Does it Matter Whether I Choose Acrylic or Hot Melt?

Your Choice of Tape Will Either Help You Seal the Deal, or It’ll Land You in a Sticky Situation

Does it Really Matter? 

We’ve all been there, eagerly waiting for that package to get dropped off at home, only for the box to arrive tattered, half-open, and missing a portion of what you had been looking forward to. It’s bad enough that the package wasn’t even complete, but to add insult to injury, you now have to either start the refund process, contact customer support, or admit defeat. 

Do you want to know how all of this could be avoided, though; it’s pretty simple; actually, all it would have taken was selecting the right adhesive. Something as simple as choosing the right tape could make all the difference for your package, and yet it seems to be another aspect of the packaging process that’s overlooked. While there are more adhesive options than just acrylic and hot melt tape, they’re the ones we’ll be taking a deeper look into, so let’s get started. 

What is Acrylic Tape? 

Acrylic tape is ideal when you need an adhesive that can withstand a wider range of temperatures. Acrylic tape is also the best choice when it comes to working in spaces that have low or high humidity, as well as exposure to sunlight. What other benefits are there to choosing Acrylic tape? 

• Won’t discolor or lose clarity overtime 
• It’s resistant to UV lights 
• It has a longer shelf life 
• The seal strength improves over time 
• It’s considered the more economical option 
• Performs well in temperatures ranging from 32℉ - 140℉    

What is Hot Melt Tape? 

According to Phoenix Tape and Supply, hot melt tape is a, 

• “thermoplastic adhesive, also known as hot glue…It exhibits a significantly higher adhesion, which means they possess superior holding power.” 

Whenever someone mentions an adhesive holding power, they’re referring to its “shear value” or “tensile strength.” Some scenarios in which hot melt tape would be the better choice would be when machines are doing the sealing, the package is overfilled, or the composition of the packaging used has a higher degree of recycled content. What other benefits are there to choosing hot melt tape? 

• It is more consistent and easy to release 
• It has a great initial tack 
• Performs well in temperatures ranging from 45℉ - 120℉
• Ideal if your box’s major flaps have heavy memory 

What to Consider When Selecting a Tape?

Don’t just choose a tape because it’s the “less expensive” option or because “all tape is the same;” we can assure you that taking some time to make the right decision now will save you from more than a couple of headaches down the road. So, here are the three factors that you need to keep in mind when selecting an adhesive, 

1. Shear Value 
1. Your tape has to be able to handle the stress that your package will deal with during shipping; in addition, if your packages are going to be stored for extended periods, the last thing you need is tape that will lose its adhesion. 

1. Application Environment 
1. What kind of environment are you sealing packages in? Are you dealing with condensation, humidity, extreme heat, cold, or dust? These are all factors that need to be taken into consideration because they could make the difference between your tape adhering or not. 

1. How is it Being Applied?
1. Tapes react differently when sealing packages by hand or using a machine, so you must choose the one that’ll help your application process run smoothly. The last thing you want is your applicator struggling with tape that isn’t the right fit. 

Feel free to reach out when you are in doubt about which tape would best fit your operation; our experts are here to ensure that your coding and packaging processes are running as efficiently as possible.