Features of Copper Electrical Tape
- Conductive adhesive tape enables solder-free electrical connections.
- Effective EMI/RFI shielding and grounding.
- Deadsoft copper resists oxidation and discoloration.
- Flame-retardant, UL-listed, RoHS-compliant.
- Flexible and conformable for easy installation.
- Removable liner simplifies die-cut copper tape processing and handling.
- Withstands high temperatures, UV, and harsh environments.
Your Reliable Copper Electrical Tape Supplier
Copper foil tape, also known as copper electrical tape, is an industrial-grade EMI/RFI shielding and grounding material. It is suited for addressing electromagnetic interference issues in industries such as electronics manufacturing, telecommunications equipment, and automotive electronics. It is used in applications such as PCB shielding, cable wrapping, and shielded room seams, but is not intended for high-current applications. Before purchasing, please check the conductivity type, width, and UL/RoHS certifications.
GALLOP supplies flame-retardant and oxidation-resistant copper adhesive tape and offers custom copper foil tape die-cutting, slitting, and rapid prototyping to help you optimize your shielding solutions. We recommend that you verify the adhesive type and temperature resistance rating based on your specific application to minimize purchasing risks.
Highly conductive copper foil, acrylic conductive adhesive, flexible and conformable, easy die cutting, reliable point-to-point contact, solderable surface.
Conductive on top side only, non-conductive adhesive backing, ideal for surface contact without shorting, easy to apply, flexible, oxidation-resistant.
Conductive on both sides, conductive adhesive through tape, solder-free electrical connections, low contact resistance, strong grounding, EMI shielding.
Effective EMI/RFI suppression, excellent grounding path, conductive adhesive for low resistance, conformable to irregular surfaces, corrosion-resistant, suitable for cable wrapping and enclosure seaming.
UL 510 recognized, flame retardant, RoHS compliant, halogen-free option, reliable for safety-critical electronics, oxidation and discoloration resistant.
Product Specification
| Parameter | Specification |
| Backing Material | Copper Foil / Deadsoft Copper Foil |
| Adhesive | Conductive / Non-Conductive Acrylic Adhesive |
| Thickness | 1.5–3 mil (Typical: 2.6 mil / 0.066 mm) |
| Width | 6–500 mm; up to 24 in |
| Roll Length | Up to 50 m; Typical: 18 yd (16.5 m) |
| Surface Resistivity | 0.003–<0.005 Ω/sq |
| Through Resistance | <0.05 Ω |
| Adhesion Strength | 30–40 oz/in (Typical: 35 oz/in) |
| Tensile Strength | 25–40 lb/in |
| Operating Temperature | -30°C to 150°C |
| Shielding Effectiveness | >60 dB (30 MHz–1 GHz) |
| Dielectric Strength | >500 V/mil (Non-Conductive Adhesive) |
| Voltage Rating | 600 V (Dry Applications) |
| Flammability | UL 510 Option |
| Compliance | RoHS 2011/65/EU |
What is Copper Electrical Tape?
Conductive copper tape is actually a thin layer of copper foil with a conductive pressure-sensitive adhesive on the back. It is primarily used as an EMI shielding tape and RFI shielding tape for grounding and electrical bonding. There are two common types: double-sided conductive copper tape, with both sides conductive, and single-sided conductive copper tape, which only has a conductive copper surface. Its applications are mainly focused on PCB shielding, cable wrapping, and shielded room sealing.
It is not recommended for high currents, as the conductive adhesive has limited current-carrying capacity. Before purchasing, please clarify whether it is single- or double-sided, check if it is UL-listed, and confirm the width and die-cut dimensions. We offer flame-retardant options and support customization; we recommend that you first obtain a sample to test adhesion and temperature resistance before placing an order.
How Does Copper Electrical Tape Work?
Copper foil is naturally conductive. The conductive adhesive on the back contains conductive particles that reduce the resistance between the two contacting surfaces once the tape is applied. For example, along PCB edges, cable shields, or enclosure seams, it forms a low-impedance grounding path. This diverts EMI/RFI interference, keeping it out of the signal loop.
With double-sided conductive copper tape, the conductive adhesive also conducts current laterally. This allows for direct electrical continuity between the upper and lower contact surfaces; with single-sided tape, the adhesive side serves only to secure the tape, and current flows primarily along the copper surface. This type of tape is only suited for small signals and cannot handle high currents.
Copper Electrical Tape: Compliance & Quality Assurance
The compliance of our copper foil tape and conductive copper tape is managed in accordance with UL listing and RoHS requirements. As a supplier, GALLOP can provide UL certificates and RoHS test reports, as well as corresponding documentation for REACH, CMRT, and CA Prop 65. Flame-retardant models are certified under UL 510.
Regarding quality, our factory operates under ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 quality management systems. Our in-house laboratory directly tests peel adhesion, surface resistivity, and thermal cycling. We verify key parameters proactively, so you don’t have to wait to ask. This means you won’t need to spend much time verifying documentation during the procurement process. We still recommend that you request a first-article report for the initial order to cross-check your incoming material inspection standards against our data.
Applications of Copper Electrical Tape
Electronics Manufacturing
In the electronics manufacturing industry, copper tape for electronics plays a key role as PCBs and modules become denser and EMI defects on production lines become more common. Copper foil tape allows you to quickly add a ground path along the board edges or at connector locations, enabling you to verify the issue without modifying the layout. If your production line encounters widespread interference issues, use it first to pinpoint the source; this saves a significant amount of time over halting production to investigate.
Automotive Electronics
In this industry, copper foil tape is often used to wrap around the shielding layer of wiring harnesses or to seal gaps in control modules. Its flexibility allows it to adapt to curved surfaces. If your harness supplier’s shielding is inadequate, using this tape as a quick fix is far more practical than returning the entire batch for rework.
Telecommunications Equipment
Equipment such as base stations and routers features high-density RF boards that are highly sensitive to interference. Copper shielding tape is thin and can be applied to cavity seams or cable exits without taking up space. Applying it before certification can reduce radiation levels at many points that exceed standards, saving you time by avoiding structural redesigns.
Medical Devices
Copper foil tape can be used at enclosure seams or non-soldered connection points. It offers a clean installation and complies with RoHS requirements. If your medical product fails a preliminary scan, a quick tape test can help you identify which module is leaking, saving time.
Aerospace & Defense Electronics
Aerospace and defense equipment has stringent weight, space, and reliability requirements, so shielding solutions must not be too heavy or complex. Copper foil tape adds almost no weight and offers excellent flexibility. This makes it suited for wrapping around wire harnesses and sealing gaps in tight compartments.
Industrial Control Systems
In factory automation equipment, there are many sources of interference, such as PLCs, variable frequency drives, and power supplies. Copper foil tape can be applied to cabinet doors, baffles, or non-soldered metal parts to quickly establish a conductive path without altering the structure. Adding a strip of copper grounding tape to your factory automation equipment often allows you to quickly determine if there is a grounding issue, with very low investigation costs.
How to Choose Between Copper Electrical Tape and Aluminum Foil Tape?
Conductivity & Shielding Performance
Copper has higher electrical conductivity than aluminum and provides more stable shielding performance at high frequencies.
If your application has stringent requirements for EMI/RFI suppression, such as RF boards or precision medical equipment, copper foil tape is a more dependable choice. Aluminum foil has slightly weaker conductivity, yet it is sufficient for low-frequency and general industrial control applications, helping you keep costs down.
Corrosion & Oxidation Resistance
Copper is more prone to oxidation and discoloration, though this is mitigated in treated deadsoft copper. Aluminum comes with a natural aluminum oxide layer on its surface, providing decent corrosion resistance.
Regarding conductive contact points, the aluminum oxide layer may increase contact resistance. If your product will be exposed to humid or salt fog environments for extended periods, we recommend conducting a salt spray test before making a decision; don’t rely solely on the datasheet.
Solderability & Rework
Copper foil can be soldered, but aluminum foil generally cannot be soldered directly. If you need to connect the tape to a shield can or ground plane, copper is essential. Your engineering team will prefer copper foil tape during rework because it can be soldered and repaired, unlike aluminum foil, which must be replaced entirely, resulting in less flexibility.
Weight & Flexibility
Aluminum is both lighter and less expensive than copper. If your equipment is weight-sensitive, such as portable electronics or aerospace harnesses, aluminum foil tape may be a better choice.
Copper, though, is more flexible. It’s less likely to curl at the edges when applied to curved surfaces or wrapped around wire harnesses, resulting in higher installation efficiency. You’ll need to weigh the trade-off between weight and ease of installation.
Cost & BOM Impact
When purchasing in bulk, the unit price of aluminum foil tape is usually lower than that of copper. If shielding requirements aren’t critical, switching to aluminum can directly reduce your BOM cost. Yet copper offers better long-term stability and fewer post-sale issues. It’s wise to calculate the total cost of ownership rather than focusing solely on the purchase price.
Common thicknesses include 1.5 mil, 2.6 mil, 3 mil, and 5 mil. 2.6 mil is the most widely used; it’s suited for applying to the edges of PCBs, wrapping cables, and sealing gaps in enclosures, and it’s easy to die-cut.
If your project requires resistance to bending or abrasion, such as automotive wiring harnesses subjected to repeated vibration, choosing 3–5 mil will provide greater stability. Thinner foil fits snugly but tears easily; thicker foil is sturdier but may curl at the edges when applied to small curved surfaces. We recommend that you test 2.6 mil and 3 mil samples on actual surfaces and measure their peel adhesion.
It does have an effect, but not as much as you might think. The sheet resistance of 1 oz copper (1.4 mil) is about 0.5 mΩ/sq, while that of 2 oz (2.8 mil) is about 0.25 mΩ/sq; doubling the thickness halves the resistance. The problem, though, is that the contact resistance of the conductive adhesive is usually an order of magnitude higher than that of the copper foil itself. If the tape isn’t applied securely or the surface is oxidized, even thick copper won’t save the situation.
If your design requires low resistance, first verify the through-resistance of the conductive adhesive. Then consider the thickness. Many specifications list a surface resistivity of 0.003 ohm/sq, but the vertical resistance can reach 0.05 ohm, so you need to measure the actual value after application.
Conductive adhesive tape includes silver-plated copper or nickel particles, so the adhesive layer itself is conductive. When the top and bottom layers are bonded together, an electrical connection is established, with a through-resistance typically less than 0.1 ohm.
Non-conductive adhesive is a standard pressure-sensitive adhesive that serves only as a bonding agent. The copper foil side is conductive, and the adhesive side is insulating. If your purpose is simply to attach copper foil to the inner wall of a plastic enclosure for shielding, non-conductive adhesive is cheaper and sufficient. But if you need to connect two metal pieces or bond multiple layers to maintain electrical continuity, you must use conductive adhesive.
Single-sided conductive copper tape has only the copper foil side that is conductive, with the adhesive side being insulating. It is suited for application to plastic or insulated surfaces, where only the copper side needs to face outward to provide shielding.
Double-sided conductive copper tape has both the copper foil and the adhesive layer that are conductive. The two metal surfaces sandwiched in the middle can conduct electricity directly, or multiple layers can be overlapped to maintain electrical continuity. If your product requires a grounding bridge or needs to connect two shielded components, choose double-sided tape. If you’re simply applying it inside the enclosure to block interference, single-sided tape is more cost-effective and helps prevent accidental contact and short circuits on the reverse side.
Copper electrical tape usually features a conductive adhesive, is UL 510 flame-retardant certified, and clearly lists its surface resistivity and voltage rating; it is primarily used for EMI/RFI shielding and grounding.
Copper foil tape may be decorative copper foil. Its backing is non-conductive; it is thin, has no electrical specifications, and is even used in gardening to deter snails. If you need shielding and grounding, look for conductive adhesive + UL-listed + a 600V rating; don’t mistake it for craft copper tape.
