Cell holding tape offers high bonding strength to many surfaces, including photovoltaic cells. Applied in full-length strips or in sized pieces as dictated by a specific manufacturing process, the tape is used as a production aid to hold silicon cells in alignment until the ethylene-vinyl acetate film melts and encapsulates the cells to prevent shifting. The manufacturer says these transparent adhesive tapes will not bubble, blister, discolor, or affect the performance of the cell during the melting or evacuation processes. These tapes are able to form bonds of exceptional strength and have greater durability and elasticity than conventional double-sided foam tapes. The cell holding Tape product range includes tapes with different core constructions and a variety of adhesives. All Cell Holding Tapes use closed-cell technology and provide outstanding environmental resistance and durability. The superior performance of Cell Holding Tapes means they can often be used to replace mechanical fasteners for joining a wide range of materials. The exceptional performance of these tapes comes from the properties of the acrylic core. The core has the dual properties of behaving like a very viscous liquid and an elastic solid. This property is known as viscoelasticity. The “Visco” properties allow the adhesive to flow into the microscopic irregularities of the surface to form very strong bonds. The elastic properties allow these tapes to absorb dynamic loads, accommodate differential expansion between surfaces and help distribute loads over the greatest possible area. The elastic properties are maintained between -40 degrees C and 90 degrees C.
