Leader Tape
Leader tape is a non-magnetic paper or plastic tape used at the beginning or end of a reel, or as a marker at the beginning of selected content in a tape, primarily for tape protection. Leader Tape (smart card chip guide tape) is developed by Tongxi Electronics according to the requirements of chip packaging customers. The materials are PI, PET, PEI and so on. Currently available in globally sized models: 35, 35SW, 48, 48SW, 70. We established a whole quality control system, we got the ISO 9001 certificates. With a large market in the local and overseas semiconductor industry, we are providing high-precision products while improving our ability to compete with international companies in terms of service, delivery, and price, in order to win a career win-win situation with merchants in domestic and abroad.
Material Options: PI vs PET vs PEI
The base material of reel to reel leader tape determines its performance in your specific packaging process. Tongxi supplies three material families:
| Material | Key Properties | Best Application |
|---|---|---|
| PI (Polyimide) | Heat resistance >250°C; excellent dimensional stability under thermal cycling; low CTE; chemically inert | High-temperature bonding processes; applications requiring dimensional precision during reflow or cure stages |
| PET (Polyester) | Good tensile strength; low moisture absorption; cost-effective; available in black (conductive) for ESD control | General COB packaging; reel-to-reel chip transport; ESD-sensitive die handling (black PET grade) |
| PEI (Polyetherimide) | Superior rigidity at elevated temperatures; higher modulus than PET; dimensionally stable across wide temperature range | Precision IC assembly; applications with tight web-tension requirements; high-reliability semiconductor packaging |
How Reel to Reel Leader Tape Functions in Chip Packaging
In COB and IC strip packaging lines, reel to reel leader tape serves three distinct functional roles — each requiring the same dimensional precision but potentially different material properties:
① Leader Section (Reel Head)The leader tape at the beginning of a reel threads through the packaging equipment's web transport path before the active component area reaches the bonding station. Standard leader length is typically 300mm–500mm, sufficient for the tape to pass through all guide rollers, tension arms, and indexing pins before the first component pocket arrives at the work station. Without adequate leader length, the first die or COB substrate is presented to the bonding head under incorrect tension — causing misalignment, bond failure, or mechanical damage.
② Trailer Section (Reel End)The trailer at the end of the reel ensures the last component in the strip completes its bonding or encapsulation cycle cleanly. Standard trailer length is 200mm–400mm. If the trailer is too short, the final component exits the bonding zone before the process cycle is complete — resulting in an incomplete or failed unit at the end of every reel.
③ Splicing Leader (Reel-to-Reel Joining)When continuous production runs require joining two reels without stopping the equipment, an adhesive-backed reel to reel leader tape section is used to splice the end of the expiring reel to the beginning of the new reel. The splice must maintain the same web width, thickness, and sprocket hole alignment as the carrier tape to pass through the equipment without jamming or triggering a feed error.
Evaluate Tongxi reel to reel leader tape for your packaging line:
Tell us your equipment model, reel format (width/model), and process temperature → receive material and size recommendation within 24 hours
Free samples available — standard models (35 / 48 / 70) ship same week
Custom widths, lengths, and adhesive specifications available — send your drawing
Batch CoC + dimensional inspection report with every production shipment
