Oct. 28, 2024
If you want to keep your product safe and secure for sale, you may have already seen that shrink film can help you do that. There are many kinds of shrink film on the market today so it&#;s important to get the right type. Not only will choosing the right type of shrink film help protect your product on the shelf, but it will also enhance the buying experience for your customers or buyers.
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Out of the many types of shrink film, the three main types of film on the market you will want to review are PVC, Polyolefin, and Polyethylene. These shrink films each have properties that cross over to different applications, but specific characteristics of these films may make them more suited for your particular use.
Here are some strengths and weaknesses of each type of shrink film to help you choose which one may be best for your application.
Strengths:
This film is thin, pliable, and light, typically more affordable than most shrink films. It shrinks only in one direction and is highly resistant to tearing or puncturing. PVC has a clear, shiny presentation, making it aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
Weaknesses:
PVC softens and wrinkles if the temperature gets too high, and it becomes hard and brittle if it becomes to cool. Because the film has chloride in it, the FDA has only approved PVC film for use with inedible products. This also causes it to emit toxic fumes during heating and sealing, making it necessary to use it in very well-ventilated areas. This film therefore also has strict disposal standards. PVC is not generally suitable for bundling multiple products.
Strengths:
This shrink film type is FDA approved for food contact since it doesn&#;t have chloride in it, and it produces much less odor during heating and sealing. It&#;s better suited for irregularly shaped packages as it shrinks more fully. The film has a beautiful, glossy surface and is exceptionally clear. Unlike PVC, it can withstand a much wider range of temperature fluctuations when stored, saving inventory. If you need to bundle multiple items, polyolefin is a great choice, and it is highly resistant to puncture and tearing. Cross-linked polyolefin is also available which increases its strength without sacrificing clarity. Polyolefin is also 100% recyclable, making it the &#;green&#; choice.
Weaknesses:
Polyolefin is more expensive than PVC film, and it may also require perforations in some applications to avoid air pockets or bumpy surfaces.
Some additional information: Polyethylene film can be used for shrink film or stretch film, depending on the form. You will need to know which form you need for your product.
Manufacturers create polyethylene when adding ethylene to polyolefin during the polymerization process. There are three different forms of Polyethylene: LDPE or Low-density Polyethylene, LLDPE or Linear Low-density Polyethylene, and HDPE or High-density polyethylene. They each have various applications, but normally, the LDPE form is used for shrink film packaging.
Strengths:
Beneficial for wrapping multi-packs of heavy items&#;for example, a large count of beverages or water bottles. It is highly durable and is able to stretch more than other films. As with polyolefin, polyethylene is FDA approved for food contact. While PVC and polyolefin films are limited in thickness, usually only up to 100-gauge, polyethylene can be scaled up to -gauge, making it ideal for wrapping vehicles such as boats for storage. Uses range from bulk or frozen foods to trash bags and palletizing as stretch wrapping. Check with your manufacturer to know which form (LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE) you should use.
Weaknesses:
Polyethylene has a low shrink rate of around 20% and isn&#;t as clear as other films. It is more expensive than other films. Polyethylene shrinks while cooling after it has been heated, making it necessary to have additional space for cooling at the end of your shrink tunnel.
Make sure you know what shrink film you need for your product application. It will save you time and money. If you need help, let one of our packaging experts help you. Traco Packaging has been supplying shrink film for over 35 years. Call or one of our packaging specialists to get your project going, or go to our website at https://www.tracopackaging.com/and request a quote today.
The question of shrink film thickness is a question anyone considering using shrink film for packaging should ask. To determine the thickness of shrink film needed the user must first determine the type of shrink film that is best for their specific application. View our previous post about shrink wrap varieties to help determine the type of shrink wrap you need.
Once the type of shrink film is determined, understanding how shrink film is measured will help. Most shrink film is measured by gauge. Polyethylene shrink film is often measured in Mil thickness. A mil is one-thousandth of an inch. This is numerically written .001. A gauge is a unit of measurement used for everything from plastic to wire and sheet metal. One gauge is one-hundredth of a mil or one hundred thousandths of an inch. Another common measurement when referring to plastic is micron. A micron, short for micrometer is one-millionth of a meter. See the conversion chart below for a better understanding.
Plastic Thickness Conversion Chart
1 Gauge = One-hundredth of a Mil
100 Gauge = One Mil Thickness
1 Gauge = .254 Microns
100 Gauge = 25.4 Microns
1 Mil = One-Thousandth of an Inch
1 Mil Also equals 25.4 Microns
Now that we have the confusion out of the way we can look at a few shrink films to help discover the proper thickness needed for each application. The easy one to start with is PVC shrink film.
PVC Shrink Film
PVC shrink film can be found in a variety of thicknesses, but by far the most common is a 75 gauge. The 75 gauge thickness is so common we only stock our PVC centerfold rolls in a 75 gauge thickness. We do stock our bags in a 100 gauge thickness. PVC shrink film thicknesses are easy to figure because they are not recommended for sharp, heavy objects. It is a great option for boxes, CD cases, and other uniform objects, but not for heavy pointed objects in excess of 25-30 lbs.
PVC shrink film becomes brittle and hard after heat is applied. These characteristics keep PVC shrink wrap from being the best option for wrapping heavy pointed objects. Our PVC shrink bags are thicker because they are smaller and stronger seams are ideal for bags. If you are using a PVC shrink wrap and experiencing ripping or tearing another type of film may be a better option.
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Related links:Polyolefin Shrink Film
As explained in several previous blog posts, polyolefin shrink film is a great option for packaging products in a wide range of industries. One of the main reasons it is preferred is because it is food safe and FDA approved.
As explained in a previous blog post, the word polyolefin means &#;oil like&#;. This explains the way polyolefin shrink film feels to the touch. Polyolefin feels oil-like or waxy. It is a much softer film than PVC. It does not contain Chloride like PVC does which is one of the main reasons it is food safe.
Polyolefin comes in a variety of stock thicknesses. The most common thicknesses are 60, 75, 80, and 100 gauge. One great feature of polyolefin shrink wrap a thicker film still offers great clarity. The advantage of using a thinner film is the roll length. Rolls of the thinner 60 gauge film are considerably longer than the 100 gauge film. Below is a breakdown of each polyolefin thickness and some general uses.
60 Gauge
This is the thinnest stock polyolefin film we offer. Some companies use a 50 gauge film for food products, but typically a 60 gauge polyolefin film will work for most light shrink film applications.
Our 60 gauge centerfold polyolefin rolls come in lengths of feet. A 60 gauge shrink film does not require much heat to shrink or seal. It will have a fair amount of puncture and tear resistance.
The most common uses for 60 gauge polyolefin shrink film are light food applications. We have several bakeries that use a light polyolefin roll to wrap small bundles of cookies and other baked goods. Other customers commonly using a 60 gauge shrink film are stationery companies, printers, and confectioners.
Keep in mind a 60 gauge shrink film is for light applications. It is for products with limited or no sharp edges and corners. Because the 60 gauge film is lighter, it requires less heat to shrink and conform to the product. Too much heat will result in holes and burns.
75 Gauge
Rolls of 75 gauge centerfold shrink film come in ft. thicknesses. This is the standard shrink film thickness for both PVC and Polyolefin shrink film. Even though the films are the same thickness, the polyolefin offers better tear resistance. This is because the PVC shrink wrap becomes hard after heat is applied. If a puncture does occur, tearing will quickly begin.
Polyolefin shrink film is softer and has more flex after heat is applied. The additional flex offers better puncture and tear resistance. If you have determined polyolefin shrink film is the type of film you would like to use, more than likely a 75 gauge film will work for you. If your products are in excess of 30-35 lbs. you may want to consider using a thicker 100 gauge film.
100 Gauge
Our 100 Gauge centerfold shrink film rolls are feet in length. We recommend this thickness for anyone having troubles with burns, tears, and rips on lighter films. Because the 100 gauge film is thicker, it requires higher amounts of heat for shrinking.
We have a variety of customers that prefer the 100 gauge thickness for their applications. We recommend the 100 gauge for anything over 30-35 pounds with sharp or jagged edges. We have a variety of customers wrapping heavy wooded and metal objects with the 100 gauge polyolefin shrink film.
Polyethylene Shrink Film
This is the type of film many people think of for industrial applications. Polyethylene film can come in thicknesses up to 12 mils. Converted, that is gauge! Polyethylene shrink film is used for cases of water, pallet shrink bags, wrapping boats, and wrapping other large industrial items.
Polyethylene shrink film does not have the same shrink rate as polyolefin and PVC. The lower shrink rate often makes polyethylene preferred for printing. Many of the printed water bottle cases in the store use polyethylene shrink film.
We do not stock many polyethylene shrink film products, but we are familiar with some common thicknesses. Our pallet shrink bags are made from polyethylene shrink film. Pallet shrink bags commonly come in 4-6 mil thickness.
Most marine polyethylene shrink rolls range in thickness from 4-12 mil. The heavier thickness is often used for large heavy items. Marine shrink wrap often comes blue and white in color.
If you are still unsure what thickness of shrink film you need, call us at 1-800-441-. A knowledgeable member of our sales staff would love to assist you.
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