Bond Breaker Tape - Polyethylene Tape for Joint Sealing

Overview

Bond Breaker Tape is a specialized construction product designed to prevent unwanted adhesion between sealants and joint substrates. It is a black self-adhesive polyethylene tape that serves a critical function in joint sealing applications by ensuring optimal sealant performance and movement accommodation.

Primary Function and Application

Purpose in Joint Sealing

Bond Breaker Tape stops joint sealants from adhering to surfaces, preventing "three-sided adhesion," which would severely limit the sealant's ability to accommodate movement. In joint sealing applications, the tape is applied to achieve two-sided adhesion — where the sealant adheres only to the opposite surfaces of the joint slot but not to its base.

Key Application Areas

The tape is used to isolate sealants from:

• Concrete substrates
• Metal surfaces
• Joint filler boards

Technical Specifications

Physical Characteristics

• Material Composition: Black self-adhesive polyethylene
• Key Property: Excellent conformability to irregular surfaces
• Adhesive Type: Self-adhesive (requires no additional adhesive application)

Available Width Variants

Bond Breaker Tape is supplied in 66-meter rolls in four standard widths:

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

Application Instructions

Surface Preparation

Before application, the joint surface must be thoroughly prepared:

• Clean the joint surface completely
• Remove all dust and other contaminants
• Ensure the surface is free from debris that could interfere with adhesion

Installation Method

To prevent the sealant from adhering to the base surface or filler board:

1. Apply Bond Breaker Tape along the whole width and length of the base of the joint
2. Position the tape to separate the sealant from the joint base
3. This ensures the sealant maintains two-sided adhesion only — contacting the opposite joint surfaces while remaining unbonded at the base

Joint Configuration

In a typical joint configuration:

• Sealant should adhere to both opposite surfaces of the sealant slot
• Sealant should NOT adhere to the base (joint base surface)
• This two-sided adhesion pattern optimizes sealant performance and movement capacity

Storage Requirements

Store Bond Breaker Tape in cool, dry conditions to maintain product quality and adhesive properties throughout its shelf life.

Advantages

• Self-adhesive application — no primers or additional adhesives required
• Excellent conformability — adapts to irregular joint surfaces
• Prevents movement limitations — enables sealants to properly accommodate stress and joint movement
• Simple installation — straightforward application process
• Multiple width options — available in various sizes for different joint configurations

Related Products and Systems

Bond Breaker Tape is commonly used in conjunction with:

• Nitoseal MS250 — elastomeric sealant with polyethylene bond breaker tape in shallow joints
• Nitoseal MS400 — alternative sealant option using self-adhesive polyethylene tape
• Nitoseal PU250 — polyurethane sealant requiring bond breaker in all joints
• Flamex XT — fire-rated sealant using polyethylene tape as bond breaker in shallow joints

Alternative Bond Breaking Methods

For deeper joints, alternatives to Bond Breaker Tape include:

• Expandafoam Backing Rod — for deep joint applications
• Hydrocell — expansion joint filler that eliminates need for bond breaker strips

Performance Benefits

The use of Bond Breaker Tape provides:

• Optimum sealant performance — by preventing three-sided adhesion
• Enhanced movement accommodation — allows sealants to compress and extend freely
• Structural integrity — maintains proper stress distribution in joints
• Durability — supports long-term performance of joint sealing systems

References

• [1] Fosroc_Nitoproof_210_TDS.pdf
• [2] Bond_Breaker_Tape_TDS.pdf
• [5] Fosroc_Nitoseal_PU250_TDS.pdf
• [8] Fosroc_Nitoseal_MS250_TDS.pdf
• [10] Fosroc_Flamex_XT_TDS.pdf