The tape has failed, what should I do?
The natural presumption when a tape fails in an application is that the tape must be faulty, Although this may be the case, this is normally the least likely answer. The most likely reasons for tape failure in order of probability are:
For an existing application (tape has been used successfully before for some time)
1. The insufficient pressure was applied
2. The ambient conditions were inappropriate, normally this means either too cool (the majority of tapes need to be applied, ideally, between 15° & 25° C) or there was too much moisture in the atmosphere (close to Dew Point or very high relative humidity)
3. The surfaces were not clean or have become contaminated with something that compromises the bond strength
The surface has actually changed (the manufacturer may be using a different process/ingredient in their product that renders the tape unsuitable/incompatible)
4.The tape is not up to specification in some respect e.g. low coat weight of the adhesive
Invariably one will find that the answer is a mixture of all or some of these factors and so careful analysis of the failure is required to identify the likely cause and then be in a position to remedy it. See guidance under “How do I get the best result from a Pressure Sensitive Tape?“.
New Application
1. The tape used is not appropriate for the application it is being used for
2. As for existing applications (above)
3. Once you have analyzed the reason for failure, contact Tenacious Tapes or the distributor that supplied the tape, to discuss the best way to resolve the issue.
Please note that, whilst we have full product liability insurance to cover the consequences of defective tape being supplied, where failure is due to some other reason, the cost of resolution is at the user’s expense. This is why it is very important that tapes are adequately tested prior to use for any critical application.
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