3M 88 Premium Vinyl Tape (3/4″ X 66′)

Scotch Super 88 Electrical Tape is a premium grade, 0.2mm thick, all-weather vinyl insulating tape. It is designed to perform continuously in a temperature ambient of up to 105°C (220°F). The tape is conformable for cold weather application down to -18°C (0°F). It has excellent resistance to abrasion, moisture, alkalis, acids, corrosion and varying weather conditions (including ultraviolet exposure). The combination of elastic backing and aggressive adhesive provides moisture-tight electrical and mechanical protection with minimum bulk. Super 88 is an Underwriters’ Laboratories Listed and Canadian Standards Association Certified “Insulating Tape”.

Tape Features

• Polyvinyl chloride backing.
• Pressure sensitive rubber based adhesive.
• Thickness 0.216mm.
• Dielectric breakdown 10kV.
• Cold weather pliability and adhesion.
• Flame retardant.
• Excellent abrasion and puncture resistance.
• High tensile and mechanical strengths.
• Good elongation for excellent conformability to irregular surfaces.
• Resistant to weathering, salt water, alkalis and acids.
• Inhibits corrosion of electrical conductors.
• Consistent electrical strength when wet.
• Compatible with all standard cable insulations.
• Compatible with epoxy and polyurethane resins.
• Meets BS 3924.
• UL Listed, UL 510 standard ‘insulating tape’ (product category OANZ) file E129200.
• CSA certification, standard C22.2 No. 197-M1983 ‘PVC insulating tape’, file LR48769.

Applications

• Primary electrical insulation for all wire and cable splices rated up to 600 volts and 105°C.
• Forms a protective abrasion resistant cover for high voltage cable joints and terminations.
• For fixed wire joints up to 1000V.
• For harnessing wires and cables.

Specifications
Product
The tape is based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and/or its copolymers and has a rubber-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive. The tape shall be 8.5 mils thick, and be UL Listed and marked per UL Standard 510 as “Flame Retardant, Cold and Weather Resistant”. The tape must be applicable at temperatures ranging from -18°C through 38°C (0°F through 100°F) without loss of physical properties. The tape shall be classified for use in both indoor and outdoor environments. The tape shall be compatible with synthetic cable insulations, jackets and splicing compounds. The tape will remain stable and will not telescope more than 0.1 inches when maintained at temperatures below 50°C (120°F).

Engineering/Architectural Specification
Primary electrical insulation (branch wiring in wet or dry locations): All splices for 600 volt wire rated 105°C (220°F) and below shall be insulated with a minimum of two half-lapped layers of Scotch Super 88 Vinyl Electrical Tape. All connectors having irregular surfaces shall be padded with Scotchfil Electrical Insulation Putty or Scotch 130C Rubber Splicing Tape prior to insulating with Scotch Super 88 Tape. Mechanical protection (outer jacketing): All rubber and thermoplastic insulating high voltage power cable tape splices and repairs shall be overwrapped with at least two half-lapped layers of Scotch Super 88 Vinyl Electrical Tape.

Installation Techniques
The tape shall be applied in half-lapped layers with sufficient tension to produce a uniform wind (for most applications this tension will reduce the tape’s width to approximately 5/8 of its original width). On pigtail splices, the tape shall be wrapped beyond the end of the wires and then folded back, leaving a protective cushion to resist cut-through. Wrap tape up-hill, taping from a small diameter surface to a larger diameter surface. Apply the tape with no tension on the last wrap to prevent flagging.

Maintenance
Scotch Super 88 Tape complies with the requirements of UL 510 for storage. When maintained under normal storage conditions the tape will remain stable and has a five year shelf-life.