Filament tape, alternatively known as strapping tape or reinforced tape, is one of the strongest types of adhesive tapes available in the market. The reason for its being so strong is due to its characteristic of having filaments in it – made out of fiberglass, polyester, or polypropylene – that run along the entire backing, making it extremely tensile and strong. This blog post will shed light on what filament tape is, how it is manufactured, and its various applications.
What is Filament Tape?
Filament tape refers to the adhesive tape having its adhesive layer fortified with strong longitudinal fibers which include mostly fiberglass fibers, in a base made from polypropylene or polyester films. It is this fortification that ensures the tape is able to bear load and resist tearing, elongation, and splitting despite any mechanical stress that may be exerted on it.
The tape typically consists of three layers:
- Backing — Biaxially-oriented Polypropylene (BOPP) or Polyester, which gives the film some degree of flexibility and serves as a support for the adhesive
- Reinforcement Fibers — Fiberglass, Polyester, or Polypropylene fibers running in a longitudinal direction (or even crossed to add more strength), giving the tape great tensile strength
- Adhesive layer — Synthetic rubber resin or Hot-melt adhesive, which provides instant adhesion to such surfaces as cardboard, plastic, metal, etc.
Since fiberglass fibers have the best strength/weight ratio compared to all other materials for reinforcements, they are chosen for demanding applications, just as in the case of fiberglass yarn and fiberglass cloth that are used in the manufacturing of industrial insulation.
Key Properties That Make Filament Tape Useful
- Strength against tensile force — Certain kinds of reinforced tapes can resist up to 600 pounds of tensile force per inch in width
- Resistance against tear and split — The fibers prevent tearing of the tape along its length
- Adhesive property — Sticks very well on corrugated fiberboard, plastics, metals, and woods
- Lack of elasticity — Does not stretch easily under tensile force, which keeps the bundled items together
- Stability under different temperature conditions — Various kinds of reinforced tape perform well under different conditions
- Substitute for metal straps — As strong as metal straps but lighter and cheaper than plastic or metal straps
Major Uses of Filament Tape
1. Carton and Box Sealing
Sealing of heavy duty corrugated boxes with filament tape is one of the common applications. This tape is necessary due to the fact that normal packing tape does not have the required strength to seal boxes with heavy loads. Filament tapes are mostly preferred when sealing full overlap boxes, five panel folders and telescoping boxes.
2. Pallet Unitizing and Load Securing
For warehouses and logistic firms, filament tape is utilized in the unitization of pallets through securing a number of boxes/items into one load for transportation and storage purposes. This is due to its high tensile strength and inability to stretch out.
3. Bundling Pipes, Rods, and Long Materials
Filament tape is commonly employed in the bundling of long objects like pipes, rods, tubing, and lumber. The tape does not tear easily because of its resistance to tear in its longitudinal direction, and it keeps a strong bond between the objects.
4. Reinforcing Weak or Overloaded Packaging
If the weight of a carton or packaging is more than what the structure can handle, strips or strips of filament tape are used to strengthen fragile areas and to make sure that the carton doesn’t break during transportation or handling. This is a standard procedure in industrial or export packaging, where the carton has to be reinforced without changing the packaging system entirely.
5. Replacing Metal or Plastic Strapping
In cases where there is the need for light to moderate duty, filament tape may be used as a cheaper, safer and easier option than metal or plastic straps. The advantage of filament tape is that it lacks sharp edges and does not require tensioning equipment.
6. Electrical and Industrial Reinforcement Applications
Apart from their use in packaging, fiberglass reinforced tapes have applications in both the electrical and industrial manufacturing industries in cases where a great deal of tensile strength and temperature stability is required for wrapping, binding, and reinforcement of the various parts of machines. Harnawa Insulations produces Polyester Resin Fiberglass Tape which is a kind of Insulation Tapes High Temprature made specifically for use in electrical insulation. It can be used in situations like coil binding, motor windings, transformer windings, and cable harnessing; basically, just like the filament tape for packaging.
7. Manufacturing and Assembly Line Applications
Filament tapes are useful in manufacturing applications because they can be used to fasten parts together temporarily while assembling the components, tie wire harnesses, and hold parts together until they can be fastened firmly. These tapes can survive mechanical stresses well, hence making them appropriate for use in manufacturing settings.
8. E-commerce and Shipping Operations
Due to the increased prevalence of e-commerce and shipment of high value and heavy products through online transactions, filament tapes have become a necessity for companies that ship such products.
Filament Tape vs. Regular Packing Tape
| Feature | Filament Tape | Regular Packing Tape |
| Tensile Strength | Very high (reinforced with filaments) | Moderate |
| Tear Resistance | Excellent along the length | Limited |
| Best Use Case | Heavy loads, bundling, pallet unitizing | Light box sealing |
| Cost | Slightly higher | Lower |
| Stretch/Elongation | Minimal | Higher |
Industries That Rely on Filament Tape
- Logistics and Warehousing
- Online shopping and shipping
- Manufacturing
- Construction industry (pipe, rod bundling)
- Production of electrical and power equipment
- Export packaging and freight forwarding
Choosing the Right Filament Tape
Filament tape selection is based on the application requirements as follows:
- Weight of load—The greater the load, the stronger the tape should be.
- Nature of surface—Certain adhesives have a better affinity with cardboard, plastics, and metals.
- Environmental factors—Temperature and humidity may influence the effectiveness of the adhesive.
- Method of application—Smaller quantities may be applied manually using dispenser tapes whereas larger volumes will require machinery tape.
- Electrical versus packaging—Electrical grade fiberglass tapes which are meant for coil or cable insulation are totally different from packaging filament tapes.
In case of electrical insulation and industrial usage, it is best that a qualified manufacturer helps in the selection of tape which fits into the temperature class and dielectric specification required. Harnawa Insulations with 25 years experience in manufacture provides the range of all insulation tapes and fiberglass based products required for motors, transformers, generators and other industrial machinery.
Filament tape is not just a reinforced version of packing tape; it is a high performance material used in many applications in packaging, logistic, manufacturing industries and even for electrical insulation purpose. Whichever the application, be it sealing of heavy duty boxes, bundling of pipes or unitization of pallets, choosing the right type of filament tape ensures reliability and safety. For fiberglass reinforced tapes for electrical and industrial usage, visit Harnawa’s insulation tapes range.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1.What are the uses of filament tape?
The uses of filament tape include sealing boxes, bundling pipes and other long materials, reinforcing poor packaging, unitizing of pallets, and as a substitute for metal and plastic strapping. Fiberglass-reinforced filament tapes can also be used in electrical insulation purposes such as coil and cable binding.
2.Why is filament tape stronger than standard tape?
The filament tape has reinforcement fibers incorporated into its body. The reinforcement fibers can be made of fiberglass, polyester, or polypropylene. These reinforcement fibers make the filament tape strong and tear-resistant, a quality that is not present in the regular packing tape.
3.Can filament tape be used in electrical applications?
Yes, it can. Reinforced tapes meant for electrical purposes can be made from polyester resin fiberglass tapes. Such tapes can be used in motor and transformer windings, coil and cable binding.
4.Is filament tape better than metal strapping?
For light to medium weight requirements, filament tapes are much preferred over metal strappings because of their lightness, safety, lack of edges, and ease of application, without the requirement of tensioners.
5.What sizes do filament tapes have?
Filament tapes are available in sizes that may differ from one manufacturer to another but they are mostly available in sizes of between 9 mm and 75 mm wide and roll length of 50 m.
6.Do Harnawa Insulations manufacture fiberglass reinforced tapes in India?
Yes, Harnawa Insulations manufacture fiberglass reinforced insulation tapes in India, including polyester resin fiberglass tapes.
Related Post:
