Industrial Splicing

For processors of continuous webs, splicing rolls of material is a relatively mundane occurrence - until your splicing tape fails under increased temperatures or you run low surface energy films and can't find a tape that will hold. Then the excitement on the plant floor begins to escalate as your manufacturing staff scrambles to find a solution.

Nobody needs that kind of excitement in the middle of a busy production day. That's why selecting a splicing tape based on the requirements of each specific application can sometimes make or break productivity.

Critical Factors in Tape Selection

If you are a coater of pressure-sensitive materials, high shear strength is critical in carrying the web through multiple-zoned drying ovens where temperatures can reach 350°F.  Converters require high initial tack and tensile properties in slitting and rewinding silicone release liners and films. In this scenario, a splicing tape like NT-2802 meets critical requirements on both the coating and converting ends. But many times, a splicing tape that stands out in one application may not fare so well in another.

What performance criteria do you need in a splicing tape? High temperature resistance? High tack? Do you have a label application with special requirements? Addressing these questions up front can help keep your process running smoothly.

For converters of roll label stock and substrates to be coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive, the right splicing tape can increase operating efficiency by reducing material loss and handling. Dielectric Polymers has developed NT-9511-2DL, a splicing tape that has a silicone easy release coating on the back side of the polyester backing and is protected by a clear polyester release liner. The silicone easy release coating makes the tape functional by allowing adhesive transfer at the splice area and maintaining registration through the splice. In sequential label applications, there is no loss of labels at the splice area which is a critical consideration when selecting a splicing tape.

If your splicing application involves elevated temperatures, only a tape with high temperature silicone adhesive will do. Our line of high temperature tapes, which is available in several configurations, performs at continuous temperatures of 400°F. If you are processing difficult-to-bond substrates, you will need a tape that provides instant adhesion. Dielectric Polymers has formulated a line of high tack tapes including the NT-2800 Series, a family of super-aggressive splicing tapes that adhere in zero wet out time, for splicing low surface energy films.

If your process requires a flying splice, high initial tack and shear strength are key requirements that a two mil tape like NT-988-2 can satisfy. For semi-automatic splicing of heavy substrates such as metal in roll form, a four mil tape like NT-988 offers quick, permanent adhesion to keep the materials from pulling apart in-process.

The burgeoning mini lab market has placed new demands on splicing tapes. With one hour film developing, the tape used to aid the processing of your film must perform consistently. After the film has been developed into negatives, the negative is adhered to a plastic leader card with tape before it is fed into the printer processor to produce prints. Because the negatives travel long distances at high rates of speed through the machine, the tape backing must have high tensile strength to resist breaks and snags. Also, the adhesive system must provide fast, strong adhesion and remove cleanly without leaving adhesive residue behind. NT-8512-2 and 2012-2, constructed with silicone adhesive on a two mil polyester backing, not only meet these requirements but also offer chemical resistance and easy dispensing for operator efficiency.

Any mini lab, especially high volume retailers, cannot tolerate the costs of equipment downtime. If the splicing tape breaks or the adhesive releases resulting in a machine jam, expensive chemistry and paper are wasted. In addition, negatives may be damaged, leading to customer dissatisfaction.

Since splicing applications can vary widely, selecting a tape based upon the unique criteria of each application is the best bet. Attempting to stretch the performance of a particular tape beyond its limits to serve too many applications may end up causing both your web and your plant efficiency to come undone.

NT-511, 511C, 4511 and 4512 tapes, constructed with one mil silicone on a one or two mil polyester backing, withstand continuous temperatures of 400°F (204°C). Available in red, clear and green.

NT-5513, 8511-2 and 9511-2 tapes offer quick adhesion with 1.5 or 2.6 mil silicone on a one mil polyester backing. Available in yellow, green and blue.

NT-2802, 2811, 2821, 2821-2 and 2822 offer instant adhesion when splicing difficult to bond materials. This line of burgundy tapes is constructed with one to two mil silicone on a one or two mil polyester backing.

NT-8512-2 and 2012-2 provide chemical resistance, quick adhesion and high tensile strength when splicing film to leader cards in mini-lab processing applications. These tapes, constructed of 1.5 mil silicone on a two mil polyester backing, are available in green and violet.

NT-9511-2DL and 9511-2CDL are designed for converters of roll label stock and substrates to be coated with pressure-sensitive adhesive. These silicone/polyester tapes have a silicone easy release coating on the backside of the polyester, providing a functional splice that reduces material loss and handling. At the splice area there is no loss of labels which is critical in sequential label applications. These tapes are supplied on a film release liner and are available in blue and clear.

NT-988-2, a two mil fiber reinforced transfer adhesive, offers high initial tack and shear strength in splicing various materials including low surface energy films. NT-988, a four mil transfer adhesive, provides fast, permanent adhesion in splicing heavy substrates.