Reflective tape is a safety industrial tape that serves as a warning. It is commonly used to mark hazardous areas, and signify vessels, and trucks, ensuring traffic safety, especially in low-light or nighttime conditions. Of course, reflective tape comes in various types. Some can be attached to fabrics and are used to make safety clothing, shoes, and hats. Another type is used for home decoration, such as on windows and hallways, providing both aesthetic appeal and a certain level of safety.
This tape is one of the main products of Shenzhen World Packing Industrial Limited. It is highly functional, practical, durable, and available in various styles to meet different needs, making it popular among customers.
The working principle of reflective tape is primarily based on the characteristics of light reflection and refraction. Its reflective effect comes from the microprism structure or glass beads on its surface, which reflect incident light back toward the light source. This is achieved mainly in the following ways:
1) Microprism Reflection
The surface is coated with precisely arranged tiny prisms, which can reflect light multiple times and direct it back to the original light source (known as retroreflection). This reflection method makes the tape appear especially bright when illuminated by light sources such as car headlights or flashlights at night.
2) Glass Bead Reflection
The surface of the reflective tape is coated with glass beads of high refractive index. Light enters the beads, undergoes refraction, and is then reflected back to the original direction by the underlying reflective material. Glass beads are cost-effective, provide stable performance, and are commonly used as reflective materials. These materials exhibit retroreflection characteristics, where incident light returns almost along its original path, allowing drivers or users to see it, thereby achieving a warning effect. In contrast, the reflection on regular object surfaces is diffuse reflection, where light scatters in multiple directions, resulting in much lower reflective efficiency compared to reflective materials.
These materials exhibit retroreflection characteristics, where incident light returns almost along its original path, allowing drivers or users to see it, thereby achieving a warning effect. In contrast, the reflection on regular object surfaces is diffuse reflection, where light scatters in multiple directions, resulting in much lower reflective efficiency compared to reflective materials.
Production Process of Reflective Tape Patterns
1) **Microprism Pattern Production**
Using mold embossing technology, microprism structures are pressed onto the surface of the plastic. The pattern design in the mold determines the surface pattern of the reflective tape, such as diagonal lines, grids, etc. This process is complex but results in significant reflective effects and is mainly used for high-performance reflective materials.
2) **Glass Bead Surface Pattern**
Glass beads are adhered to the tape surface through coating or spraying methods. Laser engraving or chemical etching technology is used to form patterns (such as zebra stripes, checkered patterns) on the underlying reflective film.
3) **Printing Process Patterns**
Some reflective tapes use screen printing technology to directly print reflective ink onto the surface of the tape. This method offers strong pattern diversity and allows for custom complex designs.
4) **Multi-layer Composite Process**
Multi-layer materials (such as PVC or PET) are compounded, and patterns are formed through cutting or heat pressing. This process is commonly used for PVC or low-cost tapes, with simple patterns but stable effects.