Apparatus and methods for packaging electronic components using a tape having desiccant entrained polymer on a reel

An apparatus for packaging integrated circuits, the apparatus comprising a reel and a carrier tape configured for holding integrated circuits, the carrier tape being wrapped about the reel, the carrier tape comprising a plurality of cavities, each cavity configured to hold therein an integrated circuit, the apparatus further comprising a cover tape disposed over the carrier tape in a manner configured to retain an integrated circuit within each of the cavities and to create an enclosed compartment within each of the cavities, wherein one or both of the carrier tape and the cover tape comprises a desiccant entrained polymer, the desiccant entrained polymer being a monolithic composition comprising a base polymer, a desiccant and a polymeric channeling agent having a water vapor transmission rate greater than the base polymer, the monolithic composition comprising channels formed of the channeling agent, the desiccant being molecular sieve, the desiccant being present in the desiccant entrained polymer from 15% to 70% by weight of the desiccant entrained polymer, wherein the desiccant entrained polymer is provided within the enclosed compartment and an integrated circuit is held in each cavity.