Sticky tape - who makes it?

john_s · 2015-01-22 22:42

I need to find out who supplies sticky tapes used commonly in consumer electronics products made in the Far East.

I'm attaching pictures of these tapes shown inside an open tablet and LCD TV.
You can see 2 different kind of those "sticky" tapes. The first one has a distinctly cellophane substrate (shown in BLACK inside the TV chassis holding wires, and of BLUE colour on top of tablet's LiPo battery). These paper thin "cellophane" sticky tapes are commonly used in assembly of just about any electronic gadget to hold wires, and such or building batteries combined of multiple LiPo cells due to their good dielectric properties.

The second sticky tape has kind of fabric substrate (comes in BLK only) and is quite similar to harness type used in automotive, but way better quality and stronger bonding properties to metal surface. You can see it above LiPo battery so it's firmly attached to both plastic case and metal frame.
Both kind of tapes - cellophane and fabric - have excellent glue that makes a strong bond to just about any surface, and without leaving any residue when peeled off.

These tapes are far better than anything available locally but I cannot figure out what brand are they.
So I wonder if anybody knows the name of these products or who's the seller/distributor ?

Thanks,
John

CuriousOne · 2015-01-23 01:29

Here's a huge selection:

http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en/tapes-adhesives/tape/3866785?k=adhesive%20tape

I had a roll of tape #2 in your list, but it was white-yellowish, not black. Brand name was "ken xin da" or "ken xun da", bought it in china years ago, for about $5/roll.

LoopyByteloose · 2015-01-23 06:44

I wouldn't be surprised if the product is being made in China, but the technology is owned and branded by a western enterprise or a Japanese firm. That is going to make is hard to track down. For instance, 3M provides all sorts of items for manufacturers throughout Asia.

Publison · 2015-01-23 06:50

Have you tried Gorilla Tape?

http://www.gorillatough.com/gorilla-tape

I find it has one of the best adhesives on tape. It may be thicker than you want.

As Loopy said, 3M has a gagillion tapes, but some of the industrial products are hard to find if you are not a big company.

john_s · 2015-01-23 08:42

Since most (if not all) of these gadgets are nowadays manufactured in China I figure that they also made these adhesive tapes locally.
I did search aliexpress and even ordered few tapes that looked kind of similar but what I received wasn't even close to what I was after.

Hence my question here...

GordonMcComb · 2015-01-23 09:09

For sale within North America, Digikey and their ilk (Mouser, Arrow, whatever) really is the best choice. They offer these tapes in smaller quantities. You can never buy it from 3M, the world's primary supplier of these tapes, as they don't sell to individuals.

You might also try Graingers, or a similar industrial supply outlet:

http://www.grainger.com/category/tapes/adhesives-sealants-and-tape/ecatalog/N-856?bc=y

Keep in mind that what a Chinese factory uses for a hold down tape doesn't mean it's a good choice. Some of the tape you posted looks to have a cloth backing, which could absorb moisture. OTOH, it will likely keeps is gummy adhesive qualities under higher heat.

A problem with buying these industrial tapes is industrial quantities. A roll can easily cost $300+, because of the amount you get. For somewhat lower quantity buys, you might also try Uline:

http://www.uline.com/Cls_27/3M-Tapes

Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) · 2015-01-23 10:43

You can also go to 3M directly, tell them your requirements, and ask them to suggest a product. They're pretty generous with samples, too, if they expect you to use a lot of the stuff.

-Phil

LoopyByteloose · 2015-01-23 22:18

john_s wrote: »

Since most (if not all) of these gadgets are nowadays manufactured in China I figure that they also made these adhesive tapes locally.
I did search aliexpress and even ordered few tapes that looked kind of similar but what I received wasn't even close to what I was after.

Hence my question here...

Made in China is not all the same...

Made in China for export often has excellent quality control.
Made in China for the general public is 'anything goes'.... this includes all the EBay and Alibaba ticky-tack.

Something that is a component in a high quality control product is usually restricted to use in an export manufacturing zone. Where it comes from and how to get it is rather complicated.

Even here in Taiwan, we have export manufacturing zones that produce products that go all over the world, but are not in the local marketplace.

AGCB · 2015-01-24 07:54

For doing what you show in the pictures, I almost always use 'shoo-goo' or its various other names and purposes (...goop). It's very sticky, nonhardening, clear and sticks to all but a very few plastics and everything else. They use the same stuff to assemble wooden cabinets now days. Check out your own if they're late model. Available at any hardware store or major retailer.

No Static At All · 2015-01-25 02:17

You might try googling "kapton tape" or "polyimide tape".

(The Google "images" of "kapton tape" are interesting)

I have not used it myself, just saw references to it.
So use with your own discretion.

I found the following Google results helpful:

http://reprap.org/wiki/Kapton_Tape
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapton
http://kk.org/cooltools/archives/7304

Reprap indicates that there is a Safety Risk (the tape should be tested for fire resistance).

Reprap also indicates that fake Kapton is being sold.

Wikipedia indicates that Kapton insulation ages poorly and
has very poor resistance to mechanical wear.

Search for "1 Mil Kapton Tape (Polyimide) - 1" x 36 yds" on amazon.com.

You will find a variety of widths mostly with good reviews.

wass · 2015-01-25 14:23

Check Amazon, more specifically http://www.amazonsupply.com. I've found many hard-to-find tapes there in smallish quantities. Amazon bought up Small Parts and other places that had large selections of electronics supply products.

Tracy Allen · 2015-01-25 14:58

Here is a link to the source, 3M division of adhesives and tapes. Look at the support/technical articles as well as other resources there to help select a tape. Tape is a combination of the backing and the adhesive itself. For example, one tape I find very useful is 3M type 442 or type 444. They are double sided, built on 4mil thick polyester, with either a type 830 rubber adhesive or a type 300 foamed acrylic adhesive, both of which bond well even to low surface energy plastics such as polyethylene. The rubber adhesive can be easily balled up and removed cleanly if necessary.

Unfortunately, many distributors list tapes neither with much technical information nor with traceable part numbers.

I do agree with the comments about Goop plastic adhesives, E6000 say is indispensable for tacking things down and for strain relief.
Tapes generally don't fair too well over the long term in areas like outdoor cabinets where they are subjected to wide temperature extremes. Aging characteristics. We've all found embrittled tape in old radios.

CuriousOne · 2015-01-26 01:56

The link to digi-key I've provided, lists both types of tapes, both available in small quantities.

Genetix · 2015-01-26 10:43

Next day delivery if they are nearby and a very wide selection though not always the best price.
http://www.mcmaster.com/

Heater. · 2015-01-26 11:51

OK, enough of this weird question.

Every schoolboy knows that sticky tape grows on trees just like spaghetti. As we see in this documentary video by the BBC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVo_wkxH9dU

You just have to have the right kind of tree, climate, and soil

Enjoy.

john_s · 2015-01-27 09:39

Heater. wrote: »

OK, enough of this weird question.
...
Enjoy.

You've made my day as it's exactly what I was looking for !
Love this "distinctly European flavour"

Thanks

Sticky tape - who makes it?

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