Hook and Loop Fastener: Application and Benefits

Even if you don’t recognize the name, chances are you’re already very familiar with the hook and loop fastener. An alternative to Velcro®, Tape Jungle’s Hook & Loop Fastener, can be used to complete any number of projects or day-to-day tasks. Take a closer look at the hook and loop fastener and its various uses.

What Is a Hook and Loop Fastener?

Hook and loop fasteners have two parts. There are two solid pieces that are usually made of nylon but can also be made of polyester or Nomex, a flame-resistant material developed by DuPont.

Hook and loop fasteners come with a rough and soft side. The rough side, the hook side, is covered in small nylon or polyester hooks. These stiff, tiny hooks lock onto the loop (soft) side to create a fastener.

The hooks are created under infrared light to create the necessary stiffness for locking. The loop side is more pliable and is made from matted nylon fibers.

The Story Behind Hook and Loop Fasteners

If you look closely at the hooks on a hook and loop fastener, you might realize that this useful tool was inspired by nature. In 1941, a Swiss engineer named Georges de Mestral took his dog for a walk in the woods near his home. When he returned, he noticed burrs from a burdock plant stuck to his pants and his dog’s fur.

As an engineer, de Mestral was inquisitive by nature and decided to get a closer look at the burrs under a microscope. He noticed that the burrs were covered in small hooks that could latch onto materials like clothing or hair when people or animals walked by.

De Mestral spent the next several years inventing what we know today as the hook and loop fastener. He searched for the best materials to recreate the hook effect of the burrs, as well as developing the machinery that could mass-produce his invention. In 1955, he introduced his hook and loop system under the name Velcro®. It’s important to note that Velcro® is just the name of one brand, not the product itself. Just as not all tissue is Kleenex, not all hook and loop fasteners are Velcro®.

In the beginning, Georges de Mestral’s idea was to replace zippers with hook and loop fasteners on clothing. This idea didn’t take off, and it wasn’t until NASA started using this fastener in the 1960s that people began to realize its usefulness.

Different Styles of Hook and Loop Fasteners

Since a hook and loop fastener can be used for different applications, there are several styles available. The different shapes allow it to be placed on several materials and surfaces and can be customized to fit your project.

Solid Strips: Roll-Style Hook and Loop

One type of hook and loop fastener is the roll-style, sold in solid strips. This is the most common type due to its versatility. Tape Jungle’s hook and loop system is sold in two separate strips, so the hook and loop are not together. This is so you can measure the amount you need for each roll without wasting any of either.

For example, your project might require a longer hook strip than loop strip. Say you are attaching items like tools or remotes to a wall. You’ll need hook strips for the back of each tool, which could require a longer piece of the hook strip than the single loop strip you’ll attach to the wall.

Tape Jungle’s hook and loop fasteners are made from nylon yarns and are bound together with an acrylic binder coating. These strips come on rolls that are sold in three different widths for your convenience: three-fourths of an inch, one-inch, and two-inch rolls. Each roll is 25 yards long. They also come in two colors, either black or white. The adhesive is a very light, transparent yellow, so it’s not too noticeable.

The roll-style hook and loop fasteners can be straight-cut, or you can stick the two sides together and then cut them together for an accurate measurement.

The roll-style hook and loop fastener system can be sewn onto fabrics or applied to sturdy, rigid surfaces. The factory-applied, synthetic rubber-based adhesive works well on either of these surfaces and is latex-free. This style is also very flexible, so it's easy to adhere the strips to many surfaces.

Because of the size and construction of this hook and loop system, you’ll find that Tape Jungle’s product fits into small, tight spaces better than other brands. Less-pliable fasteners, like duct tape, ticker tape, or hook and loop brands, won’t attach and grip in the same spaces.

Round Fasteners: Coin-Style Hook and Loop

Another type of hook and loop fastener is the coin-style fastener. Instead of coming in long strips, these fasteners are small and round, just like a coin. Each piece measures three-fourths of an inch across and is quite versatile, given its smaller size and shape.

Like the roll-style fasteners, coin-style fasteners come with adhesive on the back so that you can stick them to many different surfaces. Unlike the roll-style, Tape Jungle’s coin-style fasteners only come in black.

One great thing about both styles is that they have a lower price point for the quantity than competing brands.

Key Features of Tape Jungle’s Hook and Loop Fasteners

Both styles of fasteners have many of the same key features:

• Peel strength at 180 degrees
• Initial tack: 31.4 pounds per inch width
• Complete cure: 41.5 pounds per inch width
• Holding power of 124 hours
• Recommended bonding time is between 24 to 30 hours
• Shear: 13 pounds per inch
• Peel: 20 ounces per inch
• Tensile: 60 pounds per inch

While hook and loop fasteners are quite sturdy, it’s important to remember that they can wear out over time. Debris, like hair, dirt, and fuzz, can wear away the hooks and loops.

How To Use It

To fasten the system, press the pressure-sensitive hook side against the loop side. To unfasten, all you have to do is pull them apart. This will create the iconic ripping noise that hook and loop fasteners are famous for.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive on the back of the strips and coins ensures that the hook and loop fastener can be used on many surfaces. Even so, Tape Jungle’s fastener is most reliable on PP and PE plastic material, injected material, and steel plates. It’s not recommended for use on PVC material or EVA foam.

Before using the hook and loop fastener, carefully clean the surface you’re applying it to. The area should be free from oil or other contaminants, like dust, powder, or release agents.

Measure out and cut the strips based on your project, and then make sure each side of the fastener is firmly attached before you press them together. Both sides should be left in place for the recommended bonding time.

This fastener has many practical uses around the house, and here are some of the best ways to use a hook and loop:

• Securing and wrapping cords and wires
• Hanging and organizing tools and remotes
• Mounting smoke detectors, nightlights, or battery-powered lights
• Hanging window coverings, screens, or curtain valances
• Securing cushions to both indoor and outdoor furniture
• Hanging pictures or wall decorations

On an industrial level, hook and loop fasteners are commonly used in several sectors. This fastener works well for securing materials like floor mats, carpets, and artificial turf to keep them from moving or sliding around.

Many companies turn to this fastener to attach signs to company vehicles or the outside of buildings. It can also be used to hang safety warnings around job sites to make workers aware of hazards.

Hook and loop fasteners are a top pick at trade shows, conventions, or other places where you might need to set up a display. The fasteners make it easy to change signs or banners in no time at all.

Some professionals might use hook and loop fasteners to secure their equipment, including photography equipment, industrial tools, and even automotive headliners.

Hook and loop fasteners are also important in the medical field to create items like braces for different parts of the body. In fact, this fastener was used during the first artificial heart surgery and continues to aid doctors and surgeons.

Tape Jungle’s Hook and Loop

Tape Jungle has a variety of adhesive tapes to fit just about any project. When it comes to the hook and loop, you can depend on it for small and large projects and in-home, professional, and industrial use.

Whether you choose roll-style or coin-style, Tape Jungle’s hook and loop fastener can see your project through.