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Description | Types
| Liner/Adhesive Width | Limitations
| PS Tape Council
Description
Pressure Sensitive (PS) tape can be applied
to the front or back of unit set products. The PS tape consists of a liner which
covers a double sided adhesive and is wound into large rolls. The rolls are
placed on collating equipment so that the unit sets can have the tape applied
as the parts of the unit sets are being attached together. The adhesive side
of the tape is applied to the front or back of the unit set. When the customer
is ready to use the document, the liner material is removed from the tape to
expose the adhesive allowing the product to be attached to another form, a carton,
a plastic container, or numerous other items.
Types
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There are several types and sizes
of PS tape that are available:
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Removable: Unit sets with removable PS tape
can be adhered to objects and then removed without leaving adhesive
residue and without damage to the object. Removable PS tape may not
adhere properly to some objects. Removable tape is suitable for applications
that require only short term adhesion.
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Permanent: Unit sets with permanent adhesive
may be removed from objects, but the adhesive is much stronger than
removable. Permanent adhesive may leave some adhesive residue behind
and cause some damage if the sheet with PS tape is removed from the
form or object it has been applied to it.
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Double Coated: The adhesive on double coated
tape is even stronger than on permanent tape and it is useful where
there may be more dust or fibers on objects. For example, you may
need to apply an inventory tag onto a carton in a warehouse.
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Freezer Grade: A permanent type of transfer
tape that is designed to withstand temperatures to -40°F. It is
best suited for paper to paper or paper to carton applications in
environments that are continuously below freezing.
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Heavy Duty: A permanent tape that is used
for unit sets manufactured with the heaviest paper stock and only
when adhesion must occur on uneven surfaces.
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Liner/Adhesive Width
An important point to remember about PS tape is that the actual
adhesive area is not as wide as the full width of the tape liner. For example,
a 1/2" permanent tape has an adhesive that is 5/16" wide. The width
of the adhesive needs to be considered when planning a project, especially if
a specific width is required. The table below lists the actual adhesive width
of the most commonly used tapes.
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Liner Width
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1/2"
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3/4"
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1"
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1-1/2"
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2"
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3"
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Adhesive Width
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Type
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Removable
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5/16"
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9/16"
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13/16"
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Permanent
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5/16"
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9/16"
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13/16"
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1-1/4"
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1-3/4"
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2-3/4"
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Double Coated
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1/4"
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1/2"
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3/4"
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Freezer Grade
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3/4"
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Heavy Duty
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1/4"
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1/2"
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3/4"
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1-1/4"
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1-3/4"
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Limitations
There may be some limitations in the way that PS tape is applied
to unit sets. Some examples include:
- PS tape cannot be applied perpendicular to the direction that the paper
goes through a web press or collating machine. It may be possible for the
manufacturer to apply the tape in a perpendicular direction with an offline
process, but this may substantially increase the price of the product.
- It may not be possible to apply tape to the back of a sheet which has numbering
on the front, if the tape application and numbering are applied at the same
time that the sheet is being printed at a web press. The tape or the numbering
could be applied offline, but this would increase the cost of the finished
piece.
- PS tape cannot be applied diagonally.
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Note: Consult your supplier for the limitations
that they may have with the application of Pressure Sensitive tape.
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PS Tape Council
A valuable resource for additional information on PS tape is
the Pressure Sensitive Tape Council. The organization was developed to serve
tape manufacturers, but there are a number of resources available to non-members
including technical articles and links to transfer tape manufacturers. Click
the link for more information: Pressure
Sensitive Tape Council
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