For tiny, fragile components, polycarbonate carrier tape offers the
highest level of protection and lowest risk of mis-pick.

The smaller the component, the narrower the carrier tape, the more components
per square inch held by the carrier tape, and the faster the carrier
tape moves through the assembly equipment.

Pocket shape and dimensional integrity of the tape become more important as part size is reduced.

Polycarbonate tends to hold its shape better than other
plastics, so it feeds more smoothly into board production equipment
and the pockets line up better for the nozzle pick operation of pick-
and-place.

Polycarbonate carrier tapes are also made in dissipative
and conductive versions to protect against ESD damage