in Manufacturing Processes 2 mins read

Clear tape is made by coating a thin, clear plastic film with an adhesive.

Here's a simplified breakdown of the process, based on the provided video snippet:

  1. Clear Plastic Film Creation: The clear plastic part of the tape is manufactured. The video snippet only indicates that materials are combined to create this film, but typically this involves melting plastic polymers and extruding them into a thin sheet. Common plastics used include polypropylene or polyester.

  2. Adhesive Coating: Once the plastic film is created, a thin layer of adhesive is applied to one side. The exact type of adhesive used varies depending on the intended use of the tape, but common adhesives are acrylic-based.

  3. Drying and Curing: The adhesive is then dried or cured, which involves processes like heat or UV exposure, to ensure it properly bonds to the plastic film and becomes tacky.

  4. Winding: The large sheet of coated plastic film is then wound into a large roll, often called a "jumbo roll".

  5. Slitting: The jumbo roll is then slit into the desired widths of tape using specialized machinery.

  6. Packaging: Finally, the individual rolls of tape are packaged and prepared for distribution.

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