Bond Breaker Tape - Technical Details, Specifications, and Features

Overview

Bond Breaker Tape is a black self-adhesive polyethylene tape designed to isolate sealants from concrete surfaces, metals, and joint filler boards in construction applications. The tape serves a critical function in joint sealing by preventing unwanted adhesion and enabling sealants to accommodate structural movement effectively.

Primary Function and Purpose

Bond Breaker Tape is used to eliminate "3-sided adhesion" in joint sealing applications. In typical joints, sealants should adhere only to the two opposite surfaces of the joint slot (two-sided adhesion) while remaining unattached to the joint base. Bond Breaker Tape prevents sealant contact with the base surface or filler board, allowing sealants to:

• Flex and respond to structural movement without compromising integrity
• Accommodate expansion and contraction in joints
• Optimize performance by reducing stress concentration

Material Composition

Bond Breaker Tape is constructed from:

• Primary material: Self-adhesive polyethylene
• Key property: Black colored for easy visibility during installation
• Adhesive backing: Self-adhesive for direct application to joint surfaces

Specifications and Dimensions

Available Widths

Bond Breaker Tape is supplied in 66-meter rolls with the following width options:

Width	Product Code
15 mm	FC071061-UNIT
20 mm	FC071062-UNIT
25 mm	FC071063-UNIT
50 mm	FC071064-UNIT

Application Widths by Use

• Over cracks: 50 mm wide polyethylene tape
• Over coving details: Greater than 12 mm wide polyethylene bond breaker tape
• Over movement joints: 12 mm widths over coving details
• Adjacent to concrete areas: Maximum width of 25 mm to provide increased unbonded width and greater movement potential

Performance Characteristics

Conformability

Bond Breaker Tape exhibits excellent conformability to irregular surfaces, allowing it to adapt to uneven substrate conditions without gaps or bubbles that could compromise effectiveness.

Surface Isolation Capability

The tape effectively isolates sealants from:

• Concrete surfaces
• Metals (aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized metals)
• Joint filler boards
• Other substrate surfaces

Application Instructions

Surface Preparation

Before applying Bond Breaker Tape:

1. Clean joint surfaces thoroughly to remove all dust and contaminants
2. Ensure surfaces are dry and free of debris
3. Verify substrate is suitable for tape adhesion

Installation Procedure

Bond Breaker Tape should be applied:

• Along the whole width and length of the base of the joint
• In a continuous application without gaps
• Ensuring proper contact with the substrate surface

The tape prevents sealants from adhering to the base surface or filler board, creating the optimal two-sided adhesion condition for sealant performance.

Integration with Sealant Systems

Bond Breaker Tape is used in conjunction with multiple sealant products:

• Nitoseal MS250: Self-adhesive polyethylene bond breaker tape recommended for shallow joints
• Nitoseal MS400: Self-adhesive polyethylene bond breaker tape for shallow joint applications
• Nitoseal PU250: Bond breaker tape required in all joints to prevent sealant contact with the joint back
• Nitoseal PU400: Bond breaker material required during application
• Flamex XT: Self-adhesive polyethylene tape used as bond breaker in shallow joints

Usage in Waterproofing Applications

Crack Treatment

• 50 mm wide polyethylene tape is placed over cracks larger than 2 mm
• Pre-treatment is applied before membrane application (Nitoproof 310, Nitoproof 410, Nitoproof 750, Nitoproof 810, Nitoproof 910)

Movement Joint Treatment

• Applied over movement joints to prevent adhesion between sealant beads and the joint base
• Used in conjunction with polyurethane sealants
• Supports proper joint flexibility and movement accommodation

Coving Details

• Greater than 12 mm wide polyethylene bond breaker tape is placed over sealant beads
• Forms rounded corners at right-angle bends in waterproofing applications

Storage Requirements

Bond Breaker Tape should be stored in:

• Cool, dry conditions
• Original packaging (when not in use)
• Protected from moisture and UV exposure

Key Advantages

• Self-adhesive: No additional adhesive required for installation
• Flexible: Conforms easily to irregular surfaces
• Durable: Maintains performance throughout membrane life
• Cost-effective: Prevents costly sealant failures by ensuring proper adhesion patterns
• Ease of application: Straightforward installation procedure
• Visible: Black color allows easy identification during installation

Summary

Bond Breaker Tape is an essential component of modern joint sealing systems, providing reliable isolation of sealants from substrate surfaces. Its self-adhesive polyethylene construction, combined with availability in multiple widths and excellent conformability, makes it suitable for a wide range of construction applications where controlled sealant adhesion and movement accommodation are required.

References

• [1] Fosroc_Nitoproof_310_TDS.pdf
• [3] Fosroc_Nitoseal_PU250_TDS.pdf
• [9] Bond_Breaker_Tape_TDS.pdf