Heat-sealed unnapped loop tape is a flat, non-brushed loop face bonded with hot-melt adhesive film. It is the low-profile member of the heat-sealed family: the surface stays tight instead of standing up in fibres, so the closure sits closer to the panel and does not shed.
Why choose an unnapped face
A napped loop is brushed so the fibres stand out to meet the hook. That gives a wide tolerance for misalignment, but it also builds height and releases fibre over time. An unnapped loop keeps its fibres laid flat: the profile is thinner, the face wipes clean, and there is no fuzz to migrate onto sensors, optics or a clean product surface.
The trade-off is alignment. An unnapped face engages over a smaller working range, so the hook has to land within the designed area rather than anywhere on the panel. Where the wearer cannot see the closure — a back brace, a seat cover — the napped version is the safer choice; see heat-sealed nylon loop fabric.
Bonding
The film is PUR-laminated to the loop and melted under heat and pressure, so the loop becomes part of the substrate rather than a stitched-on strip. Cotton, PU leather, neoprene and fabric all bond this way, with joint strength above 1.5 kgf/cm².
Process window
| Item | Value |
| Film thickness | 0.05 - 0.25 mm |
| Melting point | 90 °C |
| Bonding strength | >1.5 kgf/cm² |
| Service temperature | -40 °C to 80 °C |
| Hot press welding | 0.1 - 0.4 MPa, 120 - 160 °C |
| High-frequency welding | 0.1 - 0.4 MPa, 120 - 150 °C |
| Loop specification | 8 - 1500 mm, black / white / custom, shear ≥11 N/cm², 50 yd per roll |
FAQ
How much height does an unnapped face save? It sits flatter than a napped face of the same base, and the difference matters on thin panels and low-clearance assemblies. Send us the stack-up you are working to and we will quote against it.
Does it hold less than a napped loop? Peel is generally lower because fewer fibres are free to engage, which is why an unnapped loop is usually paired with a molded hook rather than a soft woven hook. Both meet the same shear specification.
Is it better in a dusty or clean environment? Yes in practice. A flat face wipes down and does not release fibre, which is why it is used near optics, sensors and clean handling areas.
Can it be die-cut into small pads? Yes, and the flat face cuts cleaner than a brushed one. Slitting and pre-cut panels run through the converting service.
