Adhesive Tape Glossary

This glossary defines the terms you will meet when buying adhesive tape, stretch film and packaging materials in Malaysia — from adhesive chemistry (tack, creep, shear) to buying units (micron, core size, MOQ). Use it to read a supplier’s spec sheet with confidence, or to describe a packaging problem precisely when asking for a recommendation. Terms are listed alphabetically, A to Z.

• 2S Packaging Sdn Bhd
• ISO 9001:2015 certified
• Seri Kembangan, Selangor

A

Acrylic Adhesive A synthetic adhesive that resists heat and UV ageing better than natural rubber. In un-airconditioned Malaysian warehouses, where ambient temperatures commonly reach 30–38°C, acrylic tapes are generally the safer choice for cartons stored more than a few weeks.

Adhesion The process by which the adhesive sticks to a surface.

Adhesive The sticky substance applied to one side of the tape that allows it to bond to surfaces.

Anti-Static A property of tape that prevents static electricity from building up, useful in electronic and cleanroom environments.

B

Backing The support layer of the tape that holds the adhesive in place.

Biodegradable Tape designed to decompose naturally over time, reducing environmental impact.

Blown Film Stretch film produced by blowing the molten resin into a bubble before flattening it. Blown film is tougher and more puncture-resistant than cast film, with a noisier unwind and a slightly hazier appearance. Compare Cast Film.

Bond Strength The measure of how strongly the tape adheres to a surface.

C

Carrier The middle layer of a double-sided tape that holds adhesive on both faces. Common carriers are film, tissue and foam — the carrier chosen decides how well the tape conforms to rough or uneven surfaces.

Cast Film Stretch film produced through cast extrusion between chilled rollers. Cast film is clear, quiet to unwind and very consistent in thickness; most hand-applied pallet wrap in Malaysia is cast film in the 17–23 micron range. Compare Blown Film.

Centimeter A unit of measurement (10 millimeters) used to specify the width or thickness of tape.

Clarity The degree to which the tape is transparent or clear.

Core The central part of the tape roll, typically made of cardboard or plastic.

Core Size The internal diameter of the roll’s core, most commonly 3 inches (76 mm) for packing tape and hand stretch film. Core size must match your dispenser — a roll that does not fit the dispenser spindle is a common and avoidable ordering mistake.

Creep The slow slippage of an adhesive under a sustained load, which worsens as temperature rises. Hot melt adhesives creep noticeably more than acrylic in Malaysian heat, which is why a carton that sealed well in the morning can show lifted flaps by the afternoon.

D

Die-Cutting A method of cutting tape into specific shapes or patterns using a die.

Dispenser Brake The adjustable tension control on a tape or stretch film dispenser. Too little brake tension gives a loose, wrinkled application; too much stretches packing tape thin at the moment of application and weakens the seal.

Double-Sided Tape Tape with adhesive on both sides for bonding two surfaces together.

Durability The ability of tape to withstand wear and tear over time.

E

Edge The border of the tape where it is cut or finished.

Elasticity The ability of the tape to stretch and return to its original shape.

Electrically Conductive Tape Tape that can conduct electricity, used in electrical applications.

Elongation How far a tape or film can stretch before it breaks, expressed as a percentage of its original length. High elongation matters for stretch film; for carton-sealing tape, controlled elongation matters more than maximum stretch.

F

Film A thin layer of material used as the backing or surface of the tape.

Flexible The ability of tape to bend or conform to surfaces.

Foam Tape Tape with a foam backing used for cushioning and sealing.

G

Gasket Tape Tape used to seal joints and prevent leaks.

General-Purpose Tape Tape suitable for a wide range of applications.

Grip The tackiness or stickiness of the adhesive surface.

Gummed Tape Another name for water-activated tape. See Water-Activated Tape.

H

Heat Resistance The ability of tape to withstand high temperatures without degrading.

High-Tack Adhesive with strong initial bonding strength.

Hot Melt Adhesive Adhesive applied in a molten state that solidifies upon cooling.

I

Inch A unit of measurement (2.54 centimeters) used to specify tape dimensions.

Insulation Tape Tape used to insulate electrical wires and components.

Intermediate Layer A layer between the backing and adhesive for added performance.

J

Jacketed Tape Tape with an additional protective layer for enhanced durability.

Jumbo Roll A large roll of tape used for industrial purposes, allowing for long production runs or high-volume applications.

Jute Tape Tape made from natural jute fibers, often used in eco-friendly applications.

K

Kevlar Tape Tape reinforced with Kevlar fibers for added strength.

Kilogram A unit of mass used to measure the weight of tape rolls.

Kraft Paper Tape Tape made from kraft paper, used for packaging and sealing.

L

Layer A single thickness of material, such as the backing or adhesive layer of tape.

Liner The protective layer on the adhesive side of the tape before use.

Log A large, cylindrical roll of tape used in bulk production or shipping.

Low-Surface-Energy (LSE) Plastics Plastics such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) that adhesives struggle to wet and grip. Recycled totes, PE bags and many moulded plastic parts are LSE surfaces — they usually need a high-tack rubber adhesive or a modified acrylic rather than a standard tape.

M

Micron A unit of measurement used to specify the thickness of the adhesive layer or backing material, where 1 micron equals 0.001 millimeters.

Millimeter A unit of measurement (0.1 centimeters) used to specify tape thickness or width.

MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) The smallest quantity of tape that can be ordered from a supplier.

N

Natural Rubber Adhesive An adhesive with high initial tack that grips recycled and dusty carton surfaces well. Its weakness is heat: it softens faster than acrylic, so it suits short storage cycles better than long-term warehousing in Malaysian conditions.

Noise Reduction The ability of tape to reduce noise, often used in packaging.

Non-Adhesive Tape that does not have adhesive, often used for protective purposes.

Nylon Tape Tape made from nylon, known for its strength and durability.

O

Opacity The degree to which the tape blocks light.

OPP Tape Tape with an oriented polypropylene backing — the standard carton-sealing tape in Malaysia, sold clear, brown or printed. Backing thickness typically runs 40–50 micron for everyday sealing; see the full range of packing and OPP tapes.

Outdoor Tape Tape designed to withstand outdoor conditions, including UV exposure.

Overlaminate A protective layer applied over printed tape to enhance durability.

P

Pantone A standardized color matching system used for specifying tape colors.

Peel Strength The measure of how easily the tape can be peeled off a surface.

Pre-Stretch Stretching stretch film before it reaches the pallet, usually by geared rollers on a wrapping machine. Pre-stretching can extend a metre of film to two metres or more, which is why machine wrapping uses dramatically less film per pallet than hand wrapping.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Tape Tape with a PVC backing, known for its durability and resistance to moisture and chemicals.

Q

Quality Control The process of ensuring tape meets specified standards.

Quantitative Analysis Measuring tape properties using numerical data.

Quick-Tack The ability of the tape to bond quickly to surfaces.

R

Recycled Tape Tape made from recycled materials, promoting environmental sustainability.

Release Liner A layer that protects the adhesive before use, often removed when applying the tape.

Roll The cylindrical form in which tape is wound.

S

Self-Adhesive Tape with adhesive applied to one side for sticking without additional adhesive.

Shear Resistance The adhesive’s ability to hold under a force pulling parallel to the surface — the load a tape carries when a hanging flap or a strapped bundle pulls along the bond line. A tape can have excellent tack yet poor shear; the two must be read together.

Silicone Tape Tape with a silicone adhesive known for high-temperature resistance.

Strength The measure of how well the tape holds up under stress.

Stretch Film Elastic plastic film wound around palletised goods so its recovery tension holds the load together. Hand rolls in Malaysia are typically 17–23 micron cast film, chosen by load weight and uniformity; see pallet stretch film.

T

Tack The adhesive’s initial grab the moment it touches a surface, before any dwell time or pressure. Tack, adhesion (the bond strength that develops after application) and shear resistance (holding power under sustained load) are three different properties — a tape strong in one can be weak in another.

Tamper-Evident Tape Tape that shows visible evidence — a VOID message, a destructed pattern, or torn facing — if a sealed carton is opened. Custom printed tape serves a similar deterrent role, since a re-taped carton no longer matches the printed seal.

Temperature Resistance The ability of tape to perform under varying temperatures.

Tensile Strength The maximum stress tape can withstand while being stretched.

Thickness The measure of the tape’s depth, affecting its durability and application suitability.

U

Underlayment Tape Tape used as a base layer in construction or flooring.

Unwind Force The amount of force needed to unroll the tape.

UV Resistance The ability of tape to withstand damage from UV light.

V

Vacuum-Sealed Tape Tape used to create a seal in vacuum packaging.

Velcro Tape Tape with hook-and-loop fasteners for adjustable closures.

Virgin Tape made from new, unused raw materials rather than recycled content, offering high purity and performance.

Viscosity The thickness and flow of a liquid adhesive.

W

Water Resistance The ability of tape to resist damage from water.

Water-Activated Tape Kraft paper tape coated with a starch-based adhesive that is moistened with water at the point of use. It bonds into the carton fibre itself rather than relying on pressure-sensitive adhesion, so it is unaffected by the heat and humidity that soften ordinary adhesives — and the bond cannot be peeled open without visible damage.

Width The measurement of the tape’s side-to-side extent.

Writable Tape Tape that can be written on for labeling purposes.

X

X-Ray Tape Tape used in applications where x-ray visibility is required.

X-treme Conditions Tape designed for extreme environments.

Xylol Tape Tape resistant to xylol (xylene), used in solvent-heavy environments.

Y

Yard A unit of measurement (36 inches or 91.44 centimeters) used to specify tape length.

Yarn Tape Tape made with yarn for added strength.

Yellow Tape Tape with a yellow backing for caution or marking purposes.

Z

Zero Residue Tape that leaves no adhesive residue upon removal.

Zinc Tape Tape with a zinc coating for corrosion resistance.

Zipper Tape Tape used in manufacturing zippers.