When buying high-temperature tape, you’ll find a host of brands available in the market. For most people, choosing the best can be difficult.
Nonetheless, as you buy, you need to know that manufacturers produce these tapes with different users in mind. Therefore, if you are confused, don’t worry. You are not alone.
In this article, we’ll look at these types of tapes and their uses and choose the best out of the many brands you’ll meet in the market. You’ll understand everything about these tapes by the time we get to the end of this article.
Why you should buy a high-temperature tape
Ordinary tapes cannot withstand high temperatures. If you expose them to this kind of environment for a long time or direct heat towards them, they will surely melt.
A good example is the electric tapes.
Some of the electric tapes in the market can withstand heat up to about 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything more than that will melt the tape and anything else that’s beneath it.
For high-temperature tapes, it’s different. They can withstand high temperatures – in essence, anything above 200 degrees Fahrenheit. And they can do so for a long time.
Therefore, you may see these tapes on:
- Engines: Car manufacturers will wrap these tapes on engines and exhaust pipes to prevent the critical parts from burning.
- On machinery, especially on the moving parts
- Electrical circuits: Engineers will mask areas on the circuit board to avoid exposing them to heat.
- T-shirt printing during heat pressing
Types of high-temperature tapes
Primarily, there are four types.
– Fiberglass cloth type
These tapes use silicone adhesives. The extra layer adds to its strength and durability; Hence, it can withstand temperatures of up to 500 degrees. Experts recommend these types of tapes for extreme heat applications.
– Aluminum foil tape Discs
If you want a tape that can help cover small areas, you should buy it. As you stick them on a surface, they can prevent moisture and dust from getting close to the protected area.
– Polyester tapes
These types use pressure-sensitive silicone adhesives to add an extra layer of heat protection. Once applied, they can withstand up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Besides that, they are translucent, which is useful when marking. It also comes off the surface easily, which is the reason why most users love using it.
– Kapton Tapes
These types of tapes can protect a surface from heat. They are also excellent insulators. You’ll see most of these tapes on circuit boards and act as protective tapes during mounting and joining components.
Which are the best high-temperature tapes
Before you buy any tape, the first thing you need to consider is your need. If you want a high-temperature tape, it should withstand heat without melting or falling off the surface. It would be best to look for a versatile tape that you could use for various purposes such as electrical insulation and protection from chemicals.
The tape should have a high-temperature range. If it falls or exposes the surface with little heating, then you should consider buying another one. Most high-temperature tapes should accommodate a temperature range of 200 degrees and more.
Since you’ll come across various brands out there, it’s good to read different reviews. By doing this, you will know what experience you’ll get with a specific high-temperature tape. It will also make the decision make the process easy because you have a hint of whether the tape will solve your needs, or not.
The tape should also not leave marks when peeled off. Otherwise, it will leave the surface looking uglier than you found it.
It would be best to consider the tape’s length. If you need to use it on large surfaces, it should be longer to cover more surface. For instance, motor manufacturing needs UHMW tape since they are long. Additionally, If you’ll need the high-temperature tape to cover small surfaces, you can pick one with a smaller width.
Another thing that you shouldn’t ignore is the pricing. Go for a cost-effective brand. And if you need these tapes in bulk, check out if you can get a discount.
Conclusion
There you have it. From the article, we can note that the most important thing is to consider your need first. When you figure that out, choosing a high-temperature tape should not be that difficult. Remember also to test out the tape before to avoid losses or damage, especially if it’s your first time using the tape.
