Does Kapton tape have a shelf life?

Storage Conditions and Shelf Life The shelf life for properly stored Kapton® in typical warehouse temperatures should be in excess of 20 years. Rolls should be kept wrapped in storage to prevent surface contamination.

What is Kapton tape good for?

Kapton tape is used across the spectrum of the electrical field. It’s mostly used as insulation. This includes capacitor and transformer insulation, coil insulation, and magnetic wire insulation. It can also be used during powder coatings as a temperature mask.

What is the thickness of Kapton tape?

Kapton® film thickness is 1.0mil (0.03mm), total tape thickness with adhesives is 4 mil (0.10mm) with 1.5 mil (0.04mm) adhesive on each side. Standard 76mm (3″) plastic core. Used for a wide variety of applications such as secure masking and/or sample in vacuum systems.

What is Kapton made of?

Kapton ® Tapes are made from Kapton ® polyimide film with silicone adhesive. They are compatible with a wide temperature range as low as -269°C (-452°F) and as high as 260°C (500°F).

What can I use instead of Kapton tape?

Kapton Alternative

  • Alanson Products.
  • Standard ATG Tape (56720)
  • Colored Duct Tape – Industrial Grade (67236)
  • Premium Cloth Gaffers Tape (67665)
  • Engineering Grade Retro Reflective Tape (77066)
  • Custom Packing Tape (Poly Pro)
  • Colored Electrical Tape 3/4 in (62018B)
  • Blue Painters Tape (24900)

Why is Kapton used in space?

In a physical sense, Kapton® was instrumental for its use on the solar panels, the camera circuits, and critically so in keeping the weight of the landing probe as light as possible.

What is the thickness of electrical tape?

5 to 7 mil.
Vinyl electrical tapes are often 5 to 7 mil. thick (7 mil is most common in the U.S.). The thinner general purpose tapes are often used for bundling and harnessing cables.

Is Kapton tape better than electrical tape?

Compared to electrical tape, it removes cleanly without leaving a residue, making it ideal for packing, temporarily securing components, or powder coating applications. Kapton® tape is commonly used as a wire and cable wrap as well as to protect electrical components during soldering.

Will Kapton tape cause a short?

According to a NASA internal report, space shuttle “wires were coated with an insulator known as Kapton that tended to break down over time, causing short circuits and, potentially, fires.”

Can I use Kapton tape instead of electrical tape?

Kapton is also safe as far as static electricity goes. Clear tape (what we call scotch tape in the US) generates static when you peel it off and is considered unsafe for electronics.