this post was submitted on 04 Nov 2024
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Yup, it's just aluminum foil with an adhesive.
Worked in an mro so mostly was removing speed tape, but occasionally we would send a bird out of a heavy check with speed tape on.
So it’s the same tape used for ductwork?
What purpose does it serve in this case?
My understanding for hvac ducting is that it…. Stays on forever? Probably the metal layer prevents the adhesive from breaking down..? Actually I have no idea..
To the internet I go!
No it's not at all.
It's literally an aluminum sheet, it will slice your hand open.
One of the most common uses is when you remove something like a fairing or a panel, to access something else, when you put the panel back on there are gaps between them. They are not structural, but it does hurt the aerodynamics of the plane, affecting the fuel mileage and cosmetics.
The solution is sealant in the panel gaps, this helps prevent moisture from seeping, and improves aerodynamics.
The issue is that the sealant takes a long time to cure properly, and when it isn't fully cured, it will splatter everywhere (I've seen this happen). A common scenario as an example is, putting the final panels back on after an inspection, it's nighttime in the winter, the sealant isn't curing, instead of the plane sitting idle for 48 hours while sealant cures, you can just put speed tape over it, the tape holds the sealant in place while it cures and then mechanics can take the tape of after it's fully cured.
There is an issue with the paint. It is not adhering properly.
The paint normally provides UV protection to the carbon fiber reinforced polymer wings. With the paint flaking off, the tape is here to provide UV protection to the CFRP.
Please bring us your findings!
So I looked.
The long and short of it is that HVAC tape has stronger and more temp resistant (see also: gooey) adhesives. The foil or composite layer on the outside does act to protect the adhesive, but it also serves to create an impenetrable barrier for moisture and air that is rigid and not prone to flex with increased air movement. This is valuable in systems that create a mild vacuum when kicking on, or where the air being pushed could create holes for air to move through.
It’s sort of not “one reason”, but a handful of reasons that work in tandem.
No idea what purpose it serves on an airplane tho.
It's used for very minor repairs, in this case, a more permanent repair is under the tape, but is likely curing, so they slap some speed tape on it.
Speed tape never holds anything down, it's just used to smooth over a surface, to allow better air flow.
Whatever is being covered by the speed tape will likely see more attention from maintenance later.
https://www.salon.com/2011/10/27/ryanair_duct_tape_controversy/
This extensive, it's almost certainly just paint flaking off. Carbon fiber wings need UV protection which is normally provided by the paint. The tape is just shading the carbon fiber wing panels from the sun.