Plastic
is any material made of polymeric organic compounds and additives that
can be shaped by flow. This is the most common material used to make
high quality and highly significant films.
Plastic films are high performance materials, which play an essential
part in modern life. They are mostly used in packaging applications
along with some applications in agricultural, medical and engineering
fields. Plastic films are perfectly stable, easy to work with and can be
lighter than tissue.
They do not have voids in the surface that allow an ink or coating to
penetrate into it. Certain plastics can be attacked or swelled by
specific UV raw materials. These can be matched up with the type of
substrate and allow the ink to penetrate the film.
History
Plastics got their start with celluloid and the development of a
replacement for ivory in billiard balls. In 1868 John Hyatt mixed
celluloid with camphor and alcohol to find a substitute of billiard
balls. Then came celluloid collars, cuffs, etc. After the turn of the
century, cellophane was invented. The major growth for cellophane and
all plastic films started during the late 1930s and after World War II
when self-service shopping came into vogue. Many packages required
transparency because people wanted to see what they were buying. Since
then, many plastic films were added to the list of packaging films.
Types
There are many material types used in films from single layer polymers
to multilayer polymers with tie layers and copolymers. A number of
plastics are used in applications such as nylon, polypropylene,
cellophane, etc.
Polypropylene Films- These are heat sealable films
for flexible packing and have high tensile strength. The film can
contain colorants, stabilizers, or other additives, and can be coated
for the improvement of performance properties.
Polyester Films- Polyester film features superior
performance in printing, metalizing and cold seal applications. The film
shows excellent scuff resistance, machinability and temperature
characteristics. The adhesive can be clear or pigmented for ease of
identification.
Cellophane Films- Cellophane film is made by the
viscose process, a physical process for making regenerated rayon by
treating cellulose with caustic soda, and with carbon disulfide to form
cellulose xanthate, which can then be spun into fibers and reconverted
to cellulose by an acid treatment.
Nylon Films- Nylon film is a transparent, non-heat
stabilized plastic film. They absorb water. The higher the moisture
content the more flexible they become. They offer excellent thermal and
chemical resistance, with high tensile strength, flexibility and tear
resistance.
Plastic films application
- Plastics are considered to be one of the most valuable and
versatile family of materials ever developed. New uses are developed
for plastic films almost everyday. Plastic film offers a number of
significant benefits:
- Plastic food wrappings prevent spoilage.
- Plastic wrappings reduce food waste.
- Plastic vapour and air barriers prevent moisture damage which in
turn helps in supporting energy-conservation efforts in home
construction.
- Plastic stretch wrap and shrink wrap reduce packaging weight and
bulk. This helps in reducing transportation and storage costs.
- Agricultural plastic film helps in reducing weeds, keeping
seedlings moist, wrap silage and increase crop yields. From the time
these films are produced, to their use and reuse, and to their final
recycling, or disposal, plastic films provide environmental
benefits.
- Plastic film can be coloured or clear, printed or plain, or
laminated to aluminum, paper and other materials.
Plastic films and packaging
Plastic film offers several packaging options. The films can be used to
produce:
- Single-resin, single-layer packages, like the produce bags which
are used to carry fruits or vegetables.
- Multi-resin, multi-layer packages. They are like the boil-in
bags.
- Multi-material packages: They represent blister packs.
Market applications for plastic film can be divided into the following
categories: Plastic film offers several packaging options. The films can
be used to produce:
- Food packaging: Plastic films for packaging are available
in the the form of packaging pouch, packaging bags, packaging rolls,
sheets, foils etc. Food packaging includes bags for bread and rolls,
in-store bags for produce and bulk foods, candy wrap and bags,
bag-in-a-box, carton liners for cereal and cake mixes, wrappers for
fresh food, wrappers for prepared red meat, poultry and fish, milk
bags, grocery bags.
- Non-food packaging: This include industrial liners which
can be used for everything from tote boxes to large drums to bubble
packaging, shipping sacs, mailing envelopes, dry cleaning bags,
diaper overwrap, stretch wrap and more.
- Non-packaging application: This includes variety of stuff
like trash bags, leaf and yard waste bags, agricultural films, can
liners, construction materials, medical applications (e.g. sterile
wraps, IV bags, biomedical waste bags) and other consumer products,
like household plastic wrap, diaper liners.
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