

Other varieties offer heat and electrical insulation when combined with acrylic adhesive. Certain types are hand tearable, which is ideal for general bundling and positioning. It is flexible and allows for a tight wrap around the wire bundles. PVC is the most common type of tape used in wire harness assembly, as it serves many purposes. “The choice of backing depends on the location within the vehicle and what the wires may be exposed to,” says Toussaint. While a tape’s adhesives offer a certain level of protection, the different backing materials offer specific protections for wires facing damaging elements. This tape sticks only to itself and creates a seal against liquids. The choice of adhesive depends on the required temperature resistance and compatibility with wires.Īdditionally, there are self-amalgamating tapes made of rubber or silicone that have no adhesives. Acrylic and silicone adhesives are ideal for use in high temperature environments, up to 200 C, like the engine compartment.Ĭhoosing a tape with the right adhesive is critical as certain adhesives can damage the wires or wire insulation. Rubber adhesive is used for resistance to abrasion and flexibility. There are a variety of different types of adhesives used in tapes, each with specific uses and advantages. Tape is an adhesive on a backing that can be made of a number of different materials. A Class F tape can endure more than 15,000 strokes before destruction. A Class C tape will be destroyed after 500 to 999 strokes.

An abrading tool made of steel wire 0.45 millimeter in diameter is then rubbed back and forth against the tape under a load of 7 newtons.Ī Class A tape will be destroyed after less than 100 strokes. During the test, a 10-centimeter length of tape is applied in a single ply to a steel mandrel 5 or 10 millimeters in diameter.
WIRING LOOM TAPE ISO
The established method for determining the abrasion resistance of wire harness tape is the “scrape abrasion test” outlined in the international standard ISO 6722. Class F tapes provide “extremely high abrasion protection.” Class A tapes provide no abrasion resistance. There are six classes of abrasion resistance, A through F. Tapes for wrapping wire harnesses are rated based on how well they resist abrasion. Temperature resistance can also be a limitation, but Toussaint notes that Scapa is now manufacturing tapes with silicone adhesives to withstand extremely high temperatures. “The current limitation is resistance to harsh abrasions, such as stone or gravel impingement at a high speed,” says Brent Phillips, wire harness sales director for Tesa Tape, Inc.
