Clear TPU tape VS rubber elastic

As garment accessories, both TPU tape and rubber tape are widely used. These two types of tape are both elastic tape. In eyes of many people who are not in apparel industry, clear TPU tape and rubber elastic just like the same elastic plastic tape. The main difference maybe the color. However, though TPU tape and rubber tape are both used for swimwear, they have many differences.

Clear swim elastic made from TPU is thin and invisible. Thanks to the feature of TPU material, clear swim elastic tape is eco-friendly, stink-proof and recyclable. So TPU tape is skin-friendly and won’t make user allergic. But the shortage of clear tape is also obvious. Because of its thin thickness, TPU elastic tape is not strong enough to meet the request that makes swimwear tight or won’t get out of shape when it used at two seam parts of body. But TPU tape is suitable to be used at neck part. Because the thin tape won’t let the neck part too tight to make people uncomfortable. And the clear tape helps the elastic be invisible.

Compared with TPU tape, rubber tape has much more stretch to meet the request of swimwear. Its high resilience and stretch originated from the feature of rubber material. However, besides elasticity, rubber tape also owns some unfriendly feature. For example, rubber tape is smelly and sticky. So rubber tape manufacturers would add talcum powder to decrease viscidity during the manufacturing process. Of course, no matter the smell or powder would lead to allergic for some users.

The last difference between TPU tape and rubber tape we talk here is the color. The natural color of TPU is clear transparent. So TPU tape can be transparent or in any other custom colors. However, the original color of natural rubber is dreggily yellow or orange, so that rubber tape in swimwear is generally in white or black to match the most color of fabric. Therefore, if one are looking for clear swim elastic, it won’t be rubber tape.

In another website of our sub-company, we have an article that illustrates the difference between TPU and rubber material. If some are interested in, hope the article can help.