What is cross filament tape and why is it so strong?
Filament tape is a self-adhesive tape designed for applications requiring a high breaking strength. The strength does not come from the film or the adhesive; it comes from continuous glass fibers laid into the backing. In a cross filament construction those fibers run in both directions, so the tape resists tearing across its width as well as pulling along its length.
The LKJ® product is a durable cross-weave filament bundling tape with a film backing and rubber adhesive, with woven glass fiber reinforcing the backing. Rubber adhesive is used because it grabs quickly on contact, which matters when a strap has to hold the moment it is applied.
It is ideal for packing EV battery modules and for heavy packaging generally. The full LKJ® specialty range, including this LKJ® cross filament tape, is listed on the LKJ® brand site.
Can filament tape replace strapping?
In heavy packaging it can replace metal and polypropylene strapping to great advantage. The reasons are practical rather than theoretical: filament tape is applied straight from a roll by hand, it needs no tensioner, seal or buckle, it does not leave a sharp steel edge that cuts hands or cartons, and it adds no separate component to remove at the far end.
Its published applications are packing of heavy weight cartons, palletisizing, strapping, and sealing of metal coils and pipe bundling. It is also widely used for cricket bat protection, where the glass fiber reinforcement holds the willow together under repeated impact.
Why is filament tape used on EV battery modules?
A battery module is a stack of cells that has to stay stacked. Before the module is fixed into its housing it needs to be held as one unit through handling, transport between stations and final assembly, and it needs to be held without anything rigid pressing into the cells.
The high breaking strength of the woven glass fiber backing is what makes the LKJ® tape ideal for packing EV battery modules. Applied as a wrap, it holds the stack firmly while remaining a thin, conformable layer rather than a bulky frame.
Bundling is the last job in a pack build; the EV battery tapes hub covers the insulation, thermal and sealing materials that go in before it.