Why Choose 3M's Best-Performing Duct Tape?
Why Choose 3M's Best-Performing Duct Tape?
Originally developed for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) applications, duct tape is used today in a variety of industrial, maintenance, repair and construction settings. But not every duct tape product performs at the same level, and there's a big difference between general purpose or medium-duty tapes and high-performance duct tape.
To get the job done right the first time, you need to use the right kind of tape—and customers have long trusted 3M products to deliver industrial tapes using innovative technologies that render unmatched dependability. 3M's latest innovation in this lineup is their best-performing duct tape. It's a product that holds up to weathering exposure and removes cleanly. Let's take a closer look at why this option may be the best fit for your industrial taping applications.
Meet 3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape
Featuring six months of clean removal even in the harshest elements—and a long life indoors and out—the line of 3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape includes two different grades: 3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979 and nuclear grade 8979N.
What makes this duct tape outperform general purpose or medium-duty tapes is a host of benefits that bring strength, durability, ease of use and removal to the next level. Check out how this plays out in everyday use:
- Removes cleanly for up to six months from most opaque surfaces even after exposure to sunlight and temperature extremes
- Stays on for up to one year without deterioration even outdoors
- Aggressive adhesive enables quick and reliable attachment
- High tensile strength supports demanding applications
- Strong water-resistant backing resists wear, abrasion, moisture and weathering
- Easy to tear straight across and down without curling for ease of application
- Saves time of removing sticky residue
- Nuclear grade 8979N meets Military Compliance MIL-STD-2041E
Specs & Applications for High-Performance Duct Tape
For even greater insight into how this innovative line outsticks the rest, here's a more detailed breakdown of each of the two offerings in the 3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape line, including common applications for use.
3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979
3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979 removes cleanly for up to six months from most opaque surfaces, even outdoor applications after sun and weather exposure. It sticks immediately and stays on for up to one year without deterioration. The tape was tested for flame spread using test method UL723, ASTM E84 and can be used at temperatures as high as 200°F for up to 30 minutes. This sturdy cloth-reinforced tape can be torn from the roll by hand and sticks instantly, providing a wide range of convenient solutions. 3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979 is available in slate blue, black and olive to enhance utility and aesthetics.
This outdoor, UV-tolerant duct tape maintains versatile performance when exposed to the elements. It provides a tight, moisture-resistant seal in many containment situations, and conforms to irregular surfaces without lifting. Constructed of polyethylene film laminated to cloth with a rubber adhesive, this tape resists curling and tears off the roll cleanly for easy application on rough surfaces. 3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979 has a unique construction that allows for applications indoors and out. It is removable with little or no adhesive residue up to six months after application.
Applications include outdoor uses, temporary weather sealing, capping pipe, patching, bundling, reinforcing, tabbing, taping/splicing insulation, securing conduit ends, marking, labeling, temporary repair, hanging polyethylene drapes and protecting against light sandblast overspray.
3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979N
3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979N is a highly specialized duct tape ideally suited for demanding applications in the nuclear power plant, ship building and steel fabrication industries. It is commonly used for sealing, holding, identification and protection. This tape resists wear, abrasion, moisture and UV exposure for up to 12 months.
Just like its counterpart, 3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979N removes cleanly for up to six months from most opaque surfaces even after exposure to sun and outdoor weathering. It resists delamination and deterioration from wear, abrasion, moisture and weathering for up to a year of UV exposure. The thick rubber adhesive attaches well to masonry and other rough surfaces, yet removes cleanly after as much as six months in the sun, leaving little or no adhesive residue.
This tape provides a tight seal for containment operations such as attaching heavy poly draping and closing cuffs. It has the high tensile strength necessary for heavy bundling, reinforcing, tabbing, taping, capping and splicing materials including piping, conduit and insulation. It conforms to irregular and curved surfaces, resists curling, tears off the roll cleanly, is hand-tearable and can be written on. This tape is available in a distinctive red or slate blue color, making it easily identifiable. In addition to the nuclear power industry, it is used in shipbuilding, stainless steel production, construction, electrical, industrial, marine and military applications where low leachable halides and sulfur are required.
Is 3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape Right for Your Needs?
Do you find yourself having to clean adhesive residue after removing tape? Do your applications for duct tape require outdoor use? Do your tapes end up coming off before you want them to? Do you need to temporarily protect metal from corrosion or contamination? Do you need to protect against light abrasion?
If the answer to any of these questions is "yes", 3M™ Performance Plus Duct Tape 8979 or 8979N is the right answer to meet your needs.
For more detailed information about how our selection of high-performance duct tapes can support your organization's industrial, maintenance, repair or construction needs, visit our product pages or reach out to our team of experts.
