Adhesive Tape Facts
When you need to stick one thing to something else, you often use adhesive tape. Adhesive tape contains a sticky backing material lined with adhesive, a compound that can be in a liquid or semiliquid form. An assortment of adhesive tapes exists. Scotch tape and masking tape are two of the most common forms of adhesive tape.
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Inventions
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An engineer for the 3M company is responsible for the invention of two forms of adhesive tape. Richard Drew created masking tape, as well as Scotch tape, also known as cellophane tape, according to enchantedlearning.com. In the early 1920s, Drew developed masking tape for painters. The tape was meant to help painters paint straight edges between two different colors. In 1930, he struck pay dirt again with his invention of clear, all-purpose adhesive tape. Two years later 3M employee John Borden developed the tape dispenser, which included a sharp edge for cutting off sections of tape.
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Electrical Tape
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Electrical tape, also invented by 3M, is an adhesive tape made from vinyl that is used mostly for insulating electric wires from substances that can damage them. Electrical tape is composed of insulating materials that do not allow conductivity to escape the tape. The tape can be applied to anything that conducts electricity. Electrical tape can shield wires from heat and the effects of ultraviolet light.
Gorilla Tape
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Gorilla Tape received the 2006 Best of What's New Award from "Popular Science" magazine---an award that salutes innovative products and technologies. The tape was brought to market in 2005 by the Gorilla Glue Company. Gorilla Tape is an adhesive tape that is thicker than normal duct tape and clings to a variety of surfaces that other all-purpose tapes won't adhere to, such as brick or lumber.
Duct Tape
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Duct tape dates back to the 1940s and was invented by the Johnson and Johnson Permacel Division. Duct tape was originally used to prevent moisture from creeping into ammunition cases. As the tape was waterproof, it was often called "duck tape," according to www.ideafinder.com. Military employees realized that the tape could be used for other purposes, such as fixing guns and other equipment. After World War II, the adhesive tape was commonly used in construction to join heating and air conditioning ducts.
Gaffer's Tape
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Gaffer's tape is an adhesive tape used in the motion picture industry. The tape is vinyl coated and contains a synthetic rubber resin adhesive that leaves behind minimal sticky traces when removed. The durable tape is made of cotton cloth, which allows it to tear straight. As the tape has a matte finish that does not reflect light, the tape will not be visible to a camera or an audience.
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- Photo Credit "DAY 215 When HoggHeff is in the house, Oh my God, DANGER!" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: Hoggheff aka Hank Ashby aka Mr. Freshtags (Hoggarazzi Photography) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
