The Mylar may have paper on one or both sides and many thickness grades are available. Tear and puncture resistance are excellent and the thinner grades are easily cut with scissors. Laminates with thicker polyester centers are fashioned into insulating plates in many electro-mechanical devices. A typical application may be observed inside most older electrical timers where a printed and folded piece of laminated paper keeps the user's fingers away from the high voltage when adjusting the position of the on and off trippers. Thin sheets of epoxy-fiberglass usually green in color are commonly used for insulating PCB's and electronic assemblies with potentially sharp projections.
Puncture resistance is superb even for sheets thin enough to be quite flexible.
A simple clear polyester sheet is sometimes used for insulation but is offers far less puncture and temperature resistance than the laminates. Die-cut laminates look important and are easily printed. Vinyl tapes are commonly used for wire insulation and are available in all the colors necessary for color coding. Acetate tapes are used where good conformability is desired as when covering coils as is white cotton cloth tape. Kapton, Teflon, and other insulators from the above list are used to make high performance specialty tapes for harsh temperature or chemical environment.