Shrink film applications

With the development of the new Ecoflex FS, new performance characteristics have been achieved in addition to improved biodegradabUity and bio-based content. This new Ecoflex FS is used for the development of new Ecovio compounds for specific applications like paper coating and shrink film. Further Ecovio applications, where biodegradability adds value, are under development to extend the portfolio of BASF. 

Hot blown plastic films usually do not possess sufficient orientation to be heat shrinkable at temperatures below 100°C. For certain shrink packaging applications low temperature shrinkage is essential and can be obtained by biaxial orientation below the melting point. Radiation crosslinking was found to facilitate orientation of these copolymers greatly because of the much greater bubble stability which results from crosslinking. 

The term film is also applied to sheets of cellophane, polyethylene, polyvinylidene chloride, etc., used for wrapping and packaging of food products, meats, and poultry (especially shrink films that are stretched before application). These function as a moisture vapor harrier. Plaslic lilms are also used as slip surfaces in concrete structures such as airstrips, ice rinks, and highways. Photographic film is made from cellulose acetate. 

Plastic Suppliers Inc., a US extruder of blown film for labels and envelopes, has produced the world s first blown film from NatureWorks PLA. It was hitherto thought that PLA was unsuitable for blown film extrusion. Plastic Supplies claims that its EarthFirst film is 100% compostable, has high gloss, optimum clarity and transparency, high moisture vapour transmission rate, flavour retention, odour barrier, is breathable and is US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) compliant. Areas of application for EarthFirst include window carton film for food packaging, label film, floral wrap film, shrink film and envelope film. 

Sidaplax has added Plastic Supplies EarthFirst PLA film to its product range. EarthFirst is used in label face stock, shrink sleeve, wrap around shrink, floral and over wrap, window carton, packaging and envelope window film applications. 

SBC film is growing into more and more film applications. It is proving to be well suited for fresh cut produce packaging, candy twist wrap, shrink films, flexible medical and decorative films. SBC can be extruded into either cast or blown film for use in flexible packaging applications. While some applications employ a monolayer SBC film, many films are co-extruded with SBC along with several layers of other materials in order to bring a combination of properties to the final application. 

Unoriented random PP copolymer films are soft and are easy to heat seal. Oriented PP films (both homopolymer and copolymer) have improved strength, clarity, and gloss (brightness) compared to unoriented films. Applications for oriented PP include shrink wrap (records, toys, games, hardware items, frozen foods, and cigarette wrap). A 7% ethylene copolymer is often used as a heat-seal layer in food packaging. 

BS 27X2, Method 643A. Shrinkage on heating of film intended for shrink wrapping applications. 1976. 

On its own, VLDPE should find use in applications requiring impact strength, puncture resistance, and dart drop resistance combined with flexibility. The drawdown characteristics of VLDPE allow for very thin films to be formed without pinholing. Soft flexible films for disposable gloves, furniture films, and high-performance stretch and shrink film are potential markets. 

Film Applications Stretch film, shrink film, overwrap, trash bags, heavy-duty bags, and food packaging.l " ... 

Two other important characteristics of PVC taken advantage of in film applications are barrier properties and heat-shrinkability. Because of these attributes, PVC film finds usage in food packaging, such as candies, as well as nonfood packaging, such as shrink wrapping of auto parts. 

Unmodified lactic acid polymers tend to degrade rather slowly. One application which makes use of this fact is fishing line. Such lines will completely decompose after 1 y in seawater. Biodegradable shrink films have also been produced by melt-mixing of PLA with ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymers. Foams can also be manufactured. ... 

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