Tapes in your daily life

Did you know that everything you do in the morning, from getting up, using the bathroom and having breakfast to getting to work involves the technology of adhesive tape? Here are just a few examples of how daily life is made possibly by tape applications.

Turning on the lights and adjusting the heat

This home touch panel, which controls lighting and temperature in each room, is bonded together with optically clear adhesive tape. The tape allows for the touch function and illumination of the screen.

Opening the shades

Window shades hang with the aid of adhesive transfer tape: Both the metal bar which supports the curtain and the textile role is bonded to the rod with tape, which resists temperature and UV damage.

Using the bathroom

In the bathroom, all LED technology is bonded with conductive adhesives. The mirror is bonded to the front of the cabinet with tape that is formulated not to react adversely with the material of the mirror.

Leaving a message

Even the note you leave for yourself or your loved ones is made by combining a great idea with technology: a post-it which adheres vertically, and temporarily, to a surface.

Opening the refrigerator

Panel bonding is often found in kitchen appliances, in this case the heat exchanger of the refrigerator. Tapes provide strong, metal-to-metal bonding which is aesthetically pleasing and requires no spot welding or soldering.

Getting a drink

Within the fridge, juice and milk cartons are manufactured using flexographic printing. This is a roll-to-roll process in which tape is applied to a printing cylinder, and onto this printing tape is mounted. The mounting tape is bubble-free and removable, and the density of the foam guarantees a high-quality print.

Sending a text message

Adhesive tapes provide bonding, electromagnetic shielding and optically clear technology for tablets and other electronic devices, especially in screens. As the iPad grows smaller, for example, tape technology evolves to support ever more precise properties, including smaller trim, more light, more control and less energy. 

Getting into your car

Foam bonding and structural adhesives are used in automotive applications. In this case, adhesive tape is laminated onto a rubber profile. The rubber seal is then bonded into the door to stop moisture from penetrating the interior of the car.

Adjusting your mirrors

Plastic foil is bonded to the shower shield of your car with an adhesive transfer tape which prevents water from entering through an open window. Adhesive tape also bonds the trims and mirrors to the car body. Sometimes cured as a last step after mounting, the bond of the rear-view mirror is important as the mirror holds a weight sensor. Smaller automotive electronics are also bonded with double-sided adhesive tapes.

@ All photos on this page supplied by 3M

Based on the presentation "Made to stick: A general introduction to tapes"
by Caroline Algoet, 3M Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division All text, photos and images copyright © 2016. All rights reserved.

Tape and film applications and markets

Below a long list of applications and markets where tape and film is already used. Click on the application or market for more details.

  • Aircraft/aerospace/aviation
  • Agriculture
  • Anti-slip
  • Appliances/white goods
  • Architecture
  • Asbestos

Longboard

electrodes and electrical stimulation device

Household appliances

  • Automotive
  • Binding
  • Blocking (light)
  • Bonding
  • Building and construction/roads
  • Bundling

led strips

tesa car tape Red scotch tape
  • Carrying information and data
  • Coding
  • Conducting
  • Consumer and office
  • Cushioning
  • Damping

Nuclear power plant with field of rapeseed

cardboard box package

tesa packaging

  • DIY
  • Electrical
  • Electronics
  • Fastening
  • Entertainment (sports, events, etc.)
  • Filtration

Jet engine

adhesive plaster

Solar panels and wind turbine

  • Furniture
  • Graphics
  • Grip
  • Hazard warning
  • Health and Safety
  • HVAC

metal tower of power lines

Advance tapes

  • Insulation (electrical/thermal)
  • Joining
  • Home and leisure
  • Laminating
  • Hygiene
  • Manufacturing and Industry

disassembled smartphone

Car mirror

  • Marking
  • Masking (paint and spray)
  • Medical
  • Metalworking
  • Military and defence
  • Mounting

paper tape

Cables and tape

Fireman

  • MRO
  • Noise insulation
  • Nuclear
  • Optically clear
  • Packaging
  • Paint

wooden windows tape

grip tape

Thermal insulation

  • Paper
  • Printing
  • Protection/protective films
  • Reclosable fastening (diaper)
  • Reflective
  • Reinforcing
  • Renewable energy/solar
  • Retail
  • Sealing (HVAC)
  • Security
  • Shielding
  • Sign (street marking, safety and reflective)
  • Specialty
  • Splicing (web material)
  • Surface protection
  • Tamper evident
  • Telecommunications
  • Tracking/tracing
  • Transportation
  • Woodworking
  • Venting
Some images on this page were supplied by Advance Tapes and tesa

tesa marking

Tape roll in red

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