Difficulty Removing Plastic Backing From Tie Gum & Cover Stock

When trying to remove the plastic (poly) backing from certain grades of tie gum and cover stocks, primarily grades EP and B, you may find it more difficult than MSHA or Grade II materials. This is because EPDM and butyl polymers have a similar chemistry to polyethylene, the plastic backing used as a separator in the manufacturing and storage of these materials, and are therefore are attracted to each other. We are making efforts to alleviate this issue with subtle adjustments to our manufacturing process. In the meantime a short term solution is as follows.

The Fix:

For splicers in the field, the best short term solution to this issue is to refrigerate or freeze the rolls for 2-24 hours. Just prior to leaving for the job-site, remove the backing while the rolls are still cold. Then lay the rubber back onto the poly and roll them up. The rubber will not stick to the poly now because the pressure used in the manufacturing process is not being employed.

We at Blair Rubber thank you for your patronage and welcome your questions and comments. We will do whatever we can to make using Blair Rubber products a positive experience for our clients and yours.