Last updated: September 2026
Heat seal tape (also called heat sealer tape, Teflon heat sealing tape, or heat seal Teflon tape) is a PTFE coated tape made from glass fabric, applied to the sealing jaws of packaging machines to prevent plastic film from sticking during the heat sealing process. Also known as PTFE adhesive tape, this product is supplied by GORTEF in industrial-grade custom widths cut from 1000mm rolls, in 30-metre lengths, with high-temperature silicone adhesive rated to +260°C.
Available as self-wound rolls or with a yellow peel-off release liner, our tapes are engineered for impulse sealers, L-bar sealers, form-fill-seal machines, side sealers, and blister packaging equipment used across Australia and New Zealand.
Looking for impulse-sealer tape with an adhesive-free centre? See our Zone Tapes. For endless seamless bands or belts, see Heat Sealing Bands and Heat Sealing Belts.
Tape is cut to your sealing jaw width from 1000 mm master rolls.
GORTEF's PTFE Heat Sealing Tapes
What Is Heat Seal Tape?
Heat seal tape: also widely known as Teflon tape for heat sealers, is a pressure-sensitive adhesive tape made from PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coated glass fibre fabric. It is applied directly onto the heated sealing jaws or bars of packaging machinery. The PTFE surface creates a non-stick barrier between the hot metal jaw and the plastic film being sealed, ensuring clean, consistent seals without the film melting onto the machine.
Without Teflon tape on the sealing jaws, plastic packaging film would stick to the sealing bars, causing production stoppages, wasted materials, and inconsistent seal quality. Replacing worn PTFE tape is one of the most common maintenance tasks in any packaging operation.
Types of PTFE Tapes for Heat Sealing
GORTEF supplies PTFE tapes in several thicknesses to suit different sealing requirements. The right choice depends on your machine type, operating temperature, and how frequently you run production cycles.
| Product | Backing Thickness | Total Thickness | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCG003AD (3 thou) | 0.075 mm | 0.125 mm | Impulse sealers, light-duty machines where flexibility and close jaw contact are needed |
| TCG005AD (5 thou) | 0.130 mm | 0.180 mm | General-purpose: L-bar sealers, form-fill-seal, side sealers. Most popular thickness |
| TCG010AD (10 thou) | 0.250 mm | 0.300 mm | Heavy-duty applications, hot bar sealers, and machines with high jaw pressure |
All tapes are supplied in standard 1000mm widths and custom-cut to your required dimensions. For food manufacturing environments where contamination traceability is critical, see our metal detectable PTFE tapes.
How to Choose the Right Heat Sealer Tape
Selecting the correct Teflon tape (PTFE tape) for your heat sealer depends on four key factors:
1. Machine Type
Impulse sealers typically need thinner tape (3 thou) for maximum heat transfer and jaw flexibility. Continuous band sealers and L-bar sealers work best with 5 thou tape. Heavy-duty hot bar sealers benefit from the extra durability of 10 thou tape.
2. Operating Temperature
All GORTEF PTFE tapes are rated from -73°C to +260°C continuous operating temperature. For most packaging applications (sealing polyethylene, polypropylene, or PVC film), standard tapes are suitable. If your process exceeds 260°C, contact us for specialist recommendations.
3. Production Volume
High-speed production lines with thousands of cycles per shift should consider 5 thou or 10 thou tape for longer service life. Lower-volume operations can use 3 thou tape to maximise heat transfer efficiency.
4. Film Material Being Sealed
Thicker packaging films or multi-layer laminates require higher sealing temperatures, which accelerate tape wear. Thicker tape provides better durability in these conditions. If you are sealing foil-laminated packaging, see our guide on packaging machine PTFE applications.
Where to Buy Heat Sealer Tape in Australia
Industrial heat sealer tape is not stocked at hardware retailers, it must be sourced from a specialist Teflon tape supplier. GORTEF is an Australian PTFE tape supplier delivering custom-cut PTFE tape across Australia and New Zealand. For a full breakdown of how to choose a supplier and what specifications to compare, see our guide: Teflon tape supplier in Australia, where to buy industrial PTFE tape.
Industries That Use Heat Seal Tape
PTFE tape (Teflon tape) is used across any industry that packages products in sealed plastic film or pouches. The most common heat sealing tape applications include:
- Food and beverage packaging, snack bags, frozen food pouches, fresh produce wrapping, meat trays
- Pharmaceutical and medical packaging: blister packs, sterile pouches, foil-sealed bottles
- Consumer goods: shrink wrapping electronics, bundling multipacks, retail packaging
- Textile and garment, heat-sealed poly bags for clothing, linen, and bedding
- Industrial and logistics: pallet wrapping, large-format bag sealing, courier satchels
What to Measure Before You Order
Every roll is slit to your machine, so a quote needs four things. Take them off the machine rather than the old roll, which will have stretched and frayed in service:
- Jaw or bar length: the heated length end to end, plus 5 to 10mm at each end for the overhang.
- Tape width: the width of the face the tape covers. We slit to any width from a 1000mm roll, so it does not have to match a standard size.
- Thickness: 3 thou for impulse and L-bar sealers, 5 thou for continuous duty, 10 thou where the bar is worn or the tape carries a load. Send a photo of the bar if you are unsure.
- Machine make and model: lets us cross-check the tape against what that machine normally runs.
Fitting is a ten minute job on most machines. Our walkthrough covers impulse, L-bar, flow wrapper and tray sealer jaws: How to Replace Heat Sealer Tape. For replacement intervals, see How Often to Change Heat Seal Tape.
Heat Sealer Tape: Common Names
The same product is searched for under many names. GORTEF's PTFE heat seal tape is the answer for all of these:
- Heat sealer tape / heat sealer teflon tape / heat sealer-teflon coated tapes
- Teflon tape for heat sealer / teflon heat sealer tape / sealer teflon tape
- Heat seal tape / heat seal teflon tape / heat sealing tape / teflon heat sealing tape
- PTFE tape / PTFE tapes / PTFE adhesive tape / PTFE coated tape / teflon adhesive tape
- Impulse sealer tape, L-bar sealer tape, vacuum sealer tape, jaw tape, sealing bar tape
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no fixed schedule. Replacement depends on your operating temperature, cycle rate, and the material being sealed. Inspect tape regularly for discolouration, adhesive breakdown, fraying, or inconsistent seals. High-volume lines typically replace tape every 1–4 weeks, while lower-volume operations may go several months between changes.
For most packaging machines, 5 thou (0.13mm backing) is the standard choice. Use 3 thou for impulse sealers needing maximum flexibility, or 10 thou for heavy-duty hot bar sealers with high jaw pressure. When in doubt, 5 thou is the safest general-purpose option.
GORTEF PTFE tapes operate continuously from -73°C to +260°C, and the high-temperature silicone adhesive is rated for the same range, which covers standard heat sealing temperatures. One documented exception: on a bare copper, brass or iron jaw held at 150 to 250°C for hours, silicone adhesive can split when the tape is peeled off and leave residue to clean off at each tape change.
Yes. PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is the chemical name for the material. Teflon is a brand name originally trademarked by DuPont. Industrial PTFE tape and Teflon tape for heat sealers are the same product. Note: this is different from plumber’s Teflon tape, which is thin uncoated PTFE film used on pipe threads.
GORTEF supplies PTFE heat sealing tapes directly to businesses across Australia and New Zealand. We cut tapes to custom widths from our Melbourne warehouse and ship nationwide. Contact us for pricing and lead times, or to request a sample.
Yes. PTFE is FDA-approved for food contact and is widely used on packaging machines in food manufacturing. For environments where contamination traceability is required (HACCP compliance), consider our metal detectable PTFE tapes which can be identified by inline metal detectors if a piece breaks loose.
3 thou (TCG003AD, 0.125 mm total thickness) is the best choice for most impulse sealers. The thinner backing gives maximum heat transfer and lets the tape flex tightly around narrow sealing wires and jaws. If your impulse sealer runs high cycle volumes or seals thicker film, 5 thou (TCG005AD) offers longer service life at the cost of slightly slower heat-up.
Service life depends on operating temperature, cycle rate, and the film being sealed. High-volume packaging lines (500+ cycles per day) typically replace tape every 1–2 weeks, medium-volume operations every 2–6 weeks, and low-volume or intermittent sealers can run several months. Replace the tape as soon as you see discolouration, fraying, adhesive breakdown, or inconsistent seals.
Yes. All GORTEF PTFE tapes are cut to your required width from 1000 mm master rolls, in 30-metre lengths. Tell us the exact width your sealing jaw or bar needs and we will slit the tape to match, so there is no need to trim it yourself. Contact us with your machine type and jaw dimensions for a quote.
Learn More
- How Often to Change Heat Seal Tape: Signs of wear and maintenance tips
- PTFE Tape Surface Compatibility Checker: Will the tape stick to your jaw or part?
- What Is Teflon Tape?: Industrial vs plumber's tape explained
- What Is PTFE?: The material science behind heat seal tape
- Packaging Industry Applications: PTFE solutions by machine type
