The Tape and Functional Film Expo, which takes place on March 21 – 23, 2023, at the RAI in Amsterdam, provides all sectors of the industrial tape and functional film supply chain a unique opportunity to network face-to-face with leading suppliers and high-yield end-users.
Alongside the networking opportunities at the Tape and Functional Film Expo, there will also be insights, innovations, R&D, education, and thought leadership discussions provided by peers from around the world at the event’s technical conference. Exhibitors from both manufacturing supply chains, including, but not limited to, chemical providers, adhesive and resin suppliers, adhesive and non-adhesive tape manufacturers, functional film manufacturers, testing services, coatings, machine manufacturers, and parts suppliers, will also be showcasing their services and products to the entire supply chains plus a host of end-user buying sectors attending from: Automotive, Medical, Electrical, Retail, Construction, White Goods, HVAC, Agriculture, Electronics and Semiconductors, Renewable Energy/Energy Storage, Printing and Packaging.
Adhesive tapes serve in our everyday life. They are flexible and convenient to use. Their creation is, on the other hand, not as simple as their function.
It all starts with the adhesive, so when it comes to acrylate substances, the process begins with polymerisation. This ultimately means that all components of the adhesive are mixed together in a chemical procedure. This allows the adhesives to be prepared in a way that they can be easily applied to the desired backing material. How this takes place will depend on the adhesive.
Cellulose acetate is produced by taking acetic acid, acetic anhydride, and camphor and combining them with other chemicals and water. It is then pelletised and then heated so that it becomes an oil-like substance. It is then piped over a device that mills it and produces endless plastic sheets that are then placed on large, flat rollers. After they are heated again, the plastic sheet is ready to be moved onto other rollers with the adhesive glue applied.
Modern glue is sticky. Such adhesives are made from crude petroleum distillates that are chemically reacted to produce acids and alcohols. The reacted products are then combined with a hydrocarbon solvent that catalyses its polymerisation. After polymerisation, the product of the reaction can be used in a certain manner, or it can be melted with additional solvents according to its intended use.
The next step is to apply adhesives to the film. The glue typically requires the help of a priming agent to enhance its adherence. Prior to the application of glue, the adhesive side might be treated with an adhesive to enhance the strength of its bond. Glue is applied by taking a roll of film and routing it around a large, rotating roller that spreads coater evenly to a certain film width.
As soon as those pores and breaks brush up the tape, it travels over drums to dry them. An extremely thin layer of chewing paper is applied onto the primed side of the wrapped. The tape is then curved onto huge, big rolls and transmitted over slicers that split it into varying widths. The bands of tape are then wound around a tiny plastic core, which is then fitted inside a plastic dispenser with a serrated edge to cut different sizes of tape. Both tape rolls and dispensers come in different sizes to suit client demands.
Various other production steps might be taken depending on its end use. For example, in the electronics industry, tapes are often used to form different layers of a smartphone. Fortunately, this isn’t visible in the end product, as it is cleaned in an (almost) dust-free environment during production. Without this step, small dust particles could cause the adhesive tape to be no longer optically clear.
With just under six months to the show, those who wish to attend can now register. Make sure you register before the New Year, and you’ll gain an early bird access price.
