3M Aerospace Launches Removable Gel Tape for Corrosion Protection of Aircraft Floorboards

3M Aerospace has launched a new easy-to-apply solution labeled the 3M Removable Gel Tape for aircraft floorboards to safeguard the aircraft substrate against corrosion.  The removable gel tapes function as excellent sealants and offer protection from corrosion when they are fixed beneath the floorboards on top of the aircraft floor beams. The tapes thus eliminate the need for costly repairs and help avoid the aircraft from being out of service.

3M Aerospace offers the removable tape in two variants, namely, one side and two sided adhesive options. The new tapes are lighter than existing gel tapes. The benefit of these tapes is the ease with which they can be detached and repositioned. The labor needed for cleaning the beam after the removal of the tape is reduced because the tapes do not leave much residue and do not ball or pill. Results of aging studies carried out on the 3M removable tapes show them to be superior to competitive products as they were found to strip away cleanly even after being in use for 9 to 12 months. The tapes are easy to use as they just have to be applied to the beam subsequent to which the floor panel can be fitted. The 3M gel tapes are convenient to handle by virtue of their roll unwind tension being low and the easy cutting they facilitate. An additional benefit is that the tapes which are made from 2 mm thick polyester allow screws to penetrate them. The 3M Removable Gel Tapes comply with the recent fire resistance norms outlined by the FAA.