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Protecting Leading Edges: The Greenwood Aerospace Guide to 3M Polyurethane Protective Tapes
We continue our series of articles on leading-edge protection through 3M polyurethane protective tapes. We’re going to take a look at why these tapes are a great way to protect the leading edges of wings, stabilizers, and rotors.
Leading-edge protection is an economically sound way to keep the parts of your aircraft that take a ton of abuse free from cracking, dents, and marring. Using sturdy acrylic adhesive, polyurethane protective tape offers protection from destructive ultraviolet light, resists punctures, and protects leading edges from erosion.
Let’s take a look at these tapes, and why they matter to you, and why you need to partner with Greenwood Aerospace for government procurement.
Why Leading Edge Protection Matters
The leading edges of control surfaces and lifting surfaces take a severe beating. From small birds and giant bugs to heavy rain, sand, grit, dirt, and debris, the leading edge of these surfaces gets relentlessly abused.
One of the most destructive phenomena is leading-edge erosion, and why it matters for aircraft, aerospace, and wind energy applications. This is mainly applicable to wind energy, where polyurethane tapes are frequently used on wind turbines, but the same thing happens on the leading edges of manned and unmanned aircraft, too.
Leading-edge damage is a serious thing. There is a high cost of erosion: repairs, downtime, and performance loss. The leading edge is a very specific shape that promotes optimal lift, and any damage to it reduces its efficiency. The cost of reshaping a leading edge is high — both monetarily and in man-hours — and will be avoided unless necessary, because it is costly and complicated; i.e., reskinning sheet-metal leading edges and extensive composite repairs.
3M polyurethane protective tape is the premium solution for leading-edge protection, although it certainly isn’t limited to that job. With widths ranging from just an inch to 48 inches, you can find a leading-edge tape for every application.
Understanding Leading Edge Erosion
What causes erosion? Airborne particles, rain, hail, UV exposure, dust, and all kinds of other random debris. Even that monster grasshopper on a hot summer day, or a swarm of cicadas, is enough to chip the paint. Once the paint is chipped, wind, blowing rain, and general use are enough to peel the leading edge away.
3M Polyurethane Protective Tape: Aerospace-Grade Performance
The best solution for leading-edge protection is surprisingly cheap and straightforward: tape. Of course, not just any tape. This is a specially constructed tape made from a tough thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer.
Pressure-sensitive acrylic adhesive provides a strong, solvent-resistant platform that holds up well over time and is tear- and puncture-resistant. 3M polyurethane tapes are made for permanent use and are fully paintable.
Comparing 3M Polyurethane Tape Variants
3M makes a complete line of polyurethane tapes made for leading edges, which we carry and distribute to government and military buyers. We are offering these through GSA Advantage to streamline procurement.
Technical Properties That Matter
These are the technical properties of polyurethane tapes used in the aerospace and related industries.
3M Polyurethane Protective Tape 8658DL
- Tape Thickness Without Liner: ~0.009 in (0.23 mm)
- Tensile Strength: 34 lb/in (583 N/100 mm)
- Elongation at Break: 500%
- Peel Adhesion: 86–99 oz/in, depending on substrate
- Hardness: Shore A 73
- Operating Temperature Range: Minimum installation temperature: -40°C (approx. -40°F). Maximum operating temperature: 82°C (180°F)
- Notable Feature: Transparent and flame-retardant, meeting 14 CFR 25.853 burn resistance standards. Ideal for aircraft interiors and floor panels where fire safety is mandatory
3M Polyurethane Protective Tape 8663/8663DL
- Tape Thickness Without Liner: ~0.018 in (0.46 mm) total
- Tensile Strength: 117 lb/in (2049 N/100 mm)
- Elongation at Break: 500%
- Peel Adhesion: 56–84 oz/in, depending on substrate
- Operating Temperature Range: -40°C to +82°C (-40°F to 180°F)
- Notable Feature: Tough, conformable tape that resists punctures, tearing, abrasion, and erosion. Excellent for aircraft floor covering, corrosion protection, and UV resistance in both indoor and outdoor environments
3M Polyurethane Protective Tape 8672
- Tape Thickness Without Liner: ~0.008 in (0.21 mm) total
- Tensile Strength: 40 lb/in (700 N/100 mm)
- Elongation at Break: 500%
- Peel Adhesion: 43–60 oz/in, depending on substrate
- Operating Temperature Range: up to 82°C (180°F)
- Notable Feature: Lightweight, paintable, and easy to apply. Best for general aerospace and industrial surface protection, where flexibility and conformability over curved surfaces are required
3M Polyurethane Protective Tape 8673/8673DL
- Tape Thickness Without Liner: ~0.014 in (0.36 mm) total
- Tensile Strength: 70 lb/in (1228 N/100 mm)
- Elongation at Break: 500%
- Peel Adhesion: 48–69 oz/in, depending on substrate
- Operating Temperature Range: up to 93°C (200°F)
- Notable Feature: Higher service temperature rating than 8672. Designed for erosion protection on unheated substrates. DL variant includes a top liner for wide-web installations
3M Polyurethane Protective Tape 8671/8671HS
- Tape Thickness Without Liner: ~0.014 in (0.35 mm) total
- Tensile Strength: 80 lb/in (1,401 N/100 mm)
- Elongation at Break: 500%
- Peel Adhesion: 52–100 oz/in, depending on substrate
- Operating Temperature Range: up to 82°C (180°F)
- Notable Feature: A widely recognized aerospace tape that provides premium leading-edge erosion protection for aircraft applications. Proven across multiple aircraft platform programs
3M Polyurethane Protective Tape 8681HS
- Tape Thickness Without Liner: ~0.014 in (0.36 mm) total
- Tensile Strength: 88 lb/in (1,540 N/100 mm)
- Elongation at Break: 500%
- Peel Adhesion: 52–135 oz/in, depending on substrate and coating
- Operating Temperature Range: up to 82°C (180°F)
- Notable Feature: High-strength polyurethane elastomer tape with excellent resistance to abrasion, scratches, and erosion. Qualified to military standards and available in multiple liner options, making it ideal for mission-critical aerospace and defense uses
Typical Properties Aircraft Maintenance Buyers Check
There are a few technical properties that aircraft mechanics have to know before any tape is applied to an aircraft:
- Tensile strength
- Tape thickness without liner (total thickness without liner imperial/metric)
- Minimum installation temperature (°C/°F)
- Maximum operating temperature (°C/°F)
- Minimum operating temperature (°C/°F)
We recommend you review the Technical Data Sheets for each of these products to ensure they meet your requirements.
Procurement Through Greenwood Aerospace
Greenwood Aerospace is your preferred government procurement partner for all 3M aerospace and aviation products. Greenwood Aerospace is a HUBZone-certified, Native American-owned small business. We can help you with bulk discounts and rapid fulfillment.
For any questions, expedited delivery requests, large order inquiries, or to confirm product availability, reach out to Greenwood Aerospace at gsasales@greenwood.aero or call us at 580-865-6000 or 833-GSA-EBUY (833-472-3289).
Final Thoughts: Protecting Leading Edges with Confidence
3M polyurethane elastomer tapes are designed to provide premium, leading-edge erosion protection under the world's worst conditions. They deliver reliability, longevity, and value while reducing maintenance costs, and they are a long-term solution that can be applied in the factory or by MROs and AOGs everywhere to make quick repairs for the long term.
Greenwood Aerospace is the procurement partner that reduces costs through bulk orders of all kinds of products —from sealants and tapes to Lycoming engines and non-aviation items for emergency responses, like bulk water and DUDE Wipes.
You can contact Greenwood Aerospace to source 3M polyurethane protective tapes today for your military or federal government flight ops, and we will get you a great price and unmatched service.
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