How Duct Tape is Made
When first invented duct tape was made by adding a polycoat adhesive and a polyethylene coating to medical tape. It was made by Permacell, which was a part of Johnson & Johnson Company. (See more information in the History of Duct Tape tab.)
In present times duct tape is made by different companies and has different brands. This article will be focusing on how duct tape is made by Duck Brand Duct Tape - whose central factory is located in Stony Point, North Carolina.
Duct tape is now made out of three essential ingredients: cloth, adhesive, and a film. The adhesive starts out as a natural rubber from rubber trees, and is usually sent to the factory in a big block, which is then put into processing. The cloth is the substance that gives duct tape its strength and is a lot like gaze. The film is the ingredient that makes duct tape water-proof, and it also is used to give duct tape its color. The film is made from a base plastic, and acquires color by having color concentrates added or by having patterns printed on it.
The process of making duct tape starts by first creating the adhesive. It is made in a machine called a banberee. In this machine the rubber and a kind of resin are mixed together until a substance like dough is formed. This dough-like substance is then transported on a conveyor-belt to the sigma, a machine where it is mixed some more and heated. This is the end of the adhesive process, and the adhesive is now both very sticky and flexible.
After the adhesive is done the cloth and the film are stretched out and placed together/on top of each other.
In present times duct tape is made by different companies and has different brands. This article will be focusing on how duct tape is made by Duck Brand Duct Tape - whose central factory is located in Stony Point, North Carolina.
Duct tape is now made out of three essential ingredients: cloth, adhesive, and a film. The adhesive starts out as a natural rubber from rubber trees, and is usually sent to the factory in a big block, which is then put into processing. The cloth is the substance that gives duct tape its strength and is a lot like gaze. The film is the ingredient that makes duct tape water-proof, and it also is used to give duct tape its color. The film is made from a base plastic, and acquires color by having color concentrates added or by having patterns printed on it.
The process of making duct tape starts by first creating the adhesive. It is made in a machine called a banberee. In this machine the rubber and a kind of resin are mixed together until a substance like dough is formed. This dough-like substance is then transported on a conveyor-belt to the sigma, a machine where it is mixed some more and heated. This is the end of the adhesive process, and the adhesive is now both very sticky and flexible.
After the adhesive is done the cloth and the film are stretched out and placed together/on top of each other.
Then the adhesive is added to this sheet, and by adding the adhesive a thick bond is created. Now that all the ingredients are together and bonded, you got duct tape. This duct tape is rolled into one huge roll of duct tape that is then cut into smaller strips, which are re-rolled to form the smaller rolls of duct tape you buy in stores. The process that cuts and re-rolls the tape is called a converting operation, and the duct tape is cut in a machine where there are a ton of circular knives that spin
extremely fast cutting the tape. After the tape is the appropriate size it is sent to the packaging unit.
In the packaging unit rolls of duct tape go on a conveyor-belt where plastic label you see in stores is added. The rolls are then sent through an oven, and after that you got duct tape ready to go. The rolls of duct tape are then placed into boxes, which are placed on a pallet, and ready to be shipped.
One of the coolest things about this process is that three ingredients are made into hundreds of rolls of duct tape and this process is done entirely by machines - that's today's technology for you! And now by reading this article you know a lot more about the creation of the sticky rolls of tape we use every day.