Why Water Activated Tape

Whether it is very hot or very cold, the only certainty to have guaranteed the sealing of the packaging is called Water Activated Tape.

Those who have some experience in the world of shipping, or simply those who have a good spirit of observation, will have noticed that depending on the external temperatures, the integrity of the closure of packages that use plastic tape varies greatly, affecting the sealing of the packaging.

In cold or winter temperatures, the adhesive tape tends to curl up like a dry leaf and, consequently, peels off the box; In opposite conditions, adhesive tape offers poor grip, because it tends to slip on the surface of the box, leaving sticky trails and little closing hold.

This problem can be partially solved with the use of valuable material for the production of the tape, but it cannot be solved, because the conditions described above generate a normal physical reaction of the matter that makes up the tape.

Adhesive tape is not a static solid but a viscoelastic material that varies its characteristics according to the conditions of use.

The viscoelastic material is characterized by the balance of the liquid component (glue), which influences its elasticity, and the solid component (base of the tape), which generates resistance. When the temperature inside the structure changes, this balance is altered.

Going into a little detail:

• In cold environments, the adhesive glue coated on the tape suffers from the phenomenon of “vitrification” of the components of which it is composed: summarily, the adhesive molecules that make up the glue lose their “elastic mobility” and go from a “soft and adhesive” situation to a “rigid and glassy” state. This change leads the adhesive to be structurally rigid and to lose the ability to activate, greatly diminishing its bonding characteristic: not being able to penetrate the surface of the cardboard, the material simply rests on the box, wrapping the flaps, without creating the mechanical block that must guarantee closure.

• In hot environments (over 30°C) the opposite reaction is triggered inside the adhesive glue spread on the tape: the adhesive becomes liquid, very sticky, to the point of losing its cohesion qualities and, tending to slip during application, loses its sealing capacity. With heat, the internal tensions of the material tend to develop forces that contract, allowing the tape to appear “contracted” at the vertical and horizontal ends. This condition of poor sealing leads to the tape “yielding” due to the tension created by the flaps of the box, which push to rise; consequently, the boxes open during their handling or during shipping (a condition that is even more aggravated by the high temperature, for example, inside a container or van parked in the sun).

Water Activated Tape is the solution to stop relying on pressure-sensitive adhesive for good; WAT maintains a constant behavior in any condition of use including extreme ones: cold, heat, light and humidity do not compromise its tightness.

The WAT tape offers all the safety guarantees and is available in a wide range of widths, lengths, type of reinforcement and weights that ensure concrete answers to every request.

With the understanding that the product being packaged is of vital importance to any business, it is possible to determine the characteristics that the WAT tape must have to support the product being shipped, whether it is generic, pharmaceutical, high-value or simply commercial.

For low weights, the simple paper WAT tape can be used without sealing problems. For heavy weights, it is possible to identify, among the various technical characteristics of the tape, the most suitable types for the weight to be shipped, having the possibility to choose between sinusoidal reinforcements or with rhomboid texture.

The WAT tape, welding with the surface of the cardboard, forms a “single body” with the packaging, ensuring:

• burglar-proof packaging, as it is an anti-tamper seal and any attempts to open it are immediately visible;

• difficulty in removal: any attempt leaves obvious traces attempts to open;

• use in dusty environments;

• customization with company logos or messages;

• constant performance in extreme conditions being insensitive to conditions of use;

• efficiency, because with a single strip effective closure is guaranteed;

• Cost-effective, because tape consumption is reduced for each package made.

Ultimately, it should not be underestimated that the use of WAT tape makes the interest in green packaging tangible.

You don’t need to be an expert in the field to be aware that the environmental impact must be assessed; minimizing this value is the direct responsibility of everyone, especially of companies which, by pursuing this important goal effectively and transparently, obtain gratification and trust from customers.

In conclusion, we can say that WAT tape is the most reliable and environmentally friendly solution to ensure the sealing of the packaging. Its ability to form a strong, tamper-evident seal ensures that packages arrive safely at their destination, to the delight of those who manufacture, ship and receive the packaging.

For more information on the WAT tapes that EVi® offers, info@evi-italia.com.