TUFFs vs hook-and-loop fasteners

It’s important to note that TUFFs are not conventional hook-and-loop fasteners. Although both are reclosable systems, they function differently:

• TUFFs (touch-activated ultra-thin film fasteners): designed as a tape, which grabs anchored open fibre and filament lengths from nonwoven fabrics or in specialty counterparts.
• Hook-and-loop fasteners: made from two separate components (i.e. one tape with extended hooks and one tape with woven durable loops) that work together.

When should you use SERFs versus hook-and-loop or contact closures?

The choice depends on the durability and strength of the closure you need:

Hook-and-loop fasteners:

• Ideal for temporary or repositionable durable applications
• Easy to use and engage/disengage hundreds to thousands of times
• Suitable for replacing closures like buttons, snaps and zips
• Can be washed in home or commercial laundry systems

TUFFs:

• Offer a limited number of engagement/disengagement cycles
• Designed for maximum shear performance
• Peel resistance is defined by how aggressively the engagement elements lock onto the free fibre or filament lengths
• Typically used in single-use applications for hygiene products with low peel performance and adhesive tape replacement in high-peel durable applications
• Can be recycled or incinerated at the end of the related product’s life cycle

Find the right fastener for your needs

Contact a Binder representative to discover the best fastener solution for your application.