Polystyrene (PS) Carrier Tape

Polystyrene is the default carrier tape material for most surface-mount, LED and consumer electronics packaging. It forms easily, tolerates a wide temperature window, and delivers a cost per metre that large-volume programmes depend on. Most tape produced in the world is PS, and most of that is produced on high-output rotary or multi-lane equipment.

Where PS fits

Shallow to medium pockets for chip components, resistors, capacitors, small ICs, LEDs and connectors. High-volume runs with stable geometry. Applications where the part is light and the pocket is there to position it rather than to protect it from impact.

Where the pocket has to survive heavy parts or very deep cavities, polycarbonate is the better answer; PS walls are less forgiving under point loads.

Forming PS well

PS has a wide forming window, which is both its advantage and the reason it is easy to run badly. Over-heating produces thinned walls at the pocket base and material sticking to the mould; under-heating produces incomplete definition and spring-back that shows up as depth variation along the reel. The window is comfortable, but it is still a window — our temperature guide covers the practical settings.

PS is also more brittle than PC at low temperatures, so pockets for heavier parts should be dimensioned with more wall clearance rather than relying on material toughness.

Anti-static and conductive PS

ESD-sensitive components require anti-static or conductive grades. The additive alters surface resistivity and slightly changes forming behaviour, so the temperature profile should be set from the grade’s data sheet. Where the material is hygroscopic or has been stored in humid conditions, drying before forming prevents surface defects.

Equipment for PS tape

Because PS geometry tends to be stable and volumes high, PS is the natural fit for the 1-to-6 roller-type line and for roller-type platforms generally. Where a plant runs many different packages, a flat-plate machine with quick-change tooling often makes more sense than optimising for raw speed.

Start with the tape drawing

Send the pocket drawing, PS grade, tape width and target output, and we will confirm whether the job belongs on a rotary or flat-plate platform and what tooling it needs — contact us. For a comparison across materials, see the carrier tape materials guide.