Tape is one of the most important parts of the packaging. It ensures that the box remains sealed for as long as it is needed, for example until it is delivered to the address you specify. What do I need to know about adhesive tapes and how does the tape dispenser work? That's what this article is about!

The adhesive tape

Tape ensures that the box gets from point A to point B sealed. Choosing the right adhesive is essential for correct box sealing, as is the amount of adhesive that is applied to the surface of the box. This depends mainly on the weight of the package, the stress the tape must withstand, how long the box must be kept closed and the environmental conditions.

A huge advantage of this type of tape is that it is self-adhesive, making it quick and convenient to use. It can be used in many ways, for sealing small, large, light, and heavy packages. The most popular types are:

• PVC-based adhesive tape: even heavy packages can be sealed thanks to its high adhesion, and the tape will not tear if damaged.
• Polypropylene tape: has excellent sealing performance and tear resistance.
• Acrylic adhesive tapes: characterised by a wide range of quality, with high-quality tapes generally commanding higher prices.
• Hotmelt adhesive tape: a good value-for-money choice, with excellent adhesion to the surface as a self-adhesive.

Use of the tape dispenser

A tape dispenser allows tapes to be applied more easily and accurately, using blades to optimise the amount of tape. There are several types of dispensers such as manual, mechanical, semi-automatic or automatic.

Tape dispensers can also be characterised by the size of tape they can hold. They can be 9 mm, 25 mm, 38 mm, 48 mm, 50 mm or even 75 mm wide, or 50 metres, 60 metres, 66 metres, 100 metres, 130 metres and 150 metres long.

Here are some products from the Flanker range!

3M™ H-180 Sealing Tape Dispenser

This is a handheld tape dispenser made with a pistol grip, making it easy and convenient to use and removing the removable tape is just a simple motion. It takes just a few moments to tack, roll, buff, and tear.

Scotch® H150 Low Noise Box Sealer Tape Dispenser

This is a hand-held, pistol grip, roll tape dispenser equipped with a noise reduction device so you don't have to worry about the activity of taping boxes making too much noise. A very durable and robust construction that is easy to load, so using and threading the tape dispenser is a breeze.

Scotch® M920 Definite Length Dispenser

The M920 Tape Dispenser provides uniform and automatic dispensing from 1.25 cm up to 10 cm.

3M™ AccuGlide™ II Taping Head

The tape applicator head used on box sealing machines applies minimal force while sealing the box perfectly. Thanks to the open tape path and low-profile side plate, the cutting process is easy and very fast. The tension of the tape is ensured by the brake, which also prevents the tape from being overstretched during use.

Glueing techniques

Several glueing techniques can be used for boxes. Let's look at the most used solutions:

• L-seal: There is a so-called L-seal, which is mostly used to seal smaller, lighter packages, as it closes the box at only two points and not the entire length of the opening.
• U-seal: It is also suitable for sealing lighter and heavier boxes, even for long periods. The U-seal extends the full length of the box opening and swivels onto the side of the carton.
• U + L seal: a combination of the two previous versions, which can be used to seal even heavy boxes for long periods.
• H closure: the H closure is recommended for particularly harsh conditions and consists of reinforcing the box with a fibreglass strip.

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Corrosion is a big enemy, as certain materials can be affected by environmental effects, which can cause direct and indirect problems and damages. Therefore, corrosion protection must receive the attention it deserves. In this article, we explore this topic.

What is corrosion?

Corrosion is a chemical process that occurs on metal surfaces and other materials when exposed to the environment. This natural effect has direct and indirect consequences. The direct impact is that the damage caused by corrosion leads to the need to replace parts of the equipment, which has a financial burden. The indirect consequence is the disruption of operations due to the necessary repairs. This is considered a time burden.

Corrosion is caused by moisture. As there is less dissolved oxygen under the water droplet, rust is formed from the ions present. Consequently, corrosion starts forming. Corrosion thus is usually triggered by natural phenomena such as humidity or precipitation.

Forms of corrosion

The corrosion process can take several forms, which are described below. Let's see what types of corrosion there are.

• Uniform corrosion: in this case, the loss of material is uniform, and the underlying cause is typically chemical corrosion or electrolytic dissolution.
• Pitting corrosion: pitting corrosion appears locally, in the form of small pits. It is most often found in humid environments or defects in protective coatings.
• Galvanic corrosion: occurs due to the non-homogeneous nature of metals as a result of environmental influences.
• Crevice corrosion: this phenomenon occurs when high tensile stresses occur in addition to the corrosion effect.
• Fretting corrosion: this type of corrosion occurs when frictional, abrasive forces are applied to the surface. Typical occurrences are rivet joints, screw joints, hinges, and joints.
• Filiform corrosion: this type of corrosion occurs under surfaces that have been painted or coated. Defects in the protection allow water to interfere, thereby causing corrosion below the layer.

Corrosion protection technologies

There are several ways to protect surfaces. Let's look at them!

Use of corrosion-resistant materials

A common method of corrosion protection is to use chemically stable materials that resist corrosion. Examples include the following materials:

Precious metals: Precious metals such as gold, platinum and iridium are well tolerant of environmental influences, but silver, rhodium and ruthenium can be sensitive to certain substances. As the price is quite high, they are mostly used as coatings.

Titanium: Titanium is resistant to corrosion and is therefore used as a structural material, coating and alloying material.

Metal alloys: alloying is used to make different metals more resistant to corrosion. Examples include stainless steel, acid-resistant steel and brass-copper alloys.

non-metallic materials: porcelain, silicon rubber and quartz glass are also popular.

The special design of the structure

Corrosion protection starts at the design stage of the metal structure, with the most important corrosion protection aspects to be considered. All elements must be accessible so that mandatory maintenance can be carried out easily.

Structures that have no or few corners are much less vulnerable to the damaging effects of corrosion. Care should also be taken to ensure that surfaces that are joined to concrete and that closed sections are sealed airtight. Particular attention should be paid to corrosion protection where the elements are fairly thin.

Forming protective coatings

There are two main aspects to consider when designing coatings: what you want to coat and what the conditions are. You need to think about the conditions in which the structure will be used, the material, the quality of the surface, the type of bonding, the intended service life and how long the structure will be expected to last. In terms of the coating, the function it will perform, the means available to form the coating and the climatic conditions at the time of construction are all important.

The following coatings and coating systems can be used for preventive purposes:

• hot-dip galvanising: hot-dip galvanising, is mainly used for light steel structures.
• paint coatings: these can be primer coats and coating layers. The former provides corrosion protection and the latter gives the appearance.
• combined coating systems: they have the advantage that the de-oxidation process can be omitted, but they are more expensive than the previous solutions.

A prerequisite for the application of the coating is that the surface is dry and free of contamination. It is fortunate if the air temperature is within 3 degrees Celsius of the dew point and the equipment used is suitable and has been stored properly.

Coatings can be applied in a variety of ways, such as by painting, roller, brush or spraying, using different specialised materials. Care should be taken to ensure that the drying time between coats is observed and that different coloured coats are used to ensure traceability.

Coatings can be very diverse depending on the application. For example, there are wind turbine blade protective coatings, but also coatings that are specifically fuel resistant.

Cathodic protection

The essence of cathodic protection is that the structural potential of the metal in the metal-electrolyte system is changed in the negative direction so that the rate of corrosion can be reduced by DC polarisation. It creates a galvanic current through the oxidising medium, the electron surplus of which renders the surface inert to the corrosive material.

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A good quality adhesive tape can save you a lot of trouble. But not all adhesives are of the same quality, some are weaker, and some are stronger. You must choose the right one depending on what you want to use it for. Filament tape provides a particularly strong bond. Let's see what you need to know about it!

What determines the strength of the adhesive tape?

The stability of the adhesive tape, and its tensile strength, depends essentially on the adhesive and the substrate. A particularly strong bond can be formed with the right combination.

The carrier material can be of different types. PVC is excellent for sealing large and heavy boxes with thick walls, while polypropylene-based adhesives are more suitable for sealing the mouths of lighter, moderately heavy objects. In addition to these, paper and even fibreglass can be used. There are also several different types of adhesive. For example, the adhesive can be acrylate, hot melt, rubber, or solvent.

Applications of filament tape

The adhesive tape ensures that the desired surfaces adhere to each other. For example, it is ideal for sealing paper boxes so that the packages can reach their destination safely. Not only does filament tape play an important role in packaging, but it can also be used to secure cargo.

We show you what kind of filament tapes Flanker offers.

3M Tartan™ Filament Tape 8953

This filament tape is the most suitable for bundling and palletising, as it is extremely resistant, does not wear, does not age and is not affected by moisture. The reinforcement is provided by glass fibres, which means that after application it does not loosen its hold even in extreme temperatures during transport and storage.

Scotch™ Film Strapping Tape 8898

This tape has the advantage of being effective on a wide range of surfaces but is particularly recommended for household appliances. Whether it's plastic or glass, Scotch tape provides a strong, non-stretching grip thanks to the polypropylene backing and self-adhesive synthetic adhesive.

Scotch™ Filament Tape Clean Removal 8915B

High-strength glass fibre is added to Scotch's adhesive tape, making it ideal for holding parts together during the manufacturing process or even during transport. It is resistant to moisture and external influences and will not wear or deteriorate. When it is no longer needed, it can be easily removed and leaves no marks on the surface.

Scotch™ Bi-Directional Filament Tape 8959

A double-reinforced adhesive that provides exceptional bonding. This sealant tape resists abrasion, and moisture, and will not allow the box to split in the middle along the closure, either longitudinally or transversely.

Closing the box is simple and very secure with the use of filament tape. There is no need to worry about the glue coming loose or tearing, as the technology is resistant to various external influences.

Flanker has been serving the printing, paper, packaging, automotive and electronics industries for over 20 years. Look at our web catalogue and choose the quality products you like!

The characteristic of heat shrink tubes, as the name suggests, is that the diameter of the tube can be reduced by exposing it to heat, i.e. it shrinks. This property makes it very a versatile tool, not to mention the fact that it is very easy and quick to use. In this post, we'll look at what heat shrink tubes are and what they can be used for!

What is a heat shrink tube?

A heat shrink tube, due to its reduced diameter when heated, takes the shape of the object, forms a protective shell, and provides insulation. It is important to note that only the diameter of the tube shrinks, the length does not change, so it is possible to shrink it onto the conductor, almost coating it.

Heat shrink tubing was invented in 1964 by Raychem Corporation and has been used for nearly 60 years to insulate electrical conductors and increase wear resistance, repair insulation damage, secure conductors in bundles and insulate contacts and connectors. As it comes in a variety of colours, it is an excellent way of marking things, for example, to distinguish one wire from another.

Heat shrink tubes are always made of a thermoplastic material, such as PVC, fluoropolymer (e.g. PTFE, Kynar, FEP), polyolefin, neoprene, Viton or even silicone elastomer. During the manufacturing process, the properties of the material are adjusted using various additives. For example, if it is used outdoors, it is treated with a UV stabiliser to prevent damage from radiation.

Types of heat shrink tubes

Heat shrink tubes can be classified according to their wall thickness and rigidity. On this basis, there are thin-walled flexible heat shrink tubes, thick-walled rigid heat shrink tubes and resin heat shrink tubes.

Flexible tubes are made of polyethene, are not fusible and can shrink very quickly, making them particularly useful in situations where the coated material must remain flexible. The rigid versions do not melt, do not crack and are extremely robust, so they can be used outdoors. Resin heat shrink tubing is the strongest version and can provide a high level of protection against external harmful effects. This means that the inner wall of the heat shrink tube has an extra layer of resin which melts and adheres to the surface.

It is important to note that there are cold shrink tube options too, in which case no heat is needed to reduce the diameter of the tube. This works by shrinking the pipe onto the conductor by pulling out an internal plastic retaining spiral.

Flanker offers a wide range of shrink tubes. For example, there is thin-wall shrink tubing, cold shrink tubing, hot heat shrink tubing and thin-wall glueless shrink tubing.

 The tubes are usually available in mixed packs, i.e. different sizes can be ordered at the same time.

How is heat shrink tubing made?

Additives such as colourants and stabilisers are added to the base material. A starting tube is created, extruded from the base material, and then cross-linked by an electron beam. The tube is heated above the crystalline melting point of the polymer and its diameter is modified. It is then cooled. The point is that cross-linking creates a kind of "memory" so that when the user heats the material while using the shrink tube, it can shrink back to its original extruded size.

The extent to which a shrink tube can shrink depends on the material and additives, usually in the range of 1:2 to 1:4.

Use of the heat shrink tubing

A good quality heat shrink tube ensures coated materials are resistant to environmental, chemical, mechanical and electrical external effects.

The use of heat shrink tubing is quite simple for professionals and non-professional users alike. Heat, i.e. warm air, is needed to perform the shrinking process, and this can be provided by a heat reflector, a heating cabinet, a heat gun or even an infrared heater. If you don't have one of these to hand, a lighter may do the trick, although it's not exactly a professional solution.

There are a few pitfalls in using a heat shrink tube, but one that can be missed is choosing the right size. On average, shrink tubes can shrink by 50%, meaning that if you choose too large a diameter, it won't be able to cover the surface.

You must heat the tube to at least 120 degrees Celsius, working from the centre towards the edges in a nice, even way so that the tube eventually coats the wire. That's it, and you're done insulating the wire.

Contact Flanker for more advice! Look around our webshop and choose from a selection of quality products!