4 Great Reasons To Choose Foil Tape

Combine the versatility of aluminum and the weather-resistant sealing power of adhesive tape, and you have an extremely versatile product — aluminum foil tape.

Foil tape is so versatile that it is widely used in all kinds of industries, from manufacturing to construction.

Thanks to its moisture and chemical resistance, thermal conductivity, flame resistance, heat and light reflectance, and weatherability… it makes for a tape that has a wide range of applications.

What is Foil Tape, Exactly?

Aluminum foil was first available in 1888, and commercial production in the U.S. started in 1913. Prized for its protective qualities and attractive appearance in containers and packaging, it was widely used in World War II to protect packages, electrical capacitors, and insulation. After the war, it became available for commercial use.

Foil tapes use a specially-engineered metal-foil backing which contributes to the tape’s malleable, conductive, and rugged characteristics. Foil tape carriers include aluminum, aluminum with glass, lead, copper, copper with tin plating, and steel.

Why Choose Aluminum Foil Tape?

Here are the top four reasons why our foil tape has become a best seller with so many of our customers:

1. Extreme cold and heat temperature versatility.

Our foil tape works in temperatures ranging from 248°F to -22°F and can be applied in temperatures ranging from 14°F to 104°F. Most tapes do not perform well in cold temperatures. Severe cold hardens the adhesive and diminishes sticking power of the tape. If you are applying the tape under cold conditions, it may not stick at all. Conversely, excessive heat can melt the adhesive on some tapes, rendering it useless.

2. Made with an acrylic adhesive.

All-weather aluminum foil tape is coated with a superior performance flame-retardant solvent acrylic adhesive, working equally well in extreme hot and cold weather conditions.

Why does this matter?

Well, most duct tapes are made with a rubber adhesive, which is known to delaminate from its backing in high-temperature applications. Other synthetic rubber adhesives may offer a greater range of temperature functionality, but they also have lower mechanical strength, weak aging resistance, and do not fare well under UV light. By creating a foil tape with an acrylic adhesive, we’ve achieved superior durability and longevity once they cure and stick to a surface.

3. A great alternative to mastic.

Our aluminum foil tape products are not messy (the biggest drawback of mastic), and they use less equipment (no need for old clothes, eye protection, gloves, paint brushes, drop cloths, etc.) It doesn’t need additional fasteners such as sheet metal screws, scrap metal, and drywall mesh to seal large areas and it can be used to seal holes in a furnace or air handler.

4. Able to hold up over time.

In construction, pressure-sensitive tapes are often used in areas that are concealed (like housewraps or foil-faced insulation). Which means they cannot be easily repaired or replaced. Due to its acrylic adhesive technology, aluminum foil tape offers better cohesion, adhesion, and thermal stability than a tape with a rubber adhesive.

To put it another way, Pioneer Tape's line of foil tape products are designed to hold up to temperature fluctuations, exposure to UV light and other solvents that would typically impact and breakdown the adhesive effectiveness of different types of tape, making them the ideal choice for both construction and industrial applications.