Silicone and tape questions
01 What is silicone?
​Silicone is a unique synthetic polymer. Unlike all other polymers it is based on the element silicon.
02 What are the main advantages of silicone?
Silicone shows greater resistance to extremes of temperature, both high and low, than other polymers. It can be easily pigmented to a wide range of colours and retains its flexibility over a wide range of temperatures.
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Excellent flexibility making it suitable for many applications including high-speed rail
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Reduces high volume noises passing through
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Reduces vibrations and helps stabilizes joins where silicone is used
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Can be used as precision sealing material including those in harsh environments
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Can provide thermal insulation to stop unwanted heat passing through
03 How is silicone affected by the environment?
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Silicone will resist the most extreme hot, cold, wet, dry, and humid conditions that can be found. It is also resistant to the UV and Ozone damage that can cause other rubbers to fail.
04 Is silicone toxic?
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Silicone is generally considered to be non toxic which is why it is the material of choice for many food and beverage processing applications and domestic kitchen items such as utensils and bake ware.
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05 What is the shelf life of Silicone?
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The shelf life of silicone if stored properly is about 12 months since the date of manufacturing.
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06 Is the nozzle reusable?
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Yes. For the tube, we recommend removing the nozzle after each use and replacing the cap to store tube (nozzle can hang from side of tube).For the nozzle, let sealant cure completely and then remove cured sealant manually.
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07 How do I remove Silicone Sealant from my surface?
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To clean surface while Sealant is still wet/uncured, wipe off wet sealant immediately with a dry cloth. Isopropyl alcohol (IPA) may be used according to manufacturer’s instructions. For cured/dried sealant use mechanical means such as scraping or sanding.
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08 How do I remove Silicone Sealant from body/skin?
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Wipe off as much Sealant as possible with a dry cloth. When most of Sealant is removed from skin, wash with soap and water.
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09 Can Duct Tape be used instead of electrical tape?
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Duct Tape should NOT be used as an electrical tape.
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10 What’s the difference between Pro-Grade Painter’s Tape and General Purpose Masking Tape?
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The most noticeable difference is the color. General Purpose Masking Tapes are beige in color and Pro-Grade Masking Painter’s Tapes are usually blue, although they are available in other colors as well. Masking tapes use a rubber-based adhesive that is not UV resistant, and cannot be left on a surface for extended periods of time. Masking tape is ideal for use on non-damageable surfaces, such as unfinished wood, brick, concrete and carpet.
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11 What is the shelf life of Masking Tape?
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The recommended shelf life for masking tapes is generally one year. All KosTECH MaskingTtapes are marked with the date of manufacturing.
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12 Which tape is best for outdoor use?
KosTECH tapes are versatile and for the most part, can be used indoors or out. Tape choice is more a matter of the surface you’re masking, temperature, exposure to sunlight and other environmental factors, and the amount of time the tape will be left on the surface.
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13 Why is UV resistance important for tapes?
It is hard to avoid UV light exposure because it’s part of the sun’s rays. Outdoor projects and even projects done in a room with windows will likely expose tape to UV rays, which react with some adhesives. To ensure clean removal from the surface, it is often the best course to choose a tape with UV resistance, such as Pro-Grade Blue Masking Tape.
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14 Will tape leave residue behind on the surface?
When used according to instructions, tape should remove cleanly from the surface. However, if tape is left on the surface for longer than the recommended time, or if a non-UV resistant masking tape is exposed to large amounts of sunlight, then the adhesive may transfer to the surface.
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15 How do I remove adhesive residue?
If the tape is still intact on the surface, use a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive and remove all the backing from the adhesive. Remove as much adhesive as possible by either rubbing the adhesive off with your finger, or by applying a fresh piece of tape over the adhesive to pull it up from the surface. If residue remains, use a chemical-based cleaner.
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16 Can I mask a freshly painted surface?
"Freshly painted" means any surface that has been painted within 30 days. You must wait 24 hours
before applying tape to a freshly painted surface and then choose a tape designed specifically for this
application, such as Pro-Grade Blue Masking Tape for delicate surfaces.