Adhesive residue on the substrate surface generally indicates a cohesive failure and can be interpreted as low "inner strength" of the adhesive. In case of an adhesive failure, the "inner strength" of the adhesive is stronger than the adhesive bond with the surface, resulting in a clean surface without adhesive residue.

Depending on the application, cohesive or adhesive failure are in fact technical product features required for the specific task: For surface protection a clean removal (adhesive failure) is desirable, contrary to a security tape used for tamper evident carton closure, where adhesive residue on the surface (cohesive failure) points to unauthorised access.

Either failure mode may also indicate that the chosen tape doesn’t suit the application, or might be attributed to a product defect. Choosing the right adhesive tape that’s suitable to the required task is vital, and we’re here to help you.