3M Electrical Tapes Selection Guide

Chapter 6

3M has been developing and manufacturing high performance, easy handling electrical tapes since the 1940s. The 3M Electrical Tapes range includes tapes for low and medium voltage insulating, colour coding, moisture sealing, padding, shaping, protective jacketing, bundling, and harnessing.

Technical Applications

Semi-conducting tape to reconstruct a medium voltage cable
Track resistant tapes for terminations
Fire retardant electric arc proofing tapes to protect cables from arcs and fires from nearby cable failures

Vinyl Electrical Tapes

Mastic Electrical Tapes

Rubber Electrical Tapes

Download Electrical Tapes

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Taping Tips

To ensure the safest, most reliable use of PVC Electrical Tapes, always:

Apply tape with enough stretch to conform to the objects you’re wrapping. Be sure to let the last 50mm relax before tabbing it down to prevent unwinding (sometimes called “ﬂagging”).

Wrap an irregular mechanical connector, such as a split bolt, with rubber or mastic tape to pad sharp edges, before overwrapping it with vinyl electrical tape.

Wrap tapered shapes “uphill” — that is, from the smallest to the largest point. This way you always secure the
previous layer.

Use the right tape for the right conditions. Vinyl tapes are rated for cold-weather application in two classes: 0°C and -18°C. Tapes formulated for high-temperature environments are typically rated 80°C or 105°C

Always use scissors or a knife to cut tape. If you must tear it by hand, then keep fingers close together when tearing tape. The farther apart they are, the more the tape will stretch before it tears.

Wrapping Tips

Type of Tape		Number of Layers/Application Instructions
Vinyl Electrical Tapes	Jacketing and Mechanical Protection	Always use a minimum of two half-lapped layers. The last layer should be wrapped in a more relaxed manner – let the last wrap relax to prevent the layer from ﬂagging.
Rubber Tapes	Electrical Insulation, Mechanical Padding, Water Sealing and Shaping	Wrap tape tightly to achieve the watertight seal. Rubber tapes are typically over wrapped with vinyl tape.
High Voltage Tapes	Insulating and Semi-conductive Layers	Apply outside of roll to the cable, in highly stretched halflapped layers. Never use a semi-conductive tape as an insulation.
Mastic Compounds	Insulating, Mechanical Padding, Moisture Sealing and Shaping	Over wrapping with vinyl prevents mastic ﬂow and helps to create a watertight seal. Do not apply excessive amount of mastic to prevent oozing.

Special Use Tapes

Product Name	Product Description	Thickness	Temp. Rating	Typical Applications
3M™ Scotchrap™ Corrosion Protection Tape 50	All-weather performance and corrosion resistance. Resistant to impact and abrasion.	0.25mm	80°C	Corrosion protection on pipes, conduits, fittings etc.
3M™ Temﬂex™ Cotton Friction Tape 1755	High grade friction tape. Good abrasion resistance	0.33mm	80°C	Abrasion protection for splices and connections.
3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979	Six month clean removal duct tape. Sunlight resistant, leaves behind no sticky residue. Blue.	0.32mm	93°C	Cap pipe ends and conduit stored outdoors. Hanging, sealing poly drapes.
3M™ Cloth Tape 3939	Heavy duty duct tape; good adhesion, strong backing. Silver	0.23mm	93°C	Sealing heating ventilation and air conditioning ducts.
3M™ Utility Duct Tape 1910C	Utility duct tape with polyethylene coated cloth backing with tacky rubber adhesive. Silver and Black	0.15mm	50°C	Sealing, holding, bundling.
Scotch® PVC Sealing and Joining Tape 1352B	Stabilised & plasticised PVC flm coated tape suitable for most light industrial sealing & joining applications. Black	0.15mm	60°C	Joining polythene sheeting. Sealing air ducts. Temporary holding applications.
Tartan™ PVC Sealing and Joining Tape 2352	Stabilised & plasticised soft PVC flm coated tape with rubber-based pressure sensitive adhesive, suitable for most light industrial sealing & joining applications. Silver.	0.13mm	60°C	Sealing air ducts. Temporary holding applications.