Mother tape = The main tape. It’s the first tape you put the bulk crystal onto. We use the Greener tape for this. Senior grad students will head or supervise the production of these tapes with the more valuable materials to reduce waste. They are then stored on a cleaving board with petri dishes over them. Very rarely do we use these tapes for the actual exfoliation. Depending on the material these tapes can last for 1-6months~ if properly stored. Mother Tape Preparation
Daughter tape = The tape we pull from the mother tapes. The daughter tapes do not receive the bulk crystal directly – only from peeling off of the mother tape. We also use Greener tape for these. These are the tapes we use for the actual exfoliation. They are usually disposed of after one use. Please ask a senior grad student if you need a mother tape to pull a daughter tape from.
To pull a daughter tape: Cut a 5-10″ piece of tape (exact length is your choice) and fold in 1/4″ to 1/2″ in on each side to produce nonsticky thumb grips. Gently lay the stick side of the tape onto the mother tape. Now use a soft-bristled paintbrush to apply the tapes together. Pull the daughter tape off and you are ready to exfoliate.