What is Petrolatum tape used for?

As a well-known brand with a reputation for high-quality results, Jaybro's Petrolatum tape is a useful bit of kit to keep in your toolbox. This versatile tape is designed to help prevent corrosion on pipelines and can help create long term solutions as well as short-term fixes in a plumbing emergency. Let's take a look at the different uses for Denso tape, and how it can help your industry in those sticky situations.

What is Petrolatum tape?

Similar to Denso Tape, Petrolatum is a heavy-duty specialist tape that proactively works against the corrosion of pipelines. As a cold-applied tape, it is non-hardening and non-cracking. These properties mean it remains plastic without burning or freezing across a wide temperature range, making it incredibly versatile. On top of acting as a preventative measure, Denso tape is often used in emergency repairs to prevent leaks or extensive corrosive damage to surrounding structures.

What are its uses?

Primarily, this tape is used to prevent corrosion. The non-women synthetic fibre, coated in and saturated with petroleum hydrocarbons, makes it highly resistant to water, steam, and other gases. It can also prove productive in repelling mineral acids, salts, alkalis, and micro-organisms from causing damage to a structure. Due to its effectiveness creating a sealed barrier, Denso tape is suitable for both atmospheric uses of above-ground and underground piping using of buried utilities. The flexibility of the tape material makes it perfect for irregular shapes and profiles for easy application. Some of these areas may include:

• Valves and flanges
• Metal fittings
• Rods and cables
• Pipe couplings and weld joints
• Pipe couplings and bolted fittings

For the tape to provide the best protection, it must cover the entire surface. This technique helps to prevent other contaminants from causing damage in future.

Using the petrolatum tape

While petrolatum tapes are manufactured in a variety of strengths and temperature ranges, this guidance covers some general best practice for making the most out of your tape.

Step 1: Prepare the surface

While the tapes are very tolerant of moisture and materials, applying them to a clean, dry surface will offer the best results and superior adhesion. The first step is to remove any debris such as rust from the surface using a wire brush. Ideally, the pipe's body should be dry or cleaned using a specialist mariner primer. Once the surfaces are clean, you can apply the RAM primer to the metal. You can also use a RAM moulding mastic to create a smooth surface. Trapped air bubbles or wrinkles in the tape could decrease the effectiveness of its adhesion.

Step 2: Apply the tape

Create a streamlined contour with the petrolatum tape by wrapping it around its circumference. Depending on the size of the pipe, this may take two people to achieve the necessary smooth motions and appropriate tension. If you come to the end of a roll or the close of your section, then use a sharp utility knife to achieve a clean cut.

Step 3: Use an overwrap

Once the tape layer is covering the surface, use a RAM High-Temperature Outer Wrap for an extra layer of protection. This and rubberised outer layer is a pressure-sensitive adhesive and offers that final level of protection to your piping.

Relevant industries

Any industry that uses pipelines and plumbing could have use for petrolatum tape. In particular, the construction, engineering, and infrastructure industries are likely to use petrolatum tape, thanks to its versatility across a range of appliances. Other areas of use may include commercial and residential properties, particularly those looking to repair plumbing connections or the piping of a cooling tower. Denso tape also has a broad range of applications in the marine industry, thanks to its waterproofing and sealing properties that make it fantastic for under deck pipeline repairs.

Case study example

In a case study from Denso, states that in 2017 Sydney Water was looking to conduct remedial work on 90 meters of corroding steel piping. This water main and its supporting brackets say beneath Port Kembla used Denso's Petroleum Tape system due to the irregular shape of the structure. The contractor used Denso primer, profiling mastic, petrolatum, and outer wrap to protect the water mains from future corrosion successfully. As you can see, Petrolatum tape is a tried and tested tool that works effectively in tackling leaky and corroded pipework. While its use and strength will vary depending on the type of tape you use, Petrolatum tapes' usability on both prepared and non-prepared surfaces makes it an excellent addition to your toolkit. For more information about petrolatum tapes, or to order yours from Jaybro, get in touch with a member of our team today.