Shrink film is a common type of packaging film. In packaging applications, the heat shrink phenomenon is often utilized to achieve wrapping or bundling effects. Additionally, it is used to protect contents from contamination or damage. Shrink film can be classified into four main categories (PVC shrink film, PE shrink film, POF shrink film, and other shrink films) based on different raw materials and processes.

Characteristics of PVC Shrink Film: PVC shrink film is one of the oldest types of shrink film. It is produced through a secondary expansion process of polyvinyl chloride. PVC shrink film features high transparency, rigidity, and a low shrinkage temperature. In recent years, POF shrink film has dominated a significant portion of the PVC shrink film market in the display packaging field. However, PVC shrink film still occupies the majority of the market share in the shrink sleeve label market due to its low cost, high shrinkage rate, and ease of printing. However, its use is increasingly restricted due to environmental requirements as harmful gases are generated during processing.

Characteristics of PE Shrink Film: PE shrink film is another long-standing type of shrink film. As the name suggests, PE shrink film is a heat-shrinkable film made from polyethylene. Unlike PVC shrink film, PE shrink film is produced using the ordinary blown film process. Due to the high processing temperature (far exceeding the melting point of polyethylene), low-density polyethylene with a large number of long-chain structures is generally used as the raw material for production. This allows for the production of films with sufficient shrinkage. In recent years, with the development of catalyst and polymerization technologies, some new metallocene polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene can provide excellent mechanical properties and shrinkage rates. As a result, the market has seen a large number of high-transparency, high-strength PE shrink films.