3M 398FR Alternative — Polyken 296FR Cargo Compartment Tape

Direct specification comparison for aircraft cargo pit and cargo liner tape — 3M 398FR / 398FRP (3M 398) vs. Polyken 296FR — Boeing BMS 5-146, FAR 25.853(a), FAR 25.855(d), Airbus ABD0031

Want the short version? Read 3M 398FR vs Polyken 296FR: 7 Differences That Matter →

Polyken 296FR Flame Retardant Fiberglass Cargo Compartment Tape Our Product

Polyken 296FR

Berry Global / Covalence Specialty Adhesives — Bristol, RI

7-mil flame-retardant fiberglass cloth tape with bromide-free acrylic adhesive and LDPE film liner. Meets Boeing BMS 5-146 Rev B, Type I, Class 1, Grade A. Approved for Boeing 737, 747, 757, 767, 777 and Airbus ABD0031 cargo compartment applications. Repositionable with clean removal. Lot-specific COC included.

3M 398FR Flame Retardant Glass Cloth Cargo Compartment Tape
Available · 4–6 Week Lead

3M 398FR / 398FRP

3M Company — St. Paul, MN

7-mil flame-retardant glass cloth tape with acrylic adhesive and blue polyethylene film liner. The industry-reference cargo compartment tape, stocked at major aerospace distributors and used across commercial and military cargo bay applications worldwide. Available in printed (398FRP) and unprinted (398FR) versions.

Both are 7-mil fiberglass cloth tapes with acrylic adhesive meeting Boeing BMS 5-146 Type I, Class 1, Grade A for aircraft cargo compartment sealing. Polyken 296FR matches 3M 398FR across all critical specs and adds broader Boeing SL approval coverage, Airbus ABD0031 approval, significantly higher tensile strength (134 vs. ~80 lb/in), higher operating temperature (275°F vs. 250°F), and a bromide-free adhesive system with lot-specific COC documentation.

Overall comparison score

Polyken 296FR wins

11

categories

vs.

3M 398FR wins

3

categories

Full specifications comparison

Property Polyken 296FR 3M 398FR / 398FRP Advantage
Construction
Backing Fiberglass cloth Glass cloth (fiberglass) Tie
Total thickness 7.0 mil (0.178mm) 7.0 mil Tie
Adhesive type Bromide-free acrylic Acrylic Bromide-free
Liner type LDPE film Blue polyethylene film (skip-slit) 3M skip-slit
Color / print White printed or unprinted White — 398FR (unprinted), 398FRP (printed) Tie
Construction type Single-coated Single-coated Tie
Physical Properties
Tensile strength 134 lb/in (234.67 N/cm) ~80 lb/in (typical published) +68% stronger
Adhesion to steel 45 oz/in (4.92 N/cm) ~40–45 oz/in (typical) Comparable
Weight per square yard 6.8 oz/sq yd (210 g/m²) 6.8 oz/sq yd (210 g/m²) Tie
Operating temperature −40°F to 275°F (−40°C to 135°C) −20°F to 250°F (−29°C to 121°C) Wider range
Low temp rating −40°F −20°F 20°F colder
High temp rating 275°F (135°C) 250°F (121°C) 25°F higher
Conformability High — curves and corners High — curves and corners Tie
Repositionable Yes — clean removal Repositionable early; permanent bond over time Polyken 296FR
Flammability Performance
Burn length (FAR 25.853a) 0.39 in avg (3 specimens: 0.49, 0.29, 0.38) Pass — value not published Quantified data
Flame time (FAR 25.853a) 0 seconds avg (all 3 specimens) Pass — value not published Quantified data
Drip time (FAR 25.853a) 0 seconds avg (all 3 specimens) Pass — value not published Quantified data
Burn through (FAR 25.855d) 0 — No penetration (all 3 specimens) Pass — value not published Quantified data
After glow (FAR 25.855d) 0 seconds (all 3 specimens) Pass — value not published Quantified data
Total mass loss 0.36% (ASTM E595) Not published Outgassing data
Collected VCM 0.01% (ASTM E595) Not published Outgassing data
EU bromide compliance Bromide-free adhesive EU compliant per 2003/11/EC Both compliant
Packaging & Documentation
Standard sizes 1", 2", 3", 4" × 36 yd 1", 2", 3", 4" × 36 yd Tie
Lot-specific COC Yes — included Available on request Polyken 296FR
Shelf life 24 months from date of manufacture 24 months Tie
Availability at Skytapes In stock now 4–6 week lead time Polyken 296FR

Flammability test data — actual measured values (Polyken 296FR)

FAR 25.853(a) — Vertical Burn

Burn length (avg)0.39 in

Flame time (avg)0 sec

Drip time (avg)0 sec

3M 398FRPass only

FAR requirement: burn ≤8.0 in, flame ≤15 sec, drip <5 sec

FAR 25.855(d) — 45° Burn Test

Burn through (avg)0 — No penetration

Flame time (avg)0 sec

After glow (avg)0 sec

3M 398FRPass only

FAR requirement: no penetration, flame ≤1 sec, after glow ≤1 sec

Outgassing — ASTM E595

Total mass loss0.36%

Collected VCM0.01%

3M 398FRNot published

Relevant for sealed cabin environments and sensitive equipment

Certifications & approvals

Polyken 296FR

✓Boeing BMS 5-146 Rev B — Type I, Class 1, Grade A (lot COC included)

✓FAA FAR 25.853(a) — Vertical burn 0.39 in avg

✓FAA FAR 25.855(d) — 45° burn, no penetration

✓FAA FAR 25.856(a) — Radiant Heat Panel

✓Airbus ABD0031 — Para 7.3.2 & 7.4 Airbus approved

✓Boeing 737-SL-25-085-B

✓Boeing 737-SL-25-115-B

✓Boeing 747-SL-25-195-B

✓Boeing 767-SL-25-112-B

✓Boeing 777-SL-25-037-B

✓Bromide-free adhesive — EU compliant

✓ASTM E595 outgassing data published

3M 398FR / 398FRP

✓Boeing BMS 5-146 Type I, Class I, Grade A (can be qualified)

✓FAA FAR 25.853(a) — Pass

✓FAA FAR 25.855(d) — Pass

–FAR 25.856(a) — not listed

–Airbus ABD0031 — not listed

✓MIL A-3316C — 3.13.1 and 3.13.2

✓EU compliant per directive 2003/11/EC

✓ASTM D3758, D3652, D3330

–Boeing SL approvals — not individually listed

–ASTM E595 outgassing — not published

Where each product wins

Polyken 296FR advantages

  • Tensile strength 134 lb/in — approximately 68% stronger than typical 3M 398FR published values
  • Wider temperature range: −40°F to 275°F vs. −20°F to 250°F for 3M 398FR
  • Fully quantified flammability: 0.39 in burn length, 0-sec flame time, 0 drips, no burn through, 0-sec after glow — 3M 398FR publishes only "Pass"
  • ASTM E595 outgassing data published (0.36% TML, 0.01% VCM) — 3M 398FR does not publish
  • Airbus ABD0031 Para 7.3.2 & 7.4 approved — 3M 398FR does not list Airbus approval
  • Five Boeing SL approvals individually listed (737, 747, 757, 767, 777)
  • FAR 25.856(a) Radiant Heat Panel listed — 3M 398FR does not list this
  • Bromide-free adhesive system explicitly designated
  • Lot-specific Certificate of Compliance included with every order
  • Repositionable with clean removal for adjustment during installation
  • In stock at Skytapes for immediate shipment — 3M 398FR is a 4–6 week lead

3M 398FR advantages

  • Skip-slit blue PE liner for faster peel and easier application in the field
  • MIL A-3316C 3.13.1 and 3.13.2 listed — useful for military cargo aircraft programs
  • Printed version (398FRP) with application alignment markings available
  • Widely stocked at major aerospace distributors
  • Decades of field performance documentation across commercial aviation MRO

Which tape to specify

If your requirement is… Specify Reason
Airbus programs — ABD0031 Para 7.3.2 or 7.4 Polyken 296FR Polyken 296FR lists Airbus ABD0031 approval; 3M 398FR does not
Documented flammability values — not just "Pass" Polyken 296FR Full quantified data from lot COC: burn length, flame time, drip, burn through, after glow
ASTM E595 outgassing data required Polyken 296FR 0.36% TML, 0.01% VCM published; 3M 398FR does not publish outgassing data
Maximum tensile strength in cargo liner application Polyken 296FR 134 lb/in vs. ~80 lb/in typical for 3M 398FR — 68% stronger
High temperature applications above 250°F Polyken 296FR Rated to 275°F; 3M 398FR rated to 250°F maximum
Cold temperature below −20°F Polyken 296FR Rated to −40°F; 3M 398FR rated to −20°F minimum
FAR 25.856(a) Radiant Heat Panel compliance Polyken 296FR FAR 25.856(a) listed on Polyken 296FR; not listed on 3M 398FR
Needed now — no lead time Polyken 296FR Polyken 296FR in stock; 3M 398FR 4–6 week lead time
Lot-specific COC required with every order Polyken 296FR COC included standard; 3M 398FR COC available on request
Military cargo aircraft — MIL A-3316C 3M 398FR MIL A-3316C 3.13.1 and 3.13.2 listed on 3M 398FR; not listed on Polyken 296FR
Printed skip-slit liner for fast field application 3M 398FRP 3M 398FRP features printed skip-slit liner; Polyken 296FR uses standard LDPE liner

Polyken 296FR specifications from Berry Global product data sheet and lot Certificate of Compliance. 3M 398FR specifications from 3M product data; 3M values shown as typical. Always verify current approval status against the applicable Boeing BMS, Airbus ABD, or OEM specification revision in force at time of purchase.

Prefer a plain-English summary? Read the article: 3M 398FR vs Polyken 296FR →