Adhesive foam tape is widely used nowadays (mainly in the automotive industry) in order to distribute stress evenly and to fill gaps. This type of foam works best for bonding irregular or rough surfaces, and two of the most commonly used types of foam are urethane and polyethylene, given their numerous properties.

At the same time, it must be said that the pressure-sensitive foam tapes can come with a feature known as “triboluminescence”, which basically makes them visible in the dark as soon as they are peeled off the dispenser roll. These tapes come in a wide array of backing materials and they are coated with a special adhesive that makes them durable in the long run. Also, they are resistant to moisture levels up to 50%-60%.

The double sided foam tape has an average thickness of 0.8 cm, although it is available in thicknesses ranging from 6mm to 50mm. The tape is permanently adhesive and it can be coated either on one side or on both sides, with medium-density foam (either black or white).

One of the most notable features of the adhesive foam tape is that it is resistant to harsh weather conditions, and it can also withstand UV rays and moisture. The open-cell rolls measure 5 to 10 meters in length, depending on their area of application and width of the tape.

Some tapes also come with a rubber-based foam that is sensitive to pressure, and can withstand temperatures ranging between -20 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius. For the best results, the amount of air moisture should not exceed 50% and the average temperature should be around 20 degrees Celsius at the time of the application.

The tape can be applied either on dry surfaces or with intermittent wetting, depending on the type of adhesive that is used. Apart from these conditions, the adhesive foam tape requires increased amount of pressure, for optimal adhesion. The surface needs to be clean, dry and free of dirt or oil – the quality of the surface influences the life span of the adhesive foam tape. Also, this product comes with a shelf life ranging between one and three years, provided that it is stored based on the recommended storage guidelines.

This type of tape is usually used for light duty applications, it has a low density of 6lbs/cubic foot and it can come with a special liner made from polycoated Kraft paper. The tape is available in a wide range of colors although black and white are the most commonly used ones, and the foam-based backing material ensures proper insulation.

Additional benefits of the foam-based adhesive tape include: preventing glass from sinking or sliding (in this case, tapes that contain urethane foam are the most suitable), preventing leakage, offering an elegant and appealing professional finish and reducing road noise (when used for vehicles).

Urethane with a high degree of viscosity is mainly used because of its slower cure rates, and this tape is usually placed on one side of the car body right after the windshield has been placed. The urethane adhesive tape comes in large reels of single-sided foam and it is used to prevent the vertical movement of the windshield over the years.

As mentioned above, the adhesive foam tape is mainly used for covering holes and for providing extra insulation – it is suitable for additional adherence and sealing (this is why it is commonly used around doors and windows), and it is commonly used in workshops, garages, gardens, service shops, offices, homes and such.

Given the fact that the tape has high sheer strength and it is suitable both for interior and exterior mounting application, the adhesive foam tape is perfect for mounting, attaching and bonding. Mainly used for general, industrial purposes, the foam tape offers a dust proof and weather proof seal that has an extremely high initial tack.

Moreover, the tape is easily conformable, it sticks quickly and it is suitable for irregular surfaces – this, along with the fact that it is made from closed-cell foam makes the tape perfect for general industrial and electronic applications. The adhesive foam tape is very versatile and suitable for a wide array of bonding surfaces: it can be used on steel, nylon, glass, rubber, acrylics, ABS, aluminum, vinyl and even painted surfaces.