If you've ever spilled a glass of water on a roll of Scotch tape, you know that many tapes lose their stickiness when they get wet. Water-activated tape, however, is unique because its adhesive is only activated by water. When the adhesive on water-activated tape is moistened, it bonds to whatever surface it is applied to. If you apply water-activated tape to a box and the box later winds up stuck in the rain, you can rest assured that the adhesive will remain intact.

Self-fusing rubber tape, also known as self-vulcanizing tape, is made from a specialized rubber material that adheres to itself when stretched and wrapped around an object. Unlike traditional tapes, which rely on adhesive to stick to surfaces, self-fusing tape bonds through a process called vulcanization. This means that when the tape is applied under tension, the molecules of the rubber intermingle and create a solid, impermeable layer that is both waterproof and electrically insulating.