What is BOPP film and where is it used?

BOPP film is a lightweight and inexpensive material that is made from plastic and is highly wear-resistant. There are different types of films, and each has found its own field of application.

What are the features of such materials, how to use them correctly for packaging products, how to store, will be discussed in our review.

The abbreviation BOPP stands for biaxially oriented / biaxially oriented polypropylene films. This material belongs to the category of film based on synthetic polymers from the group of polyolefins. The BOPP production method assumes bi-directional translational stretching of the produced film along the transverse and longitudinal axes. As a result, the finished product receives a rigid molecular structure, which endows the film with properties that are valuable for further operation.

This material is widely in demand for packaging toys, clothing, cosmetics, printing and souvenir products. BOPP is widely used in food packaging - this demand is due to the heat resistance of the material, due to which the finished product can be kept hot for a long time. And perishable food packed in BOPP can be placed in the refrigerator or freezer without compromising the preservation of the film.

Compared to all other types of packaging materials, biaxially oriented polypropylene film has many advantages:

• compliance with GOST;
• low density and lightness combined with high strength;
• a wide range of products offered for packaging a wide variety of product groups;
• affordable cost;
• resistance to high and low temperatures;
• chemical inertness, due to which the product can be used for packaging food;
• resistance to ultraviolet radiation, oxidation and high humidity;
• immunity to mold, fungus and other pathogenic microorganisms;
• ease of processing, in particular the availability of cutting, printing and lamination.

The product is suitable for metallized coating and printing. If necessary, during production, you can add new layers of material that increase its operational parameters, such as protection against accumulated static electricity, glossiness and some others.

The only drawback of BOPP is inherent in all bags made of synthetic materials - they decompose for a long time in nature and therefore, when accumulated, can potentially harm the environment. Environmentalists all over the world are struggling with the use of plastic products, but today the film remains one of the most demanded and widespread packaging materials.

There are several popular types of film.

The high level of transparency of such material allows the consumer to view the product from all sides and visually assess its quality. Such packaging is beneficial not only for buyers, but also for manufacturers, as they get the opportunity to demonstrate their product to customers, thereby highlighting all its advantages over the products of competing brands. Such a film is often used for packing stationery and some types of food products (bakery products, baked goods, as well as groceries and sweets).

Biaxially oriented pearl film is obtained by introducing special additives into the raw material. The chemical reaction produces propylene with a foamed structure that can reflect light rays. The pearlescent film is lightweight and very economical to use. It can withstand subzero temperatures, therefore it is often used for packaging food products that need to be stored in the freezer (ice cream, dumplings, glazed curds). In addition, such a film is suitable for packaging fat-containing products.

Metallized BOPP is usually used to wrap waffles, crispbreads, muffins, cookies and sweets, as well as sweet bars and snacks (chips, crackers, nuts). Maintaining maximum UV, water vapor and oxygen resistance is essential for all of these products.

Biaxially oriented shrink film is characterized by its ability to first shrink at relatively low temperatures. This feature is often used for packaging cigars, cigarettes and other tobacco products. In terms of properties, it is as close as possible to the first type of films.

Perforated biaxially oriented film has the most general purpose - it is used as a basis for the production of adhesive tape, and large goods are also packed into it.

Biaxplen is considered the absolute leader in the segment of BOPP film production in Russia - it accounts for about 90% of all biaxially oriented PP. Production facilities are represented by 5 factories located in different regions of our country:

• in the city of Novokuibyshevsk, Samara region, there is "Biaxplen NK";
• in Kursk - "Biaxplen K";
• in the Nizhny Novgorod region - "Biaxplen V";
• in the town of Zheleznodorozhny, Moscow Region - Biaxplen M;
• in Tomsk - "Biaxplen T".

The capacity of the factory workshops is about 180 thousand tons per year. The range of films is presented in more than 40 types of material with a thickness of 15 to 700 microns.

The second manufacturer in terms of production volume is Isratek S, the products are manufactured under the Eurometfilms brand. The factory is located in the city of Stupino, Moscow region.

For the storage of BOPP, certain conditions must be created. The main thing is that the room where the stock of the product is stored is dry and there is no constant contact with direct ultraviolet rays. Even those types of film that are less susceptible to the harmful effects of solar radiation can still experience its adverse effects, especially if the rays hit the film for a long time.

The storage temperature of the film should not exceed +30 degrees Celsius. It is very important to maintain a distance of at least 1.5 m from heaters, radiators and other heating devices. It is allowed to store the film in an unheated room - in this case, to return the functional parameters, it is necessary to keep the film at room temperature for 2-3 days.

It's obvious that even such a successful invention of the chemical industry as BOPP has many varieties. A wide range of products allows you to get optimal performance at the lowest cost. The largest film manufacturers have already recognized this material as very promising, so in the very near future we can expect the appearance of new modifications of it.

What is BOPP film, see the video.