First designed in 1888, most of us are familiar with aluminium foil and the various uses in the home, as well as in commercial and industrial scenarios, but, when it comes to aluminium foil tape, there are many who may find themselves a little perplexed.
Nevertheless, the versatility of aluminium foil tape – due to its primary material and associated weather resistance – means that it has an abundance of functions that render it suitable for a variety of professions and industries, including manufacturing, construction, and industrial repair.
Purpose and Function: Demystified
Aluminium is one of the world’s most adaptable materials, used for a range of functions across the home and different industries. When it comes to aluminium foil tape, the protective nature of the material and adhesive qualities combine to make it one of the most useful, yet woefully underestimated, inventions of the 20th Century.
Coming to the fore in the decades following World War 1, aluminium foil tape is basically a strong acrylic adhesive tape engineered with a metal-foil backing. These two qualities together help to ensure that the tape itself is both moisture and chemical-resistant, enables thermal and electrical conduction, whilst also being heat and light reflective.
These qualities make it perfect for the world of construction, as it protects, mends, and connects different elements of a building site. Despite its popularity in this industry, construction is not the only industry that uses the tape prolifically.
Automotive and Aerospace
In the automotive and aerospace industries, aluminium foil tape is incredibly useful. The reflective nature of the aluminium element of the tape means that it can be used as a heat reflective wrap and barrier in applications that require frequent exposure to high-temperature environments – functioning effectively in temperatures ranging between 14 degrees Fahrenheit to 104 degrees Fahrenheit – making it the perfect choice for sealing airbags in automotive vehicles, where temperatures radiating through the engine can affect the internal elements of a vehicle.
As mentioned, aluminium foil tape is able to undergo extreme temperatures once placed, and so can be used to seal and patch tears in the body of an aircraft, as these are often exposed to cold temperatures when travelling. Additionally, it allows for both rigid and flexible aspects of aircraft to function correctly once applied, and is suitable against all types of weather, protecting against vapor.
Scientific Function and Appliance Industry
This malleable tape has earned substantial recognition worldwide due to its multiple uses and features that make it suitable for all facets of production across industries such as industrial, electrical, and medical industries.
In addition to these, aluminium foil tape can also be utilized across scientific research – particularly in relation to the protection of materials and items being tested upon – and appliances such as those used across the service industry, as well as in the home.
The tape helps to create a viable moisture barrier, protecting various components from water intrusion – useful within homes, industrial kitchens, and factories dealing with cold temperatures, such as those storing frozen foods – whilst also being excellent at providing both sound insulation and thermal protection in places that experience high levels of noise and temperature, such as laboratories conducting experiments.
So, there you have it – aluminium foil tape is an incredibly useful, multi-functional, and yet relatively simple, item that can be used almost everywhere successfully. Even better, its aluminium backing means that, once it’s served its purpose, it can be recycled – a process that requires just 5% of the energy needed in its production.
