The versatility of aluminium foil tape makes it ideal for application in a wide range of industrial settings and when you combine this with weather-resistant adhesives aluminium foil tape Australia becomes the go-to product for varying applications in manufacturing as well as the construction sector, apart from other sectors. Thermal conductivity, chemical resistance, moisture resistance, light and heat reflectance, flame resistance, and weather ability are among the major properties of aluminium foil tape.

Understanding aluminium foil tape

Aluminium foil tape was initially introduced to the world in 1913 by the United States of America and gained immediate acceptance in packaging and containers primarily for its attractive appearance and protective qualities. The product was widely used during WWII for a wide range of applications from insulation to electrical capacitors to packaging food. Commercial use of aluminium foil tape started in the post-WWII era.  The metal foil at the back of the aluminium foil tape is specially engineered enhancing characteristics like ruggedness, malleability, and conductivity. Known as carriers for the aluminium foil tape, the backing can be a combination of aluminium and copper, lead, glass or tin-plated copper, or even steel. Aluminium foil tape also finds wide use in the construction industry with an additional benefit of long-lasting and aggressive adhesive.

Aluminium foil tape conforms to international standards of building code

Aluminium foil tape is tested for its surface burning with regard to a range of building materials. This test also focuses on the rate at which flame spreads and the density of smoke that is generated. Flame spread rate above 50 is prescribed for materials to qualify as fire-resistant under the international building code. However, cloth-backed foils or duct tapes do not meet this fire-resistant standard.

 Versatile for application in extremely hot and cold conditions

Aluminium foil tape is also very versatile for applications in extremely hot and cold conditions ranging between 248 and 22 degrees F. You would have perhaps noticed that in extremely cold conditions most tapes tend to fail. This happens since the adhesive beneath the tape hardens losing its sticking power. Thus, the temperature of the surface to which the tape is applied is crucial and therefore you should choose aluminium foil tape manufactured by a reliable vendor.

Importance of choosing an acrylic adhesive

Aluminium foil tape coated with acrylic adhesive of superior quality designed for extreme temperatures in hot and cold conditions should be insisted when you are shopping for aluminium foil tape. This is important since there are many products that use rubber adhesive in place of acrylic adhesive.  You should also know that rubber adhesive tends to detach itself from the tape in extremely hot conditions.

More desirable option compared to mastic

As most of us do know a major problem with mastic is that is pretty messy and need a range of equipment to handle the product.  On the other hand, aluminium foil tape does not need any additional fasteners like scrap metal, screws or drywall mesh for sealing large areas and it can also be used for sealing holes in air handlers and furnaces.

Longer life cycle

The construction industry uses pressure-sensitive tapes in concealed areas which make it difficult to replace or repair. Conversely, acrylic adhesive in aluminium foil tape has better adhesion, cohesion, and thermal stability compared to tapes with rubber adhesive.

Sealing and insulating ducts using aluminium foil tape

When you are sealing and insulating ducts using aluminium foil tape, the following steps are useful:-

  • Thoroughly examine the ducts to ensure that they are free from holes and that the seams between the joints and ducts are tight. Seal any breaches/leaks with the foil tape.
  • Consult the manufacturer’s instructions for the insulation on measuring the how long the insulation should be to efficiently encircle each duct and make sure that it is neither too tight to compress the ducts nor very loose to render the insulation ineffective.
  • To obtain a perfect fit, you can also trim about 2” of the insulator from its back and create a flap to overlap at the end when you finishing wrapping and give a smooth surface to place the tape on.
  • The insulation should be wrapped around each duct making sure that the vapour barrier at the back faces out.
  • Seal all the seams carefully using foil tape
  • Working across the length of each duct, make sure that each roll of insulation is taped securely to the adjoining insulation strip.

While working with ducts, another important measure is inspecting the duct at regular intervals, and particularly so when the following events happen.

  • A repair tradesman or installer has carried out some work in the attic. The duct can suffer damages due to a wrong step or the tradesman could have dropped a tool accidentally leading to one or more tiny holes that can result in significant energy loss. If you take care in time, you can plug such holes in time using the aluminium foil tape.
  • In some instances, you may be looking at a new air-conditioning system without making necessary changes to the ducts. But, inspecting the ducts closely and some quantity of aluminium tapes can potentially save the investment in a new air-conditioning system itself. In other words, if the ducts are inefficient
  • Your utility bills rising without an express contributing factor
  • If specific areas of your home experiences difficulties with heating or cooling

A well-sealed and insulated ducting will be significantly beneficial in ensuring a better and economical climate control, apart from a cleaner environment.

Conclusion

As you have seen from the above discussion, tapes have a wide range of applications in different settings, and choosing the right type of tapes is the way to go. Aluminium foil tape is by far the best choice because of a combination of desirable properties it brings along.