Material Performance: Striking a Balance Between Strength and Adaptability
High Stretch Ratio and Elastic Recovery
ThesePE stretch film start with linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) as their base material. Through a biaxial stretching process, they achieve impressive stretch ratios-300% to 500% in both length and width. This is far higher than the 100% to 200% stretch of regular PE films. When used to wrap goods, they generate a force of 20 to 30N. This force pulls the film tightly around palletized items, holding them securely in place and stopping them from shifting during transport.
They also have strong elastic recovery, with a rate of at least 90%. Even when wrapped around heavy loads for extended periods, the film doesn't loosen up easily. This makes it a great choice for securing irregularly shaped items such as furniture and building materials.
Puncture and Tear Resistance
The thickness of PE stretch film ranges from 12μm to 100μm, with the 20μm to 30μm range being the most commonly used. They offer excellent puncture resistance, measuring at least 25N when tested to ASTM D4833 standards. This means they can stand up to sharp objects like the corners of wooden crates and metal parts without getting pierced. Their right-angle tear strength is equally impressive, at least 80N per 25mm. This helps them resist cracking when they're hit or bumped, keeping the items inside well-protected.
Moisture Resistance and Weatherability
These films do a great job of blocking moisture, with a water vapor transmission rate of no more than 5g per square meter per 24 hours. This makes them perfect for wrapping items that are sensitive to humidity, such as electronic components and food products, as they keep moisture out. For films used in outdoor storage, UV additives are included to help them resist sun damage. After 500 hours of UV aging tests, these sun-resistant films still retain at least 80% of their original tensile strength, making them suitable for outdoor use.
Packaging Efficiency: Working with Automation and Saving Materials
Fast Wrapping and Low Energy Use
These films are designed to work smoothly with automatic wrapping machines, which operate at speeds of 10 to 30 rotations per minute. A single machine can handle 200 to 300 pallets every hour. That's 5 to 8 times faster than packing by hand. The film also has self-adhesive properties, with a surface friction coefficient of 0.8 to 1.2. This means there's no need to use tape to hold it in place, which cuts down on the cost of extra materials.
The "pre-stretching" process is another great feature. When the film is stretched to 200% of its original length, it reduces the amount of film needed per square meter by 40%. For example, traditional packaging might require 50 meters of film to wrap one pallet. But with pre-stretched film, only 30 meters is needed. For a company that uses 100,000 rolls of film each year, this can lead to material cost savings of about 150,000 yuan.
Transparency and Labeling Options
These films have a high light transmittance of at least 90%. This means you can see right through them to check the condition of the goods inside-like whether anything is damaged or missing-without having to unwrap them. The surface of the film is also suitable for printing with friction-resistant inks. This allows companies to print their logos, warning signs, or other important information on the film. The ink adheres well, meeting ISO 4B adhesion standards, so it won't rub off during transport.
Environmental and Cost Benefits: Being Sustainable and Economical
Lightweight and Recyclable
When it comes to providing the same level of protection, PE stretch film is much lighter than other packaging materials. It weighs only 1/20 of what cardboard weighs and 1/5 of strapping tape. This light weight reduces the amount of fuel needed for transportation. For example, when transporting goods over 1,000 kilometers, 1 ton of film results in about 8% less carbon emissions compared to 1 ton of cardboard. What's more, the film is 100% recyclable. The recycled material can be used to make garbage bags, agricultural films, and other products, which aligns with the EU's PACK2025 environmental goals.
Low Cost and Multiple Functions in One
The price of these films ranges from 12 to 25 yuan per kilogram, depending on their thickness. This makes them more economical than shrink film, which costs 25 to 40 yuan per kilogram, and bubble wrap, which costs 18 to 30 yuan per kilogram. They also offer multiple functions in a single material-they're dustproof, moisture-proof, and even help prevent theft since it's hard to tamper with items wrapped in the film. This reduces the need to use multiple types of packaging materials.
Functional Specialization: Custom Solutions for Different Situations
In the food and pharmaceutical industries, where keeping things clean and free from odors is crucial, food-grade LLDPE films are used. These films meet the FDA 21CFR 177.1520 standards, with migration levels of no more than 0.1mg per square decimeter. They can also handle short-term sterilization at 80°C, making them safe for use with food and medical products.
For hazardous chemical products, conductive PE films with anti-corrosion coatings are the way to go. These films have a surface resistance of 10⁶ to 10¹¹Ω, which helps prevent static electricity buildup. They can also withstand being immersed in 30% sulfuric acid for 72 hours with a weight change of less than 1%, making them suitable for packaging lithium batteries and solvents.
In frozen storage situations, cold-resistant PE films are used. These films are modified with EVA, which helps them stay flexible even at -40°C. They have a breaking elongation of at least 200% at this low temperature and won't become brittle or crack. This makes them ideal for packaging seafood and ice cream pallets that need to be kept frozen.
For transporting large quantities of goods, enhanced UV stretch films are a good choice. These films have 5% metallocene catalyst added to them, giving them a tensile strength of at least 35MPa. They also have excellent weather resistance, lasting 1,000 hours in QUV-A tests. This makes them suitable for building materials and steel products that are stored outdoors.
Advantages Compared to Other Packaging Materials
When compared to cardboard: 1 ton of stretch film, which covers about 8,000 square meters, can package 400 pallets. The cost of this film is 3 to 5 times lower than the cost of using cardboard to package the same number of pallets. Wrapping machines also work automatically, so there's no need for people to fold and tape boxes by hand. This cuts down on labor costs by 60%.
When compared to using strapping tape plus bubble wrap: Stretch film wraps around the entire item, providing even protection and preventing damage from uneven pressure. Bubble wrap, on the other hand, often loses its cushioning ability when it's squeezed. Stretch film rolls also take up much less space-only 1/3 of the storage space needed for bubble wrap rolls. This saves valuable warehouse area.
Examples of How It's Used
In e-commerce logistics
For small packages, thin stretch PE stretch film with a thickness of 15 to 20μm is used. Wrapping just 2 to 3 layers around the package is enough to hold it securely, and the cost of the film per package is less than 0.1 yuan. For shipping palletized goods, automatic film-threading machines can wrap an entire pallet in just 5 seconds. This is perfect for bulk deliveries of 3C products and home appliances.
In manufacturing
Anti-static stretch film, with a surface resistance of 10⁸Ω, is used to wrap car circuit boards. This prevents static electricity from damaging the sensitive components. For metal products, stretch film with rust-inhibiting masterbatch is used. This masterbatch contains 0.5% VCI vapor corrosion inhibitor, which helps protect steel plates and pipes from rusting for up to 6 months.
In agriculture
Specialized silage stretch film, with a thickness of 75 to 100μm, is used for wrapping. This film has an oxygen transmission rate of no more than 10cc per square meter per 24 hours. It creates an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment, which helps improve the fermentation quality of the feed.
Buying Recommendations
When choosing stretch film, pick the thickness based on the weight of your goods and the conditions they'll be transported in. For items under 25kg, 20 to 25μm film is usually sufficient. For loads over 1 ton, go for 35 to 50μm film. When purchasing, ask suppliers for the following
Tensile performance test reports, which should include information on elongation at break and tensile strength.
Self-adhesion test data, with a 180° peel force of at least 1.5N per 25mm.
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