Humans have been known to use tapes as early as 4000 BC, that’s more than 6000 years of continuous use and development. This makes more sense when you see the types of tapes that are available for use in the market presently, and all the applications we have for these simple items. One type of tape is the BOPP adhesive tape, they are very popular amongst industries.
So, let’s not waste more time, and get right into it.
An Introduction to the History of BOPP Adhesive Tapes
One of the most used tape types, the Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene or BOPP tape, offers excellent sealing and protective capability. However, before we go on to discuss more about the origin of BOPP, let’s first talk about the history of self-adhesive tapes. Modern tapes have not just one inventor/developer. There are a lot of permutations of these items throughout history, but it’s safe to say, that the father of the modern tape is Dr. Horace Day. A surgeon by profession, in the year 1845, he used a strip of fabric with rubber glue on one side, then applied it on the wound to secure it. This small task was the invention of surgical tape, an item that saves millions of lives every year.
Another man, Earle Dickson, an employee at Johnson and Johnson, created the first Band-Aid by securing a piece of gauze with cloth tape & covering it with crinoline. Masking tape was invented by Richard Drew in the year 1923, etc. As we mentioned, there are a lot of permutations of tapes invented by different people throughout history.
The modern BOPP tape, first came into being at the hands of Richard Dew while he was developing the masking tape, that later went on to become the famous Scotch tape, after a paint worker used the word as an insult for Drew’s bosses. Although that is a different funny story, we won’t be discussing it here. BOPP tapes are pressure sensitive, i.e., the adhesive activates when put under pressure.
BOPP Adhesive Tape: Types and Characteristics
Now that you know the origin and history of biaxially oriented polypropylene tapes, let’s discuss the different types available in the market. Currently, there are three types of BOPP tapes you can choose from.
These tapes are rugged and have high tensile strength, meaning they provide a good level of durability against physical forces. In addition to packaging, they also provide a layer of protection against abrasions and environmental factors. The layer of tape also provides a cushioning effect to the item.
Hot-Melt Tape
These are also known as transparent BOPP tape, as the name suggests, they are see-through. They provide the best holding/adhesive strength amongst any type of biaxially oriented polypropylene tape. However, they are vulnerable to melting and damage by hot temperatures, and also oxidation over time.
Acrylic Tape
As the name suggests, these tapes are made from acrylic and come in different colors, generally red or black. Due to their base material, these tapes provide excellent protection against hot temperatures and oxidation. Also known as colored BOPP tapes, these are stretchable to a degree, so they are difficult to damage or tear under stress, but also not good for packaging cartons and products.
Custom Printed
These tapes serve additional purposes aside from adhesion and securing items. As you may realize by the name, these tapes can be customized with the print of your choice. Users can imprint their brand logo, warning signs and labels, or even instructions. These help the user properly utilize the tape and provide additional safety and functionality.
Applications of BOPP Adhesive Tape
Various industries have applications for BOPP tapes. They are excellent for packing and securing heavy carton boxes for shipping operations. Custom-printed tapes can also help in the visual identification of packages and inventory management.
Acrylic tapes are excellent for securing products that operate in hot climates or produce a lot of heat like compressors, they also have a far longer lifespan than other tapes and are used for warehousing purposes. Brands like Zomato, Amazon, Swiggy, etc use custom-printed tape for securing their products.
Difference Between BOPP Tape and Cello Tape
You might have heard the term cello tape far more commonly than BOPP tape. Understandably, not everyone goes around using technical terms in their day-to-day lives, that’s why many people don’t even know that BOPP exists. So, that’s why, right here we will discuss both cello tape and BOPP tape and then see the differences between them.
By now you already know much about biaxially oriented polypropylene tape, so let’s go on to cello. These tapes have been in use for the last hundred years. Originally made using cellophane sheet, thus, the nom de guerre. Developed around the year 1937, it provided better functionality than the traditional paper tapes during its inception.
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BOPP Tape
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Cello Tape
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It is a classification/type of cello tape.
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This is a wide term used for pressure-sensitive self-adhesive tapes.
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These provide better durability against physical force.
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These are weaker against stretching and twisting when compared to BOPP.
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These are significantly cheaper to manufacture.
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Cello tapes are more expensive to make.
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A type of these tapes is custom printed BOPP tapes. That’s because polypropylene is easier to print on.
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Cello Tapes are difficult to imprint on, making them a bad choice for custom packaging applications.
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As the name suggests, these tapes are made from polypropylene.
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These tapes are manufactured with cellulose as the raw material.
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Provide protection against moisture, hot temperatures, physical damage, etc.
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These are vulnerable to damage from water and heat. They can also easily wrinkle and compromise the integrity of the packaging.
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Conclusion
After all the consideration, I think we can safely say that in most categories of performance, BOPP tape takes the win. However, because of the advantages of BOPP and the disadvantages of the cello tape, they both are suitable for different applications. For example, cello tapes are easier to remove, transparent, and easy to use. Making it more suitable for packing small items and packets.
On the other hand, BOPP tapes have superior adhesion and durability. This makes them far better for securing and packaging large and bulky items like ACs, Refrigerators, Televisions, etc. However, using them for small items can damage the surface of the packing.
BOPP Adhesive Tapes FAQs:
Q1. What type of adhesive is Bopp tape?
Ans - Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene tapes are made primarily for industrial use, where they may be exposed to environmental elements & harsh conditions. Therefore, it uses a pressure-sensitive/activated water-based adhesive.
Q2. What is the thickness of Bopp tape?
Ans - There is no standardized thickness of BOPP tapes, however, the most commonly used tapes have a thickness of around 38 to 65 microns.
Q3. What is the size of a Bopp roll?
Ans - BOPP tape rolls come in all different sizes and lengths. Depending on the application, users can select from a variety of lengths and sizes.
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