PVC shrink film is a staple in the packaging industry. Its benefits make it stand out among its peers. Shrink is an external layer that protects against external threats, dust, and dirt. Its malleability allows it to conform to products. Uniaxial and biaxial are the two types of PVC shrink plastic. The uniaxial film folds in one direction while the biaxial shrink wraps horizontally and vertically.

PVC is highly resistant to extreme temperatures and weather conditions. It makes an excellent protective layer when handling and packaging products. It is also generally waterproof and fireproof. Transportation is also made easier through the use of this film. PVC plastic allows printing which makes it a good alternative for food factories.

What is PVC?

PVC is also known as polyvinyl chloride. It was the German chemist Eugen Baumann who produced it in 1872. A vinyl chloride gas sealed in a tube exposed to sunlight produced a white solid called PVC. Friedrich Klatte, a German chemist, received a patent in 1913 for the polymerization method of vinyl chloride using sunlight. Germany was manufacturing various PVC products during World War I that were used as an alternative to corrosion-resistant materials.

PVC is a granular or powdery white and brittle solid material. Its lightweight features, cost-effective, durability, and easy processing allow it to replace traditional building materials that include metal, wood, concrete, rubber, and ceramics in various industries. It is used in multiple applications such as wire and cable insulation, drinking water and sewage pipes, medical equipment and devices, packaging films, and others. In addition, it follows polyethylene and polypropylene as the third most produced synthetic plastic polymer in the world.

Advantages of PVC shrink film

The following are the advantages of PVC shrink film as an excellent film packaging material:

Transparent. PVC shrink films are transparent which allows clients to see the packaged products that will enable them to choose them.

Adaptability. The shrink film allows them to follow the shape of the product.

Environmentally-friendly. This film uses different resins and formulas to manufacture films with varying mechanical strength and functions. This is not limited only to inner packaging with low strength and small product weight, but it can also be utilized for external packaging for building materials and mechanical products for containers with high demand strength.

High security. It is a great theft deterrent and is dustproof.

Convenient. Different products can be packaged in a bag that can easily be heated without the fear of throwing single small products. This also allows customers to carry the package.

High resistance. PVC shrink film is highly resistant to acids, UV rays, alkalis, oils, and various corrosive mineral chemicals. The heating process allows the film to shrink and tighten around the products. PVC shrink film has other advantages such as being non-flammable, easy to process, a good electrical insulator, flexible, uniform thermal shrinkage, tough, and suitable for high-speed and automatic packaging.

Applications of PVC shrink film

PVC shrink film is utilized in various applications like food, medicine, alcohol, beverage and mineral water, electronic goods, toys, and others. During its early years and before the onset of polyethylene film, companies opt to buy PVC film. However, there are environmental concerns that make it less popular than it did many years ago.

How PVC Shrink Film is Used

There is a similar process when it comes to packing PVC shrink film. Factories and retail stores use shrink rope in the final packaging of products. The film is heated by a heat tunnel or electric or gas heat gun. The film is catalyzed with heat to wrap it tightly around the contents. The created cover is transparent and a durable barrier for protection.

The production of PVC film uses rolls. The initial step includes a randomly cooled sheet that has no specific structure. After heating, the chains align in the unstructured areas. The molecules are arranged in a randomly random pattern to pair with that of the template of the content. After cooling down the film, the properties will change which will result in shrinking and stretching the film.

Setbacks in using PVC film

Despite the less expensive costs of PVC film compared to others, there is a dramatic decrease in its production because of the increase in demand of polyolefin and polyethylene film. The following are the reasons why there is a removal of PVC:

Brittle. PVC shrink film gets brittle in cold weather and changes in hot weather. This decreases the strength of the sealing which eventually results in not having good protection. On the contrary, polyolefin is highly resistant to temperature changes and can be used in a wide range of temperatures without any structural changes.

Release of toxic substances. The sealing of PVC film involves the release of carbon deposits and hydrogen chloride into the air. Polyolefin shrink film releases fewer fumes when sealed because it is free from chlorine and does not release hydrochloric gas as a by-product.

Hazard to Workers. The film might have detrimental effects on the workers. The heating of PVC shrink film releases hydrochloric gas which poses as a threat to the health of factory workers during production and to the general public when decomposed or incinerated. There are countries that have legalized the banning of PVC.

Special storage. Products that use PVC in their packaging result in carbon deposits. Thus, there is a need to use a special storage condition for the package to maintain its properties. This is not required in polyethylene.

Conclusion

PVC Shrink Films has been in the packaging industry. Zhongcheng has been a world leader in the production of PVC shrink films for years. If you need to use PVC shrink films in your products, feel free to contact us.