Filament tape
Encyclopedia
Filament tape or strapping tape is a pressure sensitive tape
used for several packaging functions such as closing corrugated fiberboard boxes, reinforcing packages, bundling items, pallet
unitizing, etc. It consists of a pressure sensitive adhesive
coated onto a backing material which is usually a polypropylene
or polyester
film and fiberglass
filaments embedded to add high tensile strength. It was invented in 1946 by Cyrus W. Bemmels, a scientist working for Johnson and Johnson.
A variety of grades of filament tape are available. Some have as much as 300 pounds of tensile strength per inch of width. Different types and grades of adhesive are also available.
Most often, the tape is 12 mm (approx. 1/2 inch) to 24 mm (approx. 1 inch) wide, but it is also used in other widths.
A variety of strengths, calipers, and adhesive formulations are available.
Heavy loads or weak box construction may also be aided by the application of strips or bands of filament tape to the box.
: this allows the user to more efficiently place the tape on the box, cut it off, and rub it down.
Automated machinery for application of tape to high speed lines is also common.
backing with high strength in the long (machine) direction. Some of these have shaped filaments which help resist tearing across the tape. These tapes are sometimes used in a similar manner as filament reinforced tapes.
Some filament tapes (or strapping tapes) are sometimes used similarly to strapping
.
Pressure sensitive tape
Pressure-sensitive tape, known also in various countries as PSA tape, adhesive tape, self-stick tape, sticky tape, or just tape, is an adhesive tape that will stick with application pressure, without the need for solvent, heat, or water for activation...
used for several packaging functions such as closing corrugated fiberboard boxes, reinforcing packages, bundling items, pallet
Pallet
A pallet , sometimes called a skid, is a flat transport structure that supports goods in a stable fashion while being lifted by a forklift, pallet jack, front loader or other jacking device. A pallet is the structural foundation of a unit load which allows handling and storage efficiencies...
unitizing, etc. It consists of a pressure sensitive adhesive
Pressure sensitive adhesive
Pressure sensitive adhesive is adhesive which forms a bond when pressure is applied to marry the adhesive with the adherend...
coated onto a backing material which is usually a polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
or polyester
Polyester
Polyester is a category of polymers which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate...
film and fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
filaments embedded to add high tensile strength. It was invented in 1946 by Cyrus W. Bemmels, a scientist working for Johnson and Johnson.
A variety of grades of filament tape are available. Some have as much as 300 pounds of tensile strength per inch of width. Different types and grades of adhesive are also available.
Most often, the tape is 12 mm (approx. 1/2 inch) to 24 mm (approx. 1 inch) wide, but it is also used in other widths.
A variety of strengths, calipers, and adhesive formulations are available.
Uses
The tape is most often used as a closure for corrugated boxes such as a full overlap box, five panel folder, full telescope box. "L" shaped clips or strips are applied over the overlapping flap, extending 50 - 75 mm (2 - 3 inches) onto the box panels.Heavy loads or weak box construction may also be aided by the application of strips or bands of filament tape to the box.
Application
The tape can be applied manually with a stationary dispenser but is more often applied with a hand held tape dispenserTape dispenser
A tape dispenser is an object that holds a roll of tape and has a mechanism on one end to shear the tape. Dispensers vary widely based on the tape they dispense. Abundant and most common, clear tape dispensers are commonly made of plastic, and may be disposable...
: this allows the user to more efficiently place the tape on the box, cut it off, and rub it down.
Automated machinery for application of tape to high speed lines is also common.
Related products
Some PSA tapes are available which have a highly oriented polypropylenePolypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
backing with high strength in the long (machine) direction. Some of these have shaped filaments which help resist tearing across the tape. These tapes are sometimes used in a similar manner as filament reinforced tapes.
Some filament tapes (or strapping tapes) are sometimes used similarly to strapping
Strapping
Strapping, also known as bundling and banding, is the process of applying a strap to an item to combine, hold, reinforce, or fasten it. The strap may also be referred to as strapping...
.