Double-sided tapes are adhesive tapes designed for fastening surfaces together in an invisible manner. The backing material is covered with either rubber or an acrylic adhesive layer on both sides that can be sandwiched between two materials for joining. These are used for bonding, holding or mounting purposes in a range of applications. Double-sided tapes vary in thickness depending on whether they are paper-based or foam-based. Commonly the double-sided adhesive tape is made of plastic and is clear.What are double-sided tapes used for?The main benefits of double-sided plastic tapes are their bonding and mounting capabilities, which means they are used in a variety of industries. They can bond to rough and uneven surfaces, making them quite versatile. They are used in crafts, splicing, metal fabrication and printing as well as in building industries. Carpet tape is another commonly used tape for holding carpets down in high traffic areas or where a carpet gripper isn’t present.Types of double-sided tapesPlastic tapes – PVC tapes with acrylic adhesives are very common, used mostly on uneven surfaces or materials with rough exteriors, they have very high adhesion levels. Polypropylene tapes, which are temperature resistant and solvent-free, with common usage in DIY and arts and crafts projects.Adhesive squares – these are made of foam and are laminated with adhesive on both sides. They are mostly used in the arts and crafts, interior decorating and signage industries. They can mount lightweight objects like posters, cards and drawings to most types of dry surfaces.Cloth tapes – Typically manufactured from woven cotton or synthetic cloth, this kind of tape features an adhesive coating on both sides. Cloth is heavier than tapes manufactured with plastic or paper, and cloth tapes have a high adhesive coat weight. It is particularly suited to bonding on awkward shapes or uneven surfaces such as floors.Paper tapes – these are made with a paper-based carrier material. These tapes have a layer of acrylic adhesive on both sides of the substrate material and are used to bond materials together, especially where temporary sticking is required. The tape can be applied by hand or with an applicator and comes in varying thicknesses with different adhesion capabilities.