Thermoplastic tape is self-bonding

Braeön (pronounced “brawn”) is a high-strength, paper-thin, lightweight plastic ribbon that molecularly fuses to itself in about a minute. The material is a combination of thermoplastic fibers and a thermoplastic polymermatrix. The ribbon is heated and pressed by hand to form a desired shape; the self-bonding plastic molecules recouple and harden when the material cools.

The developers of the new material say that the bond is as strong as steel, having a tensile strength of 2,000 pounds. The versatility of the rolls of ribbon is also noted: the product is malleable and reformable at low temperatures; moisture-resistant and paintable; functional in extreme cold; and lightweight. One hundred feet of Braeön weighs less than a pound.

The company envisions consumers employing the ribbon for a wide range of uses—from creating custom grips on knives and mending hockey sticks, to replacing a missing chain link or winching vehicles.

Braeön is the product of a woman-owned company whose founding team has extensive experience in the development of heavy-duty plastics and composite materials. The patent-pending product is due to ship in May 2017. Developers are also working on creating woven sheets, rods and filaments of the material.