All about polypropylene film

In modern life, it is very important to know everything about polypropylene film. There are biaxial oriented and cast films, CPP and other types of film for printing. It is also necessary to study the information from GOST and the purpose of this material in practice.

The most important features of a polypropylene film are its excellent tightness and impermeability to water. Also, with its help, the safety of food products, other goods and materials is ensured. The polypropylene casing is used in the construction and repair industry. It reliably suppresses extraneous noise. The production methods depend on the specific type of material.

Along with the variation of processing methods and basic components, the required properties are imparted with the help of special additives.... Most often, the material is obtained by the so-called extrusion method. Special processing and sophisticated technology ensure excellent packaging properties. The composition of polypropylene contains only carbon and hydrogen, which ensures maximum safety of this material.

Biaxially oriented polypropylene film (abbreviated as BOPP or, in Latin, BOPP) is ideal for flexible packaging. The same type of material can also be called biaxially oriented polypropylene. Stretching in two axes guarantees not only lightness, but also excellent strength of the product. The oriented material is called OPP for short. The variant without orientation is usually called CPP, it is also called "caste".

Simple type PP is significantly superior to other polymers used for packaging. It is stronger than polyvinyl chloride or HDPE grade polyethylene. Also, this transparent material looks quite aesthetically pleasing. On top of it, you can print texts and images. Lamination and application of a metal layer is quite allowed; relatively inexpensive product is suitable for:

• storage of various types of food;
• packaging of printed publications and stationery;
• use as a container for textiles, flowers, medical packaging.

And yet, the polypropylene film stretched in two axes has, undoubtedly, much better characteristics.... Among the commercially available films, only PET has comparable stiffness and strength. Therefore, such a product is suitable for use on high-speed packaging lines. The characteristic feature is the gloss of the surface.

Polypropylene will be able to withstand cooling down to -50 and heating up to +100 degrees. Therefore, you can safely use it for packaging products that are subject to powerful freezing. The barrier properties of the film are quite high. It effectively inhibits oxygen and carbon dioxide. The material is immune to UV radiation and contact with water. Comparison of BOPP with other materials shows that this film transmits:

• 3 times less than the usual polyethylene;
• 5 times less than polyethylene terephthalate;
• 6 times less than polyvinyl chloride.

She completely lacks her own smell. It is widely used for flexo printing. Cutting and welding the material is technically extremely simple. The BOPP also has a clearly adjustable shrinkage. You can set the exact level of adherence to the packaged items.

The thickness can vary from 12 to 40 microns. The allowed width is from 1 to 150 cm. For printing purposes, self-adhesive film is widely used. The frost resistance of this option is at least not worse than that of other solutions. Adhesion allows the coating to be used with confidence on both smooth and rough substrates. The material is quite suitable for automatic labeling lines; there are solutions with white and metallic base colors.

This product is subject to strict GOST R 58061 - 2018. The standard specifies the following types of film winding:

• canvas;
• half sleeve;
• regular sleeve;
• folded or double-folded sleeve type.

Basic standardized parameters:

• elongation at break;
• strength of welded seams;
• turbidity of the transparent part (as a percentage in relation to the luminous flux);
• static and dynamic coefficients of friction force;
• activation of the surface on the treated sides;
• oxygen permeability;
• permeability to water vapor;
• thermal shrinkage level;
• density.

BOPP film can be transparent, made in one layer... This monofilm does not have a thermally welded part. It is sometimes called flower packaging. Besides indoor flowers, this solution is great for gift wrapping and lamination. It is convenient to pack various manufactured goods in BOPP monofilm; it is also used for photo albums. This product can also be a good "base" for tape and scotch tape. However, the lack of welding is definitely a major drawback. A more attractive solution in this regard is the co-extrusion modification with two thermally welded layers.

Therefore, such a modification is recommended for manufacturers seeking to demonstrate the appearance of their product and show it favorably among the mass of competitors. This solution will do:

• for confectionery;
• bulk products;
• stationery;
• textile products;
• perfumery products;
• cosmetics.

The pearl type of film has a pearlescent or white color. It is a three-layer conglomerate, one of the layers of which has microscopic pores. It is this layer that forms the "pearl" color. The film of this category is placed:

• ice cream;
• curd snacks;
• confectionery products;
• labels.

Roll film can be used for printing a variety of texts and images. Pictures are formed using the flexography technique. This solution ensures the colorfulness and uniqueness of the created plot. Easy to get crisp, high-quality prints. Separately, it is worth mentioning the metallized film; it differs from a transparent three-layer sample by the use of aluminum spraying. "Winged metal" guarantees a decent barrier properties in relation to oxygen, water vapor. It perfectly restrains light and is not susceptible to the formation of bacterial colonies.

The metallized type of packaging will extend the shelf life of food and slow down the spread of fat. Shrink wrap is sometimes called "tobacco", because it is most often used to place cigarettes. Also this type of material is used for CDs and tea. Perforated BOPP films have relatively small openings (0.3-1.2 mm). These holes are made using "hot perforation". It guarantees the strength and aesthetic appeal of the product.

For information on the difference between polypropylene and polyethylene films, see the next video.