Showing posts with label en. Show all posts
Showing posts with label en. Show all posts

Friday, May 1, 2020

Acrylic Flashing - The Right Choice



With air leakage a key determinant of a building’s energy cost, occupant comfort and service life, it makes good sense to design effective, airtight, building envelopes. Flashing is an important consideration in maintaining air tightness. With all the different types of flashing tapes available, product knowledge is essential. Multi-layer Polyethylene backing, coated with Acrylic adhesive flashing tape, has proven in both standard and manufacturer testing to have superior performance over all other forms of flashing tape. This superior performance shows in all aspects of durability, including the ability to stand up to severe temperature and weather conditions without degradation. While a seemingly small concern in the overall construction process, the right flashing tape can add up to significant advantages for both builders and users of today’s home. Let’s see why the 505-series Flashing tape is the product to choose to assure long term job site performance.

Why Multi -layer Polyethylene backing
When it comes to the backing of a flashing tape, three critical characteristics are required in order to provide optimal, long term performance: UV resistance, flexibility (conforming to all shapes and materials) and puncture resistance. The multi-layer polyethylene film we are using for the 505-series was designed to meet these three characteristics. In fact, our 505-series offers unmatched performance, matching and/or exceeding the requirements of AAMA 711-13 Type A, Level 2.

• UV cured Acrylic Adhesive
The formulation of our UV cured Acrylic Adhesive has been designed to provide exceptional adhesion level and holding power on a variety of substrates including different house wrap materials, vapour barrier film, OSB, aluminum, vinyl and plywood.

Review of the different Adhesive System used for Flashing Tape
There are basically three adhesive systems used for Flashing Tapes; Bitumen (asphalt) based, Butyl based and Acrylic based.


Bitumen (asphalt) based adhesive: Asphalt tapes are made from modified bitumen, similar to rubberized asphalt, commonly found in eaves flashing. Bitumen asphalt based adhesive flashing tapes have several drawbacks. They are messy to install, and their durability is often of questionable quality. A liquid primer coat may be required to achieve full bond with many substrates, such as oriented strand board (OSB) and concrete. The Flashing products made using bitumen adhesive also have a poor temperature performance range; they often start to lose stickiness at around 50F (10C) and have problems holding below 40F (3C). Problematic application also applies when bitumen asphalt tape is subjected to high temperature or prolonged direct sunlight the adhesive will soften, making the tape detach from the substrate.


Butyl based rubber adhesive: Butyl based rubber (or elastomer) is a synthetic rubber. It is impermeable to air and used in many applications requiring an airtight seal. Butyl based adhesive provides an expanded temperature range (application and resistance) and greater durability than asphalt-based adhesive. It provides a better bond to surfaces, is more flexible in cold weather and is more stable at high temperature than asphalt-based adhesive.


Acrylic based adhesive: Acrylic based adhesive is engineered for superior durability, adhesion and UV resistance than both Asphalt and Butyl based adhesive products. Tuck’s acrylic adhesive is based on a purely acrylic system, providing exceptional characteristics over acrylic water-based or solvent-based systems. Tuck acrylic adhesive formulation forms a strong adhesive bond at a wide temperature range and is formulated to flow into the surface it is applied on. This helps the Tuck Flashing tape to wet out well, flowing into surface inconsistencies to produce a permanent bond. The result is a superior, long lasting seal that is considerably stronger than traditional asphalt and butyl adhesive systems.

• Acrylic adhesive – Why does it provide superior performance 

Viscoelasticity
Because acrylic is viscoelastic, it acts simultaneously as both liquid (viscous part) and solid (elastic part). Its’ viscous properties allow it to flow into small surface cracks and unevenness to form a strong bond. Its’ elastic nature means it possesses the adhesive strength necessary to preserve the bond. The viscoelasticity of Tuck’s Acrylic adhesive formulation exhibit traits of both liquids and solids enabling superior initial adhesion. It also gives 505 Flashing tape the ability to dissipate stresses and resist compression, deformation and flattening. 


Heat and UV Resistance
Heat and ultraviolet light are two key factors that degrade tape life. The Tuck Acrylic adhesive system resists both heat and UV sunlight far better than asphalt and butyl-based adhesive systems. The cross-linked polymer chains employed in the Tuck Acrylic adhesive, create extremely strong molecular bonds that withstand a wide range of temperatures, also dissipates light energy, which can break the bonds in asphalt and butyl-based adhesive.

Monday, November 18, 2019

The best Flashing Tape out there…period!

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We love it when customers send us reviews of our tape and their impressions. Here’s what Kore Construction has to say about our Tuck Tape 505 Flashing Tape Series:

“We are always open to trying new products, some work well, some are a bit gimmicky, and some are straight in the garbage. This new TuckTape flashing tape exceeded all expectations and will definitely become a regular for us. We used this flashing tape on a full window renovation, where some windows were into stone, and some were into regular lumber framing. The adhesion was impressive into the wood, and the flexibility made it very easy to seal corners. Where this product really excelled was being able to waterproof these windows to the old stone, and has made for a complete, weathertight finish, where we’re no longer relying entirely on caulking. With a bit of black aluminum, we were able to flash these windows, and give a clean, updated modern look to this old house!”




We usually say our products speak for themselves, but in this case, they don’t need to! Try our Tuck Tape 505 Flashing Tape for yourself and see how it is a superior flashing tape!


Artist Highlight: Isabelle Leclerc - PaintPro masking tape

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When it comes to tape, we like to always keep track of the market and its needs. This is why we collaborate with professionals in their respective field of work to make sure our products exceed their expectations. With our PaintPro® painter's masking tape, this is no different. 

For many years, we have sent tape to Isabelle Leclerc, decorative artist, to try out and give feedback on. She has an incredible talent with very specific needs for painter's tape, and our PaintPro® masking tapes have always been by her side.

Here is her artist highlight with regards to using our PaintPro® masking tapes:



Be sure to follow our Cantech Facebook page.

For more information on Isabelle's work, please visit her Facebook page.

Written By: Marc-André Tremblay-Robitaille, Cantech, Marketing & Product Specialist

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Masking Tape Part III: Rolling Out the Next Generation

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A 3-part series designed to help you make the right tape choice for your next big project.

Over the past couple months we’ve learned what masking tape is and how it’s made. We also talked about some additives that can be introduced to enhance the tape’s physical properties. In Part three of this series, we will briefly recap what we have already covered and discuss some new technologies that are trending in the industry as we move to the next generation of masking tapes that will help you achieve great results on the jobsite.

In Part one we talked about the composition of masking tape from a fundamental understanding.  “Masking Tape” (a term most often used categorizing paper tapes) comes from the act of protecting or masking an area prior to the application of painting, coating or surface treatment. The composition of masking tape is made up of three layers: Backing, adhesive and release coat. The backing is generally made from a saturated crepe paper. The two types of adhesives used are Acrylic and Rubber (or Synthetic Rubber). The release coat controls the tape’s unwind values, its adhesion to backing values and adhesive consistencies. In other words – the release coat allows the tape to come off the roll easily and not stick to itself.

In Part two we learned about chemical additives that enhance the tape’s physical characteristics, allowing the tape to be used for specific applications. We discussed clean line technology, UV inhibitors and operating temperatures. Clean line technology is an additive applied to the edge of the roll, forming a barrier or blocking agent so paint cannot seep under the tape. UV inhibitors are additives necessary for a tape to properly perform outside or directly on windows exposed to sunlight. Generally speaking, your painter’s masking tape will work at its optimum around +21°C (+70°F) but will do the job properly between +10°C - +38°C (+50°F - +100°F).

Paint and all related accessories go hand-in-hand

Next Generation
New technologies will continue to be a priority for tape companies. In recent years you have probably noticed more specialized products designed for very specific applications. Some of these new masking tapes are made for delicate surfaces, textured walls and outdoor use among other things. Some tape has been developed with different kinds of adhesive and non-traditional backings.

The paint industry is constantly evolving and more and more new products will be introduced in the coming years. Paint and all related accessories go hand-in-hand and need to work in conjunction with each other. As Low VOC paints are gaining popularity and more legislation in certain states are requiring their use, painter’s tape needs to be compatible.

The tape aisle at your local big box or hardware store will continue to add new and different masking tapes to their shelves. But don’t stress - in the past few months you’ve learned about masking tape and should be more comfortable walking through the daunting tape aisle and making your purchase decision.


Masking Tape Part II: The Sticky Details




Earlier this year, we learned how acrylic and rubber/synthetic rubber masking tapes are made. This month, we’ll focus on chemical additives that can change or enhance the tape’s physical properties and characteristics. The importance of these minor differences are critical as they give the tape its application qualities. There are many characteristics of tape that can affect your project, but let’s take a look at three important areas: clean line technology, UV inhibitors and operating temperatures.

Clean Line Technology
Edge treatment has been an industry trend for over a decade. Clean line technology is an additive applied to the edge of the roll, forming a barrier or blocking agent so paint cannot seep under the tape. Edge-treated tapes are usually very forgiving and provide a good option when the job requires a perfect line. Look for IPG’s patented Bloc-it™ Clean Line Technology, a proprietary edge treatment that delivers clean, crisp paint lines.

UV Inhibitors
UV inhibitors are additives necessary for a tape to properly perform outside or directly on windows exposed to sunlight. If you’ve ever applied tape to a surface outside on a hot summer day, you might have noticed it falls down in a matter of minutes. When working outside in the sun, make sure your tape has built in UV Inhibitors to help it adhere and work properly.

Operating Temperatures
Extreme heat, cold and humidity can all affect the tape’s adhesion, causing potential failures. It is important to understand your working conditions when purchasing tape. Generally speaking, your painter’s masking tape will work at its optimum around +21°C (+70°F), but will do the job properly between +10°C - +38°C (+50°F - +100°F).

Keep in Mind
There are still some challenges that may arise even when you have the perfect tape for the job. Remember to make sure the surface being taped is free of dust and debris prior to application. When applying any pressure-sensitive masking tape, be sure to press down firmly and use your thumb on the edges. This will ensure thorough adhesion coverage, helping eliminate bleed through.

1. Textured walls – orange peel type walls always present a unique challenge as the tiny bumps and crevices make it difficult for a low-tack masking adhesive to flow through and adhere.
Tip: Use a higher adhesion performance 1-day masking tape if you are planning to finish the job quickly. This will allow the adhesive to move into the crevices of the textured surface and will still pull off cleanly if done within 24 hours.

2. Freshly painted surface – If paint has not fully cured, your tape may not stick to the surface. The chemicals in the tape react with the chemicals in the paint causing the tape to fall off as you apply.
Tip: All paints are different, but the tape should have a better reaction after 24 hours. Low VOC paints present a different challenge and may take longer for the tape to properly react.

3. Pulling off tape– Sometimes, when removing tape from the wall after the paint has dried, you will notice the paint has formed a plastic like coating (mainly latex paints) over the tape. When this happens, achieving a straight line by pulling the tape off is impossible.
Tip: To avoid this, pull the tape right after the painting is complete, even if not fully dry. If it’s too late, score the edge with a blade. This will break the seal and allow for a perfect tape peel off.

I know it can be tedious, time consuming and sometimes frustrating, but take the extra few minutes to properly apply the correct tape and then check out your end result. I guarantee you it will be worth it!

Written By: Brandon Paas, Intertape Polymer Group, Consumer Marketing Manager



Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Masking Tape - The Core Basics

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We have all experienced masking tape problems at some point, whether a weekend project at home or out on the job site. Having experienced issues in the past, we’ve learned that it all comes down to buying the right tape for the job. Easy, right?  Not exactly! I work in the tape industry and I still get confused walking through the tape section of a big box store. I can’t imagine how overwhelming it must be for a DIYer or contractor searching through an entire aisle of different brands, colors, sizes, prices, etc…where to begin?!

Understanding Painter’s Masking Tape

Masking Tape” (a term most often used categorizing paper tapes) comes from the act of protecting or masking an area prior to the application of painting, coating or surface treatment. But are all masking tapes created equal? Let’s take a closer look.

The composition of masking tape at its most fundamental level is made up of three layers: backing, adhesive and release coat. (See illustration, top of page.) The backing is generally made from a saturated crepe paper. Crepe paper is known for its ability to stretch, allowing the tape to bend and conform around curves. Saturation helps enhance the paper’s physical properties and can also add color if preferred. The paper can be smooth crepe or coarse crepe—smooth crepe is used on high performance products, leaving a clean paint line and no bleed-through. Coarse crepe has a rough finish and is commonly used in general purpose applications where a clean line is not necessarily required.

The two types of adhesives used are acrylic and rubber (or synthetic rubber).  Acrylic adhesives can be water-based or solvent-based and use synthesized polymers to formulate an adhesive structure that is applied to the tape. Acrylics have medium initial adhesion, temperature resistance, solvent resistance, UV resistance and durability.  Rubber adhesives can consist of natural or synthetic rubber. Natural rubber adhesives have a medium to high tack and are used for general purpose applications. Synthetic rubber adhesives are formed by mixing synthetic compounds with rubber.  These are medium tack and intended for indoor and outdoor painting applications. Rubber and synthetic rubber adhesives have medium-high initial adhesion, temperature resistance, UV resistance, and durability.

The release coat controls the tape’s unwind values, its adhesion to backing values and adhesive consistencies. In other words—the release coat allows the tape to come off the roll easily and not stick to itself.  There you have it, lesson one in the books! Learning what masking tape is and how it’s made is key to understanding how it works and why it works (or doesn’t work—we will cover this later). In Part II we will learn about applications—what to use, why to use and how to use—and break down acrylic and rubber masking tapes further, discussing chemical additives that can give the tape new properties and
characteristics.

Written by Brandon Paas, Consumer Marketing Manager, IPG