1. Base Material
- BOPP Tape: Substrate is Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene (BOPP), a lightweight polypropylene film. It is the common transparent packing tape for carton sealing.
- PET Tape: Substrate is Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), a rigid polyester film mainly used for industrial and electronic applications.
2. Density & Simple Identification
- BOPP: Low density (~0.91 g/cm³), floats in water.
- PET: Higher density (~1.38 g/cm³), sinks in water.
3. Temperature Resistance
- BOPP: Stable only under 70–80°C long-term. It softens, shrinks and loses adhesion at high temperatures; turns brittle below -20°C.
- PET: Excellent heat resistance, stable at 100–120°C continuously, withstands short-term 150–200°C exposure. Its size barely changes with temperature fluctuations.
4. Mechanical Strength & Toughness
- BOPP: Flexible and stretchable; easy to tear by hand. It elongates visibly under tension.
- PET: Stiff, rigid and high-tensile strength (over 3 times stronger than BOPP). Hard to rip manually, nearly no elongation under pulling force, superior dimensional stability.
5. Chemical, Weather & UV Resistance
- BOPP: Moderate resistance to oil and weak solvents. Prone to yellowing, brittleness and adhesive peeling after long-term outdoor sunlight exposure.
- PET: Great resistance to acid, alkali, grease and industrial cleaners. Strong anti-UV performance, no obvious yellowing outdoors; outstanding electrical insulation.
6. Adhesion Performance
- BOPP: High initial tack, sticks instantly upon contact, ideal for quick temporary bonding.
- PET: Lower initial tack but exceptional holding power and shear resistance. Once bonded, it resists shifting, lifting and peeling for a long time.
7. Cost & Price
- BOPP: Low raw material cost, highly cost-effective for mass general use.
- PET: Expensive polyester substrate; its price is 2–5 times that of same-width BOPP tape.
8. Typical Applications
BOPP Tape
Carton sealing for express delivery, office paper bonding, gift packaging, indoor temporary fixing, normal-temperature packing and transportation.
PET Tape
High-temperature masking for painting, baking and electroplating; insulation & fixation for PCBs, lithium batteries and transformers; heavy-duty permanent bonding; outdoor long-term attachment; oil/chemical working environments; fine printed decorative washi PET tapes.
Quick Distinguishing Tips
- Water test: Floating = BOPP; sinking = PET
- Tear test: Easy hand tear = BOPP; stiff & hard to tear = PET
- Burning test: BOPP burns fast with clean flame; PET burns slowly with black smoke and hard brittle residues
- Touch feel: Soft & pliable (BOPP); firm, thick and rigid (PET)
Summary
Choose BOPP tape for daily packing and low-budget indoor use. Pick PET tape for high-temperature, electronic, high-strength, chemical-resistant or long-service industrial scenarios.
