Have you ever wondered what stretch film materials are? Look no further! Here’s an article that will give you a piece of insightful information regarding that matter. Here’s a basic introduction to how a stretch wraps were made.
Stretch film is a kind of transparent, heat-shrinkable plastic film made of polyethylene. Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and high-density polyethylene are the three primary divisions (of HDPE). When choosing raw materials for the stretched film, particular consideration should be given to the various features that each raw material has.
Do you want to know more about the materials in making a stretch film? Continue reading to explore its history and other types below.
History of Stretch Film Material
The earliest PVC material
A stretch film composed of plasticized PVC may be utilized with automatic packaging equipment. The plasticizers used in the cast stretch film are renewable (raw materials from plant or animal sources). Esters make up 25%, polyesters 15%, and natural oils 15% of the film’s total weight, respectively to produce a cast stretch wrap.
These renewable materials are also found in esters, polyesters, and natural oils. Stretch film, often known as stretch wrap, was the first home product made using PVC as a substrate, DOA as a plasticizer, and self-adhesive. Stretch wrap film is another name for stretch film.
1994-1995: PE stretch film
In the mid-1990s, PE stretch film was becoming a popular choice for packaging and wrapping materials due to its superior strength and flexibility. PE stretch film offered superior protection for items that it wrapped, as it was able to stretch around the item and hold it securely in place.
Additionally, it was easy to apply, cost-effective, and could be used on a variety of surfaces and products. As a result, PE stretch film quickly became an essential packaging material for businesses across the globe during this period.
Later: VLDPE as self-adhesive material
Stretch film VLDPE is a versatile self-adhesive material that is ideal for a variety of applications. It is strong and flexible, making it ideal for use in protecting goods during shipping, bundling items together for storage, and securing pallets for shipment.
It’s high-tack adhesive backing easily adheres to a variety of surfaces, and it can be stretched and applied as needed. Stretch film VLDPE is an excellent choice for many packaging and shipping applications due to its strength, flexibility, and adhesive properties.
Now: LLDPE is the main material
including C4, C6, C8, and metallocene PE (MPE)
Stretch film LLDPE is a popular material used in a variety of applications, such as packing, wrapping, and bundling. It is made of a type of plastic known as linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and is composed of four different types of LLDPE: C4, C6, C8, and metallocene PE (MPE).
It is highly stretchable and provides excellent clarity, puncture, and tear resistance, as well as superior cling and memory properties. It can also be used as a moisture barrier and is commonly used in industrial settings for shipping and storage purposes.
Although LLDPE stretch films feature a significant number of short molecular branches, they are structurally different from LDPE because they lack long-chain branching. Stretch film is a type of plastic film typically constructed of LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene). It is used to hold and secure items together, such as pallets or boxes, to form a single unit.
It is highly stretchable and has excellent cling properties, which makes it ideal for a variety of uses. Stretch film is also water-resistant and tear-resistant, making it a great choice for use in both indoor and outdoor applications.
It is a cost-effective solution for bundling, wrapping and protecting packages, and is available in a variety of thicknesses and sizes. Unlike LDPE films, LLDPE stretch films do not strain harden.
While LLDPE stretch films do not increase in hardness with strain, LDPE films do. Under stress, LLDPE stretch films maintain their flexibility and lengthen. LLDPE stretch films are easy to downgauge while keeping their strength and hardness.
LLDPE stretch films can be used to safely and securely wrap valuable items because they are resistant to environmental stress cracking. These stretch films can withstand exposure to UV light, low temperatures, and chemicals.
Stretch films can be created in one of two ways: blow or cast. These stretch films are typically more expensive because of the slower processing and higher quality. The only products that can be made from LLDPE stretch films are floor tiles and trash liners.
7042N, 1018HA, 1002YB, 218N and 3518CB are also available.
7042N
The 7042N stretch films are made of from a stretch wrap machine that produce a plastic resin pellets turned into granules and are commonly used for agricultural films.
1018HA
A copolymer of metallocene, ethylene and hexene makes up the 1018HA opaque stretch film. Films manufactured from 1018HA offer exceptional tensile, impact, and puncture strength. This resin is a particularly useful packaging film resin because of its great drivability and superior tear resistance characteristics.
1002YB
LLDPE resin 1002YB stretch film is intended for cast films. In applications involving both blown and cast film, it provides a high gloss and great drawdown. As a mixed partner with LDPE resins, LL 1002YB can also be utilized to enhance the processability and film qualities of its tear resistance feature.
218N
Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) resins of the 218 Series are designed for use in all types of film. They have great ability and are simple to extrude. These resins can be used to make robust, high-tensile, hot-tack films that are frequently used in consumer packaging, garment bags, thin gauge liners, waste bags, laminated and coextruded films for meat stretch wrap and another food packaging, and cast stretch wrap films.
By using standard blown stretch film extrusion equipment, 218 Series resins can be extruded with just minor equipment modifications needed for optimal utilization. These goods can be drawn to a gauge of 12 microns in a blown stretch wrap for its elastic recovery and tear resistance feature.
3518CB
Copolymers of ethylene-1-hexene make up 3518CB resins. Outstanding tensile, impact and puncture capabilities are found in 3518CB resin-based blown film. These resins are adaptable for both monolayer and multilayer cast packing film because of their exceptional qualities and great drivability of a stretch film.
Conclusion
I hope this article gave you helpful facts and details regarding stretch film 101 materials used to make a stretch film. The main material LLDPE made in a stretch film to be used in different applications that can withstand any temperature and pressure.
