Plastic film, also known as plastic film packaging, is a soft and flexible polyethylene (PE) material used for a variety of purposes. It is the most commonly used plastic for packaging, and is used to make bags for food, bread, with zip closure and for dry cleaning, as well as to wrap products such as paper plates, napkins, toilet paper, diapers and more. This material has a higher resistance to most solvents and can be recycled into new shipping envelopes, tiles, and plastic bags. It is durable, versatile and food grade, approved by the FDA.
The hallmark of this material is its strength; Polyolefin Shrink Film (POF) is very thin but incredibly strong. It has a high level of puncture resistance and resistance to sealing, allowing a variety of irregularly shaped items to move smoothly throughout the life cycle of the supply chain. Polyolefin packaging films typically incorporate layers of other polymers that may limit the transmission of oxygen or other gases. However, some additives can help create a “tortuous path” for gases, physically preventing gas molecules from migrating through the polymer. Fillers, including nanofillenes, can help reduce moisture and oxygen transmission rates.
In addition, “active film” packages also benefit from additives that can absorb or “eliminate” oxygen, thus extending the shelf life of the foods contained in it. This chapter shows which additives could be used more in the future as better barrier adjuvants, since the common non-polyolefin barrier layers currently in use can cause problems with recyclability, moisture sensitivity and discoloration during processing. We analyze the different types of plastic films and their uses when it comes to food packaging. This is because the manufacture of plastics is incredibly energy efficient and because they are lighter than alternative materials. Like plastic bottles and containers, the film can be manufactured with different resins, each of which has a unique combination of properties that makes it ideal for certain applications. Most of the time, this film is confused with shrink films such as the simple polyolefin mentioned above because they are visually similar on the roll but work very differently when it comes to protecting the packaging. Plasticized PVCD packaging film has improved thermal stability and lower adhesion to metal surfaces when only 2% by weight of epoxidized soybean oil is added as a plasticizer.
Plastic films make up a wide category of materials that can be relatively simple or complex depending on the demands of a particular product or package. Most plastic packaging can be recycled but some types are more difficult to recycle than others. Packaging films with controlled CO2 and O2 transmission are produced from plasticized polyvinylidene chloride (PVCD). With a high strength to density ratio, HDPE is used in the production of plastic bottles, corrosion-resistant pipes, geomembranes and plastic wood. Packaging films require the control of many performance parameters to ensure consistency during conversion and use. We specialize in the production of PETG, CAB and CAP plastics and you can trust us to tell you if these are the best types for your needs.
The efforts of the film packaging industry to use multilayer processing to reduce film thickness while maintaining stiffness and barrier can be extended to other packaging techniques. U. S. plastic manufacturers have set themselves the goal of having all plastic packaging reused, recycled or recovered in the United States by 2040. If you're thinking of buying plastic packaging for your products it's critical that you do your research thoroughly to ensure that you select the right plastic for your needs.
