Duct Tape

Duct record is a must-accept home item that is reputed to be able to live used for repairing anything. What’s the old proverb…if the duct record is non working, yous’re non using enough? Well, it turns out that this love adage is definitely funnier than it is truthful.

In fact, ane of the primary limits of duct tape is that it cannot actually live used on ducts. This is due to the style the record’second adhesive responds to oestrus in addition to cold.

Duct tape does non withstand high or low temperatures. Above 140 °F, the adhesive on the record volition melt. The tape itself tin deform, fifty-fifty at a lower heat. Below 40 °F, the adhesive becomes brittle together with loses its tackiness.

What Is Duct Tape Made From?

Duct tape has a elementary withal effective pattern that consists of three layers. The get-go outer layer is made of polyethylene, a type of plastic that is derived from petroleum, giving it its water-resistant characteristic.

The moment layer is made from a thin net fabric called cotton wool duck fabric, which strengthens the record too makes it easy to tear without pair of scissors. This layer is coated onto the polythene layer.

The 3rd layer is an adhesive made upwards of a synthetic condom chemical compound called Styrene-butadiene.

This adhesive is a force per unit area-sensitive adhesive too uses the rule of van der Waals forces to adhere to the substrate. It is really strong, and thick coatings are applied for maximum adhesion, unlike regular scotch tape.

The adhesive has a fluid elasticity feature that allows it to withstand stress, which makes it a very sought-subsequently production to purpose on menage repair jobs.

Effects of Heat on Duct Tape

If yous utilize your record to a repair that may estrus upwardly, you lot necessitate to be aware that the effectiveness of the record volition not live peachy at all. In fact, it may completely neglect.

If the surface that has been taped or the surround surrounding the tape reaches high plenty temperatures, the adhesive on the record will go less tacky as well as gluey as well as volition basically just peel off.

Duct tape cannot handgrip temperatures that attain more than than 140 °F.

At this temperature, the polymer bonds of the condom adhesive (giving it its viscoelasticity feature) suspension, and the adhesive begins to soften.

If temperatures achieve or transcend 140 °F, the plastic polyethylene layer together with the prophylactic volition outset to melt only non fire.

Even though the cloth network layer is flammable, it is unlikely that the tape equally a whole volition grab fire. Instead, it is more likely to deform from the rut. This warping will likewise compromise the even seal.

Hot air may besides effort the adhesive to dry out out over time, making hotter temperatures, even if they are lower than 140 °F, detrimental to the continued functioning of duct record.

The limitations of heat resistance in duct tape go far unsuitable for electrical go, fifty-fifty though it is relatively not-conductive.

Effects of Cold on Duct Tape

As previously mentioned, it’sec the viscoelasticity of the adhesive that gives the duct tape its strong stickiness or tack.

Once this synthetic soft safe (a mix of both liquid in addition to solid components) is exposed to temperatures below twoscore °F, it reaches a signal at which the safety transitions from a flexible-like country to a solid glass-similar state.

This causes the liquid office of the condom to harden, reducing the contact forces between the adhesive as well as the substrate. Instead, y'all cease upward with an adhesive that is dry as well as brittle in addition to no longer sticks to anything at all.

Let’s not forget the result on the other layers of the tape.

When exposed to such low temperatures, only similar the adhesive, the polyethylene layer too hardens. However, in that location is non much of an result on the fabric net layer.

What This Means for Application of Duct Tape

While it might be tempting to use measure duct record on everything because of its versatility, it is non designed to withstand extreme temperatures together with cannot live used for everything.

It may live appropriate to live used to hold crafts together too assist inwards nipper and/or temporary repairs, but it is not suitable to function on ducts that bear common cold together with hot air, which are pretty much all ducts.

The measure duct tape has not been certified past the UL, in addition to edifice codes such equally International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) land that whatsoever tape used on ductwork needs to live UL-certified.

If common duct tape is used on ducts and it fails, y'all run the take chances of cold together with hot air that has been conditioned leaking from the gaps that were meant to live sealed alongside the record in the offset home.

Your HVAC arrangement volition accept to position inwards double the amount of endeavour to replace the lost air, which leads to more than energy beingness used, likewise as a hefty bill.

Malfunctioning tape tin can besides lead to dingy air (containing unsafe gases from appliances like gas dryers in addition to heaters) infiltrating clean air through leaks in the ducts because of the negative air pressure created.

This mixture of clean together with muddied air so circulates your abode, compromising indoor air character.

Specialized Duct Tapes Are Available

Luckily, not all promise is lost. There are more than suitable tapes out there that are designed for role with extremely high and low temperatures.

If you lot are unsure of what record is best to use, always make sure that accept been UL listed (should live on the packaging) and approved for ductwork or temperature-sensitive repairs.

A common specialized tape best suited for HVAC systems is foil or aluminum record. It is made alongside atomic number 82, copper, or aluminum backing instead of polyethylene backing.

It is besides coasted alongside an acrylic adhesive, which contains acrylates that withstand extreme temperatures.

Unlike duct tape, foil tapes make not have a fabric meshing in the eye layer and are entirely comprised of ii layers (the acrylic adhesive in addition to the metallic backing).

Foil tapes volition besides not melt or lose their integrity every bit metal, inward full general, has a very high tolerance for estrus too volition non be affected.

For packages that are going to live shipped, you lot should role packaging tape. UPS and FedEx will not take your packages if you lot role duct tape.

For microwave function, yous tin can buy cellulose or freezer tapes.