Everyday tape, economically priced
Polypropylene packing tape clear and brown, with a synthetic hot melt adhesive and a 28 micron film. At 46 microns total thickness, the RAJA 28 micron polypropylene packaging tape seals corrugated cartons up to 20kg on standard warehouse and e-commerce packing lines. It bonds on contact to paper and board surfaces without dwell time and is rated for UV and temperature resistance once applied. Available in clear and brown, in 25mm, 48mm and 75mm widths with 66m and 132m roll lengths, all on a 76mm core.
A standard-grade polypropylene packing tape with synthetic hot melt adhesive on a 28 micron polypropylene film. Bonds instantly to corrugated board, resists UV once applied, and is compatible with all 76mm-core tape dispensers. Available in brown and clear, in three widths.
Best for
- High-volume e-commerce despatch lines sealing single-wall cartons up to 20kg. The synthetic hot melt adhesive bonds on contact with the board surface, allowing packing staff to move to the next carton without a dwell period. At 46 microns total thickness the tape runs cleanly through standard pistol-grip dispensers without jamming or stretching.
- Post room and office despatch where a neat, low-profile seal is needed on cardboard mailers. Clear polypropylene tape is near-invisible against board and does not obscure printed address labels or dispatch markings. Brown is the standard option where appearance is not a factor.
- Ambient-temperature warehouse operations between 0°C and 60°C. Synthetic hot melt maintains consistent initial tack across this range, so tape applied in a standard warehouse performs the same in summer and winter, provided ambient temperature stays above 0°C at the point of application.
- General carton sealing where cost-per-roll matters and cartons do not exceed 20kg. The 28 micron grade is the entry point for RAJA's polypropylene range. For lower-volume operations without a dedicated dispenser, the 25mm width on a 66m roll reduces cost per seal.
Not for
- Cartons over 20kg. The 28 micron film and hot melt adhesive are not rated for sustained load stress above 20kg. Use RAJA 32 micron polypropylene tape (PDT00449) for cartons up to 30kg, or RAJA Heavy Duty Low Noise polypropylene tape (PDT01547) for cartons above 30kg.
- Application temperatures below 0°C. Synthetic hot melt adhesive loses initial tack below 0°C, producing seals that appear set but have not bonded fully. Cartons moved from a chilled or frozen environment to the packing bench need time to reach ambient temperature before taping.
- Operations where kerbside recyclability is a requirement. Polypropylene film cannot be recycled in paper or corrugated streams and requires specialist film collection. Use self-adhesive paper tape for operations where cartons must be recyclable without tape removal.
- Hand-tear applications where no dispenser is available. Polypropylene tape cannot be torn cleanly by hand. A 76mm-core tape dispenser is required to cut the tape at the correct length. Use self-adhesive paper tape (PDT01167) where a dispenser is unavailable.
Key features
Synthetic hot melt adhesive — instant contact bond on paper and board
Synthetic hot melt is a thermoplastic adhesive applied to the polypropylene film and cooled to a solid layer before the roll is wound. On contact with corrugated board, the adhesive wets the surface rapidly and forms a pressure-sensitive bond without requiring a dwell period or moisture activation. Acrylic adhesives on lower-cost tapes require 15–30 seconds to develop full peel strength; hot melt bonds are immediate. At the packing bench this means cartons can be stacked or moved as soon as the tape is cut, without holding the flap closed while the adhesive develops.
28 micron polypropylene film — strong seal at standard gauge
The 28 micron film provides the tensile strength needed to hold corrugated carton seams under transit load without adding unnecessary bulk. The 46 micron total thickness (film plus adhesive layer) lays flat across corrugated seams without bridging at the flute peaks. Thinner economy grades at 25 micron can split or neck when placed under sustained load; the 28 micron grade is the correct starting point for warehouse and e-commerce packing lines running mixed carton weights up to 20kg.
76mm core — direct fit for standard dispensers, no equipment change
All rolls in the PDT01423 range are wound on a 76mm internal core. This is the standard core diameter for all RAJA polypropylene tape dispensers and matches the core diameter used by the paper tape range. Packing lines moving from paper tape to polypropylene tape, or running both in parallel, do not need separate dispensers for each tape type. The 76mm core also seats correctly in all common pistol-grip and bench-mounted dispensers from other manufacturers. Machine tape, by contrast, is wound on 38mm cores and will not load into hand dispensers.
Three widths — one tape grade across multiple carton sizes
The 28 micron grade is available in 25mm, 48mm and 75mm widths. The 48mm width is the warehouse standard for single-wall cartons in the 10–20kg range, providing a seam coverage that exceeds the minimum contact area needed for the hot melt adhesive to hold under transit load. The 75mm width is used for double-wall cartons and larger base seams where a wider overlap gives the additional surface area that heavier board requires. The 25mm width suits smaller mailer boxes and shelf-ready packaging where a narrow tape profile is preferred. Using the correct width for the carton size prevents under-bonding (too narrow) and unnecessary tape cost (too wide).
How to get the best result
Polypropylene tape adhesive performance depends on surface condition and application technique; the most common failure mode is applying to a contaminated or cold carton surface, not a product defect.
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Check carton surface temperature and cleanliness before applying
Inspect the top and bottom seams before loading the carton. Dust, silicone (from box coatings), moisture and oil all prevent the hot melt adhesive from wetting the board fibres. Wipe dusty surfaces with a dry cloth before taping. If cartons have been in a cold storage area or loading bay overnight, allow them to reach ambient warehouse temperature before sealing. Applying tape to a carton surface below 0°C means the hot melt adhesive stiffens on contact before it has bonded, producing a seal that looks set but detaches under transit load. This is the single most common cause of seal failure in polypropylene tape and is entirely preventable.
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Load the roll onto a 76mm-core tape dispenser before starting your shift
Seat the roll on the dispenser spindle with the free end of the tape coming off the bottom of the roll and the adhesive side facing the dispenser blade. Pull approximately 10cm of tape over the blade and confirm it seats flat without bunching. If the tape neck stretches or the roll wobbles on the spindle, check the core is fully seated. Attempting to apply polypropylene tape without a dispenser produces uneven cuts, wasted tape and an inconsistent seal. Confirm the blade is sharp; a blunt blade tears rather than cuts, leaving frayed edges that lift from the carton.
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Apply in a single continuous pass from the centre seam outward
Start at the centre of the carton's top or bottom seam and draw the dispenser in one continuous pass toward the carton edge, then back to centre and out toward the opposite edge in a second pass. This H-seal pattern ensures the tape covers the full seam length without tension building up at the centre. Do not start at a corner; tape begun at a corner applies more adhesive to one side than the other, and the shorter unsupported section is the first point of failure under load. For cartons over 15kg, run a strip of tape across each end panel to close the H-seal fully.
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Apply firm blade pressure along the full seal immediately after laying
Run the back of the dispenser blade, or the heel of your hand, along the full length of the tape immediately after it is laid. This step increases the surface contact between the adhesive and the board, converting an initial pressure-sensitive bond into a full-contact bond. Hot melt adhesive develops most of its peel strength in the first 20 seconds after application; pressing the tape down during this window increases bond strength measurably compared to tape left to self-bond. Skipping this step on high-recycled-content board, where the surface is more irregular, is the second most common cause of edge lifting.
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Store unused rolls correctly and rotate stock to maintain shelf life
Return unused rolls to their sealed packaging and store horizontally at 15°C to 25°C with humidity below 50%. Do not stand rolls vertically; the core deforms under its own weight over time, causing the tape to unwind unevenly in the dispenser. Do not store in loading bays, on the floor near external roller doors or in unheated areas. The shelf life for PDT01423 is 6 months from manufacture; beyond this the hot melt adhesive layer begins to crystallise, reducing initial tack. Write the delivery date on each case when stock arrives and rotate using a first-in, first-out system.
Technical specifications
- Material / backing: Polypropylene
- Adhesive: Synthetic hot melt
- Total thickness: 46 micron
- Film thickness: 28 micron
- Width options: 25mm, 48mm, 75mm
- Length per roll: 66m or 132m
- Core size: 76mm
- UV resistance: No
- Max application temperature: 60°C
- Min application temperature: 0°C
- Weight capacity: Up to 20kg
- Shelf life: 6 months (correct storage conditions)
- Storage conditions: 15°C to 25°C, below 50% RH, horizontal, in sealed original packaging
- Tearability: Dispenser only — not hand-tearable
- Colour: Brown, clear
- Brand: RAJA
Choosing the right polypropylene tape for your operation
The 28 micron grade is the standard entry point in the RAJA polypropylene range. Adjacent grades exist for heavier loads, quieter environments and lower volume requirements.
Cartons are under 20kg and the operation is light duty: office post rooms, small retail dispatch, or infrequent sealing where cost-per-roll is the primary consideration. The 25 micron acrylic adhesive grade does not perform as well on recycled board or in temperature-variable environments. It is not recommended for sustained high-volume packing line use.
Choose this tape (28 micron, PDT01423) when:
Cartons are up to 20kg and the operation runs at standard ambient warehouse temperatures between 0°C and 60°C. The synthetic hot melt adhesive provides faster initial bond than acrylic and a more consistent performance across board types. This is the correct choice for e-commerce fulfilment, general warehouse despatch, and mixed carton operations where roll length and dispenser compatibility matter.
The operation runs in an open-plan office, a customer-facing environment, or a confined packing area where repeated tape application noise is a workplace concern. The acrylic adhesive on the low noise grade unwinds silently because the adhesive does not stretch and snap against the backing film the way hot melt does. The low noise grade is also rated for cartons up to 20kg and uses the same 76mm core.
Cartons are between 20kg and 30kg, or the board quality is inconsistent and higher film strength is needed. The 32 micron natural rubber adhesive grade develops a stronger peel bond on corrugated board and is more forgiving of surface imperfections. It is the right choice for industrial fulfilment, heavy product lines, and operations where carton weights frequently approach the upper limit for standard tape.
The operation requires kerbside recyclable packaging, or customers must be able to recycle the sealed box without removing the tape first. Paper tape is hand-tearable, recyclable with the box, and available in grades from 20kg upward. It cannot match polypropylene tape for cold-temperature performance.
Frequently asked questions
What is 28 micron polypropylene packing tape?
RAJA 28 micron polypropylene packing tape (PDT01423) is a polypropylene film tape with a synthetic hot melt adhesive. At 46 microns total thickness, it seals corrugated cartons up to 20kg. It comes in clear and brown, in 25mm, 48mm and 75mm widths with 66m or 132m roll lengths.
What is the difference between the 28 micron and 32 micron polypropylene tape?
The 28 micron grade (PDT01423) uses a synthetic hot melt adhesive and is rated for cartons up to 20kg. The 32 micron grade (PDT00449) uses a natural rubber adhesive, has a higher total thickness of 48 microns, and is rated for cartons up to 30kg. Choose 28 micron for standard e-commerce and warehouse volumes; choose 32 micron for heavier cartons or where a faster initial grab is needed on lower-quality board.
Can polypropylene tape be recycled?
Polypropylene tape cannot be recycled in paper or cardboard streams. The polypropylene film must be removed from corrugated board before the board is recycled. Polypropylene tape requires specialist plastic film collection; it cannot go in household kerbside recycling. If kerbside recyclability is a requirement, use self-adhesive paper tape, which is recyclable with the box.
Does this tape work with a standard tape gun?
Yes. All rolls in the PDT01423 range are wound on a 76mm core, which fits all standard pistol-grip and bench-mounted tape dispensers. The tape requires a dispenser to cut cleanly; it is not hand-tearable. Load the roll with the adhesive side facing the blade and confirm the core seats securely before starting your shift.
Why is my polypropylene tape not sticking or lifting at the edges?
Edge lifting has three common causes: the carton surface is contaminated with dust, moisture or silicone from high-recycled-content board; the application temperature is below 0°C, causing the hot melt adhesive to lose initial tack before it has set; or the tape was not pressed down with firm blade pressure along its full length immediately after laying. Applying to a cold carton that has been in a loading bay or refrigerated area overnight is the most common cause of early bond failure.
What weight of carton can this tape seal?
The 28 micron grade is rated for cartons up to 20kg. For cartons between 20kg and 30kg, use RAJA 32 micron polypropylene tape (PDT00449). For cartons above 30kg, use RAJA heavy duty low noise polypropylene tape (PDT01547) or switch to self-adhesive reinforced paper tape (PDT523581), rated for cartons over 30kg.
Can I use this tape on high-recycled-content corrugated board?
Hot melt polypropylene tape can underperform on high-recycled-content board because the surface is more porous and irregular than virgin board, reducing contact area for the adhesive. Pressing the tape down firmly with the dispenser blade and ensuring the board surface is dry before sealing improves bond strength. If failure persists, switch to gummed water-activated tape (PDT01157), whose starch adhesive penetrates board fibres rather than bonding to the surface.
How should I store polypropylene tape rolls to maintain adhesive performance?
Store rolls horizontally in original sealed packaging at 15°C to 25°C with humidity below 50%. Do not store in loading bays, near external doors or on the floor in unheated warehouses. Hot melt adhesive stiffens below 0°C, reducing initial tack on application. Shelf life for PDT01423 is 6 months from date of manufacture; do not use rolls beyond this period even if they appear normal.
You might also need
- Tape dispensers — all rolls in the PDT01423 range require a 76mm-core dispenser; this is the correct category for pistol-grip and bench dispensers compatible with this tape.
- Polypropylene packaging tape — to compare the full range of grades, widths and roll lengths available, including economy, low noise and heavy duty options.
- RAJA 32 micron polypropylene tape (PDT00449) — the grade up from this tape, rated for cartons up to 30kg with a natural rubber adhesive for stronger initial grab on heavier board.
- RAJA low noise polypropylene tape (PDT01868) — the same 28 micron thickness with an acrylic adhesive for silent application in open-plan or customer-facing environments.
- Self-adhesive paper tape — for operations where kerbside recyclability is a requirement; paper tape is recyclable with the box and does not need to be removed before disposal.
- Cardboard boxes — matched carton sizes to ensure correct tape width selection for the seam dimensions you are sealing.
