High-Temp Tape for Reflow and Wave Soldering: Kapton, Teflon or Blue PET

For reflow ovens and wave soldering, choose Kapton polyimide tape rated 260 °C continuous. Blue PET tape only goes to 200 °C for 30 minutes and suits adhesive curing and conformal coating. Glass-cloth Teflon tape is for covering heat-seal bars. PRIMEAG recommends removing the tape within 24 hours and peeling slowly under an ionizer airflow to avoid adhesive residue and reduce static.

All three rolls use silicone adhesive; they differ in the backing film. Pick the wrong backing and the defect shows on the first pass through the oven: the tape shrinks, adhesive sticks to pads, edges lift.

1. High-temperature tape for reflow ovens: Kapton polyimide

In the oven, tape masks connectors, holds light parts in place and secures thermocouple tips when running a profile. Kapton polyimide high-temperature tape has a 25 µm backing with 35 µm silicone adhesive, rated 260 °C continuous and 300 °C for no more than 30 minutes. A reflow cycle of 5–10 minutes leaves a comfortable margin. The rating on the tape is the adhesive’s limit; exceed it and the adhesive burns and stays behind.

2. Wave and selective soldering: masking gold fingers and holes that must stay unsoldered

A lifted edge lets molten solder in. Apply on a surface free of flux and skin oil, and burnish the edges with a plastic stick. For gold fingers and small pads, use 5 mm width. For multiple thermal passes, take the 0.08 or 0.10 mm version and check the adhesive after each pass.

3. Conformal coating, adhesive curing, painting: blue PET is enough

Blue PET heat-resistant tape has a 25 µm PET backing with silicone adhesive, rated 180 °C continuous and 200 °C/30 minutes. It is cheaper than Kapton but not for soldering: PET melts at around 260 °C. Apply it flat without stretching; stretched film shrinks in the oven and the edges pull back.

4. Heat sealers and bag sealers: Teflon over the heating bar

Heating bars rub against the tape and Kapton tears quickly. Heat-resistant Teflon tape is PTFE-coated glass cloth, 0.13 or 0.18 mm thick, rated −70 to 260 °C, with a non-stick surface. Replace it when scorched or when fibers show; keep the area ventilated because overheated PTFE gives off fumes.

Residue, lifting, scorching: read the defect to fix it

Adhesive residue: tape left on for weeks, or cheap “Kapton” that is actually yellow-dyed PET. Flame test: polyimide does not shrink, PET shrinks and melts.

Lifting mid-oven: flux or moisture left on the board, or edges not burnished.

Scorching, curling: almost always PET taken into the 260 °C zone; switch to Kapton.

Peeling Kapton next to static-sensitive components

Polyimide is an excellent insulator, around 10¹⁷ Ω·cm. Ripping tape off quickly generates charge right next to ICs and MOSFETs. Peel slowly, at a low angle, under an ionizing blower, and do not leave the roll sitting next to bare components. The Kapton tape above is not ESD-rated; if you need black ESD Kapton, ask PRIMEAG before ordering. For the whole line, see ESD supplies for SMT lines.

Comparison of the three tapes

Start ordering tape

Send the process, peak temperature, width and rolls per month; PRIMEAG quotes within 30 minutes, with a 1-roll sample available. Tape belongs to our stocked product range; plants around Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai receive it within 24–48 hours. For export processing enterprises (EPEs), PRIMEAG issues 0% VAT invoices and handles the on-the-spot import/export customs declaration free of charge for orders from VND 20 million. For the benches and mats in the tape-peeling area, our engineers offer free ESD resistance measurement: TR1800 meter with 5 lb electrodes, Mon–Sat, covering Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong and Dong Nai, including items bought elsewhere, with no purchase obligation, and a PDF of results within 3–5 working days, for reference only and not for audit use. For solder temperatures, see soldering tips, solder temperature and solder paste storage.

Frequently asked questions

• Can blue PET tape go through a reflow oven? — Not recommended. Blue PET is rated up to 200 °C for 30 minutes and PET film melts at around 260 °C, so it shrinks and leaves adhesive. Use Kapton.
• How do I stop Kapton tape leaving residue after reflow? — Peel while the board is still warm, at a low angle. If residue remains, check the peak temperature and number of oven passes, and test for suspected yellow-dyed PET.
• Can Teflon tape be used to mask pads for wave soldering? — No. Glass-cloth Teflon is meant for heat-seal bars; for masking pads and gold fingers, use 5–10 mm Kapton.