How to choose the right high-temperature masking tape
What is high-temperature masking tape?
This guide is designed to help you choose the appropriate high-temperature tape for your masking process. Here, we’ll cover:
High-temperature tape is very different from household masking tape. The difference lies in the materials used to make them. Household masking tape is made of a thin and easy-to-tear paper with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, such as acrylic.
High-temp tape, or heat-resistant tape, is just what it sounds like: tape used for high-temperature applications. The materials used provide high-temperature resistance. The tape itself is applied to cover specific areas on your product that need protection from your masking process. These processes are typically high temperatures, hence the need for a heat-resistant tape.
Masking processes and applications
Masking is typically part of any metal-finishing operation, such as cars, data cabinets and medical devices. The most common industry that relies on high-temperature tape for masking is metal fabrication.
Tapes for high heat are mostly used on sheet metal for masking off areas. You can also use heatproof tape for irregular shapes that caps and plugs aren’t designed for. Learn more about what’s available to you in Masking - A quick buyer's guide.
For your convenience, high-temp masking tape is available in rolls or discs. High-temp tape – sometimes referred to as hi-temp tape – in disc form are a handy option. When made of polyester film with silicone adhesive, they’re especially ideal for masking circuit boards for wave soldering or other electronic manufacturing processes.
Masking processes that often require high-temperature heat-resistant tape include:
- Powder coating
Applied as dry powder through an electrostatic process, then cured with heat.
- E-coating
Short for electrodeposition coating: a method of painting that uses electrical
current to paint a surface.
- Plating
The process of depositing metal ions onto a substrate with an electric current through a chemical solution.
- Wet painting
Applying liquid paint to a metal, usually with spray, pump, or pressurized vessels for an even coating.
- Anodizing
An electrochemical process that coats a metal surface with an oxide surface layer to create a decorative, durable, and corrosion-resistant finish.
Masking tapes and discs
Heat-resistance tape can usually be removed without leaving residue, such as the ones shown here. Pay attention to the temperatures that these tapes can withstand, as that will help you choose the right high heat-resistant tape or disc.
High-temp masking tapes
This high-temp polyester tape is comprised of green film with silicone backing. Green polyester tape also offers excellent heat and solvent resistance. Excellent powder-coating tape.
- Tape width: ⅜” to 6”
- Maximum temperature: up to 400°F (204°C)
Ideal for:
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | X |
High-heat resistant tape with silicone adhesive provides toughness. Note, its toughness translates to lower flexibility. Good powder-coat tape. If looking to mask a complex geometric shape, you might prefer another material, such as polyimide.
- Tape width: 2” to 4”
- Maximum temperature: up to 500°F (260°C)
Ideal for:
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | X | X |
Excellent tape for high-heat processes, soldering, electrical insulation and PCBs. Especially good as a high-temperature powder coat tape. Silicone adhesive with outstanding heat and solvent resistance and dielectric strength. Highly conformable.
- Tape width: ¼” to 4”
- Maximum temperature: up to 500°F (260°C)
Ideal for:
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | X |
Thick, pressure-sensitive and easy to apply with a high-temp rubber adhesive. Works as a low-temperature painting and powder-coating masking tape. Best removed when it’s warm or hot, but can also be removed when cold.
- Tape width: ¼” to 6”
- Maximum temperature: up to 325°F (163°C)
Ideal for: Low-temperature processes
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X |
Silicone rubber tape
Excellent tape for high-heat processes. Self-fusing tape provides excellent sealing and moulds easily to irregular shapes. Forms a homogenous mass within 24 hours at room temperature or in four minutes at +356°F.
- Tape width: 1”
- Maximum temperature: up to 399°F (204°C)
Ideal for:
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | X |
Polyester tape with silicone adhesive. High-temperature tape discs easily removed in one piece. Excellent heat and solvent resistance.
- Disc diameter: 3/16” to 3 ¾”
- Maximum temperature: up to 400°F (204°C)
Ideal for:
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | X |
Materials include polyimide with a silicone adhesive. These adhesive tapes are shaped as discs to mask component holes or PCBs. Outstanding heat and solvent resistance and dielectric strength.
- Disc diameter: 3/16” to 2 ½”
- Maximum temperature: up to 500°F (260°C)
Ideal for:
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X | X | X |
Silicone masking discs
Silicone discs provide masking for irregular sizes and profiles, where caps and plugs can't. Clean and easy removal, leaving no residue.
- Tape diameter: 0.118” to 0.236”
- Maximum temperature: up to 500°F (260°C)
Ideal for:
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X |
Crepe paper with high-temperature rubber adhesive. Thick pressure-sensitive discs are easy to apply. Best removed when warm or hot, but can be removed when cold. Use for low-temperature paints and powder coatings.
- Disc diameter: ¼” to 2”
- Maximum temperature: up to 325°F (163°C)
Ideal for:
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X | X |
Polyester masking squares
High-temp tape provides quick adhesion for time-saving applications – easy to mask 90° angles. Clean removal, leaving no residue.
- Tape dimensions: 0.236” x 0.236” to 0.748” x 0.748”
- Maximum temperature: up to 400 °F (204°C)
Ideal for:
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X |
Polyimide masking squares
High-performance heat-resistant tape in squares. Excellent chemical and abrasion resistant and perfect for masking 90° angles. Clean removal, leaving no residue.
- Tape dimensions: 0.236” x 0.236” to 0.984” to 0.984”
- Maximum temperature: up to 500 °F (260°C)
Ideal for:
| Powder coating | E-coating | Anodizing | Wet painting | Plating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| X | X |
Masking tape materials
Understanding how the materials work, and why they’re suited for certain temperatures, will help you choose the right high-temp tape for your masking process. You should also check out our Masking materials selection guide.
Fiberglass cloth
Woven fiberglass cloth fabric is made of glass strands of different sizes. This gives them high abrasion resistance, protecting the surface during the masking process. Fiberglass cloth acts as a reinforcement with high strength to weight ratio. It resists expansion and contraction during changes in temperatures.
Polyester
Lightweight and extremely flexible, polyester has high dielectric strength. As a high-temperature tape with a silicone adhesive, this makes it excellent for electrical insulation.
Polyimide
Polyimide is one of the most heat-resistant polymers available. At high temperatures, it retains its peak strength and resists tears without diminished adhesiveness. It offers high thermal stability, good chemical resistance and low coefficient of thermal expansion. With great insulation properties, it’s popular for electronics applications.
Silicone Rubber
As a material, silicone rubber offers high-heat resistance, thermal stability, electrical insulation, vibration and sound damping, weather resistance and repels water. It’s also excellent at seal formation, which is another advantage of silicone rubber tape.
Silicone adhesive is exceptionally flexible with excellent resistance to heat and moisture. With chemical and thermal stability, its electrical insulation makes silicone a desirable adhesive for other materials, such as polyester.
High-temperature masking solutions
In addition to tapes, you might also find it helpful to use another type of masking solution for the products you’ve designed. Masking caps and plugs are used in almost every industry, for every process, from paint to shot blast. View our complete range and stock of masking solutions.
Download free CADs and try before you buy
Download free CADs and request free samples, which are available for most of our solutions. It’s a great way to ensure you’ve chosen the high-temp masking tape that you need. If you’re not quite sure which product will work best our experts are always happy to advise you.
Whatever your requirements, you can depend on fast dispatch. Request your free samples or download free CADs now.
Questions?
Email us at sales@essentracomponents.com or speak to one of our experts for further information on the ideal solution for your application 800-847-0486.