Duct tape vs. Masking tape, what’s the difference?

 Duct Tape:

Duct tape is a single-faced adhesive tape made of polyethylene (PE) laminated spun rayon cloth backing which is coated with rubber pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA). The surface of polyethylene (PE) is waterproof, and strong tensile strength.

Properties:
Very strong and aggressive, designed for long-lasting adhesion. Often leaves residue.
Very durable and strong.

Uses:
General repairs, especially in home improvement and maintenance.
Sealing, holding, and bundling, especially in demanding environments.

Advantages:
Extremely strong and versatile.
Waterproof, making it suitable for outdoor use.
Available in various grades suited for different durability needs.

Masking Tape：

And masking tape comes in a wide range of varieties - paper backing, plastic backing, metal backing, etc., with various types of adhesive depending on the process the tape must withstand. But ideally, that tape has clean removal properties as well, without leaving residue after it is taken off the substrate surface.

Masking tape, also known as painter's tape. Masking tape include various types backing and glue:
Cloth masking tape, paper masking tape, PE cloth masking tape.
Rubber glue, acrylic glue.

Cloth masking tape is a special duct tape with low adhesion. It can remove less adhesive residue and not damage the surface when it is removed.

Paper masking tape is a fine line painters tape. It is used for painter’s masking and creating intricate straight lines. After painting, it can be cleanly removed leaving a defined line with no adhesive residue.

PE cloth masking tape from Japan. It is a PE fabric based curing tape in Japan. The backing cloth is produced using flat silk woven fabric, making it easy to cut by hand.