Application Studies / Kinesiology Tapes #1 – Adhesion with the TA-303 Tack Fixture

Kinesiology Tapes #1 – Adhesion with the TA-303 Tack Fixture

Industry:

Adhesives

Materials

Medical Devices

Attributes measured:

adhesiveness

applied force

force

tack

dry tack

peak adhesive force

total work of adhesion

Background

Kinesiology tapes are a special type of athletic tape with unique properties and many applications. The tapes must meet a complex set of performance metrics. Kinesiology tapes must be sticky enough to adhere to skin when applied and used in wet conditions and intense sports activity, and they must stay in position for multiple hours or days without irritating skin. They must not shear loose from skin or tape backing, and they must not peel when caught against clothing, but also peel off easily when being removed. They must stretch with predictable tension at known levels of strain, but must not stretch in the opposite weave direction in order to hold muscle groups in place, and they must have edges which do not fray so that they remain clean-looking over multiple days, plus other characteristics. For the next study in this series, see here.