Polyester (PET) film is a versatile plastic widely used in many applications. PET materials exhibit good chemical resistance and are tough and durable when compared to other commodity resins with similar performances and price ranges. This material can also be die cut or laser cut to efficiently create products with consistent designs.

The dimensional stability of polyester film allows it to be used in numerous applications, including face shields, laminates, membrane circuitry, electronic insulation, carrier films, and a variety of graphic arts applications.

Specific polyester films can be made to be FDA approved. This characteristic provides a tremendous benefit for applications such as face shields that are used in areas where sterilization and cleanliness is vital.

Most readily produced in gauges from 48 (1/2 mil) to .014, PET film is available as print treated on one or two sides for easy printability, slip treated for ease of handling, and in options such as super clear, clear, hazy and white depending on your particular needs.

Piedmont Plastics carries a variety of film products in varying grades, textures, and transparencies in over 48 locations across North America. Contact us today to discuss your polyester film needs and our dedicated film specialists will help you select the right solution for your application.

Polypropylene Films

Polypropylene or PP is a low cost thermoplastic of high clarity, high gloss and good tensile strength. It has a higher melting point than PE, which makes it suitable for applications that require sterilization at high temperatures. It also has less haze and higher gloss. Generally, the heat-sealing properties of PP are not as good as those of LDPE. LDPE also has better tear strength and low temperature impact resistance.

PP can be metallized which results in improved gas barrier properties for demanding applications where long product shelf life is important. PP films are well suited for a broad range of industrial, consumer, and automotive applications.

PP is fully recyclable and can be easily reprocessed into many other products for many different applications. However, unlike paper and other cellulose products, PP is not biodegradable. On the upside, PP waste does not produce toxic or harmful by-products.

The two most important types are cast unoriented polypropylene (CPP) and biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP). Both types have high gloss, exceptional optics, good or excellent heat-sealing performance, better heat resistance than PE, and good moisture barrier properties.

Cast Polypropylene Films (CPP)

Cast unoriented Polypropylene (CPP) generally finds fewer applications than biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP). However, CPP has been steadily gaining ground as an excellent choice in many traditional flexible packaging as well as non-packaging applications. The film properties can be customized to meet specific packaging, performance, and processing requirements. In general, CPP has higher tear and impact resistance, better cold temperature performance and heat-sealing properties than BOPP.

Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene Films (BOPP)

Biaxially oriented polypropylene or BOPP1 is the most important polypropylene film. It is an excellent alternative to cellophane, waxed paper, and aluminum foil. The orientation increases tensile strength and stiffness, lowers elongation (harder to stretch), and improves the optical properties, and somewhat improves vapor barrier properties. In general, BOPP has higher tensile strength, higher modulus (stiffness), lower elongation, better gas barrier, and lower haze than CPP.

APPLICATIONS

PP film is used for many common packaging applications such as cigarette, candy, snack and food wraps. It also can be used for shrink wrap, tape liners, diapers and sterile wrap used in medical applications. Because PP has only average gas barrier properties, it often is coated with other polymers such as PVDC or acrylic which greatly improves its gas barrier properties.

Due to the low odor, high chemical resistance and inertness, many PP grades are suitable for packaging applications under FDA regulations.

Product of the Day: Ultra-high-barrier metallized BOPP film

Torayfan PC5 metallized BOPP film is a versatile ultra-high oxygen- and moisture- barrier film that can be used in tri-laminations, as a foil replacement, and as an overwrap lamination or wrapper. It’s a durable, cost-effective replacement for foil in a typical paper/PE/foil/PE packaging structure. In addition, it is ideally suited for use as the inner barrier web of a tri-lamination in gas-flushed stand-up or flat pouches. It can also be used as a cold-seal layer and as part of a lamination for high-quality confectionery wrappers and bakery overwraps.

Advanced PC5 metallized OPP film is designed with an ultra-high-barrier layer resistant to crazing on one side. The other side is corona treated for excellent bond strength in cold-seal adhesive applications and in extrusion and adhesive 3-ply laminations. With its guaranteed protection against oxygen and moisture in gas-flushed applications, PC5 film ensures that food manufacturers’ products will stay fresh throughout shelf life and brand integrity will be maintained. PC5 OPP film is available in 60 gauge (15 um) and is designed to run on HFFS and VFFS packaging equipment.

End users and converters can now specify that Torayfan PC5 film be used as the barrier layer in laminations for a vast array of packaging applications, including cookies, snacks, specialty food items, dried fruits, pet food, powdered hot chocolate and cheese, spices, cough drops, and more.

Toray Plastics (America), Inc., is a major manufacturer of polyester, polypropylene, bio-based, and metallized films for flexible and rigid packaging, lidding, graphic, industrial, optical, and electronic applications. TPA is a subsidiary of Toray Industries, Inc., the world leader in synthetic fibers and textiles, carbon fibers, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and high-performance films, which has annual sales exceeding US$19 billion.

BOPP and BOPET Film Market

BOPP and BOPET films demand stood at 6.54 Million Tonnes in 2020 and is anticipated to reach 11.27 Million Tonnes by 2030, growing at a healthy CAGR of 5.62% until 2030. BOPP and BOPET films market is projected to grow at a steady CAGR in the forecast period due to the rise in the packaging industry. The high demand to replace the traditional packaging types including metal cans and cartons coupled with the shift in consumer preference for convenient and light packaging is the major driver for the forecast period. BOPP and BOPET films are specialty films that are used in various sectors such as packaging, industrial, electrical and electronics, food, beverage, pharmaceutical and medical, and personal care. BOPP films (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene Films) and BOPET films (Biaxially Oriented polyethylene terephthalate) are the polyester films that are majorly used for packaging, labeling, and lamination. These films are majorly used in electrical and electronics, pharmaceutical and medical and personal care. BOPP films are used in food packaging and replacing cellophane films which were earlier used in tobacco and snack packing owing to low cost and desired characteristics. These films have also been used in pharmaceutical and medical sector due to its cost-effectiveness, gas barrier property, and its mechanical and optical properties. BOPP and BOPET films are classified by type including wraps, tapes, labels, bags pouches under which wraps hold the largest market globally. These films have also been classified by the thickness of the film i.e., below 15 microns, 15-30 microns, 30-45 microns, and more than 45 microns. The two films are produced by the tenter and tubular production process. Moreover, the major driving factor for the demand of films is packaging, labeling, and lamination. Among different regions, the APAC region dominated the overall market for BOPP and BOPET film. India and China are the major markets for the BOPP and BOPET film due to the increasing population and rising e-commerce activities. The rising per capita income in the region with the increasing per capita consumption contributed to the demand for BOPP and BOPET films. Some of the major key players operating in the global BOPP and BOPET film market are Cosmo Films Limited, Taghleef Industries, CCL Industries, Jindal Poly Films, Sibur Holdings, Zhejiang Kinlead Innovative Materials, Inteplast Group, Poligal S.A, Uflex Ltd, Polinas, Polibak, Toray Industries, etc.

Creative Process for the High-Barrier Metalized Films

Metalized films are good quality polymer films layered with a skinny layer of metal, generally aluminum. These films are given a glossy metallic appearance like that of aluminum foils but at lower weight and reduced prices. Metalized films are broadly used for food packaging and decorative purposes and also for special applications including electronics and insulation.

Metalized films are best suitable for flexible holograms and lamination. Although, the most wide known application of the product comprises twist wraps for toffees or candies. Metallic films are produced via micro slitting process for ensuring uniform coating and consistent weight.

Metallization is achieved using physical vapor deposition process. Aluminum is the main metal for deposition; however other metals like chromium or nickel are also used. Metals are heated and dissolved under vacuum. This concentrates on cold polymer films, which is unwind next to metal vapor source. Such coatings do not fade over time.

These films are essentially impassable by oxygen and moisture. But, when the packs made with these foils are subjected to repeated handling and manipulation that are frequent with cartooning, manufacturing, consumer handling and shelf stocking in retail environment, they develop pinholes and develop permeable.

These films have a shiny silvery surface like the aluminum foils. The coating provided also shrinks the ability of the films to expose to oxygen, light, and water. The features of the film stay, such as high toughness, the capacity to preserve heat, and low density at lower cost when compared to aluminum foils. This provides metalized films numerous benefits over aluminum foil laminates and aluminum foils. It was opined that metalized films could become a substitute for aluminum foil laminate, however current films still do not match the barrier features of aluminum foils. There are certain metalized films with very high barrier properties that use EVOH, but they are not so much cost effective as foil laminates.