Introduction to Marine Reflective Tape
Marine reflective tape is a reflective material specially used for marine lifesaving equipment. It is a buried reflective tape with high refractive index glass beads as reflective units designed for harsh marine environments. Unlike conventional reflective tape, marine grade tape resists seawater corrosion, UV degradation and extreme temperatures while maintaining its long-term effectiveness.
Figure 1 Application of Marine Reflective Tape
The Importance of Using Marine Reflective Tape
The importance of using marine reflective tape cannot be overemphasized. It has gradually become an indispensable tool for improving maritime safety, mainly reflected in the following two aspects:
Enhance visibility in adverse conditions
Harsh weather such as nighttime or heavy rain and fog will increase the difficulty of navigation of ships.Marine reflective tape can help crew members better identify other ships, navigation marks and potential hazards, thereby reducing the risk of collision.
Assisting in search and rescue
If an accident unfortunately occurs, in the search and rescue operation, marine reflective tape can help search and rescue personnel lock the search and rescue area faster, greatly reducing the search and rescue time and increasing the chance of survival of missing persons at sea.
In short, marine reflective tape can significantly improve the visibility of objects or wearers in poor visibility environments at sea at night, prevent accidents, assist in search and rescue, and improve navigation in low light or bad weather conditions.
Figure 2 Marine Reflective Tape
Classification of marine reflective tape
Not all marine reflective tapes are the same. Only by choosing the right marine reflective tape can you maximize its advantages. Currently, YGM has three marine reflective tapes to choose from. All three are tailored for specific purposes and certified to meet the highest safety standards.
1.Self-adhesive marine reflective tape-YGM1100-TA (EC/CCS)
Certification: Italian Classification Society (RINA)/China Classification Society (CCS)
Certification number: ZG20PTB0035
Certification mode: Type approval + product testing + factory inspection
Application: Mainly used for lifeboats, life rafts, lifebuoys, thermal clothing, satellite emergency, radio position indicating beacons.
Figure 3 Self-adhesive marine reflective tape
2.Sewn marine reflective tape – YGM1100-TB (EC/CCS)
Certification: Italian Classification Society (RINA)/China Classification Society (CCS)
Certification number: ZG20PTB0035
Certification mode: Type approval + product testing + factory inspection
Application: Mainly used for life jackets.
Figure 4 Sewn marine reflective tape
3.Pressed marine reflective tape – YGM1100-TC (EC/CCS)
Certification: Italian Classification Society (RINA)/China Classification Society (CCS)
Certification number: MED285021WS (B), MED293021WS (D), SOLASYGM-1100-TC
Certification mode: Type approval + factory inspection
Application: Pressed reflective tape is mainly used for life-saving thermal clothing
Special note: YGM1100-TC (EC/CCS) is an original product of YGM, and currently only YGM is selling it.
Figure 5 Pressed marine reflective tape
In summary, self-adhesive reflective tapes offer convenience and versatility, sewn-on reflective tapes offer superior durability, and pressed-on reflective tapes offer a unique solution for thermal clothing. Please choose the marine reflective tape that best matches your needs.
Technical requirements for marine reflective tape
Due to the very special environment in which marine reflective tape is used, it must meet strict technical requirements to ensure its visibility, durability and safety in the marine environment. Below, we take a closer look at the 11 key technical requirements that marine reflective tape must meet:
| Anti-aging | After artificial accelerated aging, there is no obvious fading, cracking, blistering and dimensional change, and the retroreflective coefficient shall not be less than 80% of the standard |
| Seawater Resistant | After being soaked in seawater, the surface has no abnormality and the retroreflection coefficient shall not be less than 80% of the standard |
| Toughness | After 4 hours at -30℃, it is wound on a reel with a diameter of 3.2mm and there should be no cracks. |
| Tensile Strength | Type A is not less than 16N/25 mm. Type B is not less than 330N/25mm in the vertical direction and 200N/25mm in the horizontal direction. |
| Bond Strength | The back bonding strength of self-adhesive marine reflective tape should be no less than 16N/25mm |
| Pressure-resistant | After the reflective surfaces are stacked and pressed, there should be no signs of sticking or peeling on the surface. |
| Salt Spray Resistant | After being placed in salt spray for 120 hours, there should be no signs of corrosion or degradation, and the minimum retroreflection coefficient should not be lower than the standard value. |
| High and Low Temperature Resistance | After being exposed to 65℃ high temperature and -30℃ low temperature, there should be no obvious cracking or deformation, and the minimum retroreflective coefficient should not be lower than the standard value. |
| Mold Resistant | After being buried for 2 weeks under the specified mold conditions, the minimum retroreflection coefficient should not be lower than the standard value |
| Wear Resistance | After rubbing with a brush, the minimum retroreflection coefficient should not be less than 50% of the specified value. |
| Stain Resistance | After cleaning, there should be no visible damage or permanent dirt on the contaminated reflective film. |
Product Specifications and Packaging of Marine Reflective Tape
This section will detail the different product specifications and packaging methods of YGM Marine Reflective Tape.
- Product Specifications: Marine Reflective Tape is available in a variety of sizes to suit different applications. The following table lists the 12 available specifications:
| 5cm*50m | 5cm*10cm | 5cm*20cm | 5cm*10cm (Round Corners) |
| 2.5cm*50m | 5cm*15cm | 7cm*14.5cm | 5cm*15cm (Round Corners) |
| 5cm*30cm | 5cm*40cm | 10cm*15cm | 5cm*30cm (Round Corners) |
Packaging Method: YGM Marine Reflective Tape has two packaging methods to meet the needs of different users
① Cut Pieces
– Form: Cut into pieces of different sizes as listed in the product specifications.
– Packaging: 100 pieces per bag.
– Application: small-scale applications, repairs or projects that require minimal tape.
② Rolls
– Specifications: 5cm (width) * 50m (length) per roll.
– Packaging: Use carton packaging, one roll per box, 10 boxes per carton.
– Application: large projects, industrial use or applications that require continuous tape.
Figure 6 Packing of Marine Reflective Tape
Conclusion
This article discusses the importance of marine reflective tape in improving visibility and safety at sea. YGM marine reflective tape is introduced to you from different aspects such as product classification, product structure, product application, product specifications and packaging, hoping to give you a deeper understanding of marine reflective tape. Marine safety is of vital importance. Please incorporate marine reflective tape into marine equipment and ships to jointly protect marine safety.
——Eden
