
Breathable
film has today emerged as a very popular packaging material. Breathable
films are produced by compounding a PP or PE resin with mineral filler. The
film is then stretched mono or bi axially to create micro pores in the cast
film. In a subsequent process this breathable film can be laminated with a
nonwoven web using adhesive or a point-bonding calendar to produce a soft,
textile like composite. Breathable films, the ability of extruded films to
allow the gases to escape, but retain the larger water molecules, inhibiting
the dehydration process.
Characteristics
- The film offers high strength and high resistance to puncture.
- They are flame retardant and provide UV stability.
- They provide additional comfort without reducing the barrier
properties of the film.
- They extend shelf life by limiting oxygen supply, slowing the live
products respiration rate, and thus retarding spoilage.
- They have excellent resistance to hydrolysis and remarkable
mechanical strength.
Applications
They are widely used for roofing applications in the construction industry.
They are also used for sanitary articles. They are also required in the
medical industry for bandages, wound dressings, surgical drapes, and gown
fabrication. They are also used in textile industry. They are utilized for
cost-effective tack bonding, combination tack bonding and lamination, for
lamination, or for surface modification.
Breathable films and packaging
One common use for such films is to make packaging materials. Salad mixes
and other vegetables can be packaged in breathable films tailored to their
respiration rates for a couple of years. Packaging materials are available
in varied forms like packaging pouches, packaging rolls, packaging bags
which can be used for packing vegetables and fruits so as to keep them fresh
and hygienic. Retailers have nowadays gone for increased use of breathable
films for packaging.