Recommended Masking Tapes for Powder Coating

Are you having trouble knowing which masking tapes to use during your powder coating process? Sometimes, the hardest part of this process is understanding which masking tape works best for you and meets your component's specific requirements.

We have compiled a list of recommended tapes to use during your powder coating process – each including their own strengths:

Green Poly Tape (Most Popular Option)

Green polyester masking tape is the industry standard and most commonly used for general-purpose powder coating applications. It is easy to apply, is heat resistant, and leaves sharp, clean masking lines.

Temperature Rating:?400 F / 204 C

Thickness:?3.5 mils

Rusty Red Poly Tape (Higher Heat Resistance Than Green Poly)

Rusty red polyester tape is made with a good adhesive alternative where the high heat properties of polyimide or glass cloth are unnecessary. It is an economical choice for temperature resistance requirements greater than green polyester tape

Temperature Rating:?425 F / 218 C

Thickness:?3.8 mils

Blue Poly Tape (Thinner Tape for Uneven / Curved Surfaces)

Blue polyester tape is thinner than green poly tape, meaning that it is better for use on uneven and curved surfaces. If you're looking for a slightly higher temperature-resistant tape similar to blue poly, check out the red poly tape.

Temperature Rating:?400 F / 204 C

Thickness:?2.5 mils

Red Poly Tape (Additional Adhesive For Improved Sealing)

Red Polyester tape is a high-heat-resistant tape with double the adhesive, reducing undercutting and leaks. If you run into issues with blue poly or green poly not making it through your curing oven, we suggest trying out red poly tape or rusty red poly tape.

Temperature Rating:?446 F / 230 C

Thickness: 4 mils

Glass Cloth Tape (Extreme Temps + Thicker Coats)

Glass cloth tape is made of woven fiberglass backing coated with silicone adhesive. It is flame retardant and great for thicker coats and high-heat applications.

Temperature Rating:?500 F / 260 C

Thickness:?7.2 mils

Yellow Poly Tape (Thicker Coats + Sharp Masking Lines)

Yellow poly tape is an excellent option for thicker powder coating applications and is a great alternative to glass cloth tape when you need sharper lines.

Temperature Rating: 400 F / 204 C

Thickness: 6.5 mils

Polyimide Tape (Extreme Temps + Sharp Masking Lines)

Polyimide tape is a premium masking tape for extended high-temperature paint cures. It removes cleanly without leaving unwanted residue.

Temperature Rating:?500 F / 260 C

Thickness:?2.5 mils, 3 mils

Green Poly Tape on Liner (Great for Plotters)

This is green poly masking tape on a clear-release liner, allowing shapes to be cut before the adhesive is exposed. Lined green poly tape is an excellent option if you have a plotter or vinyl cutter and need custom die-cut masking. It is especially useful when you don’t want to invest in higher-volume custom die-cutting that requires tooling. Our team uses lined green poly to prototype die-cuts using our in-house plotter.

Temperature Rating: 400 F / 204 C

Thickness: 3.5 mils

Conclusion

We realize that each powder coating process may be different and can be very difficult without the proper tools in place. We want to guide you in creating a dependable and efficient process that you can scale and replicate – starting with using the most efficient masking tape for your component.

If you're still unsure which tape is best for you, don't worry – we have a team of technical experts ready to partner with you in finding the best solution to your specific needs. Head over to our?Contact Us?page now to let us know!