Polyethylene
&
its applications
Presented by:
Saurabh Tripathi
Flexible Packaging
Non-rigid packaging structures used to package and
protect various food and non-food products in the retail
and industrial business forum.
Covers a wide range of packaging that can be single and
multi-layered.
It can be paper/poly/foil or nylon or a combination of
materials which are supplied either plain/printed/coated
and/or laminated to provide long shelf life properties.
End products packaged include confectionery, snack
foods, frozen foods, soups and pharmaceuticals.
Polyolefin
POLYOLEFIN is a generic term for
POLYETHYLENE (PE) and POLYPROPYLENE
(PP) plastics.
How PE films are made ?
Blown Film Extrusion
Blown-Film Extrusion Process
Blown-Film Extrusion Process combines extrusion and
blowing to produce a tube of thin film.
Process begins with extrusion of tube that is drawn
upward while still molten and simultaneously
expanded by air inflated into it through die mandrel
air is blown into tube to maintain uniform film
thickness and tube diameter.
Co-extrusion Process
PE Demand by Conversion Process
• Food Packaging
• Hygiene & Medical
Film • Consumer & Ind. Liners
• Stretch Films
• Agricultural Films
Polyethylene
LDPE
HDPE
LLDPE
HMHDPE
UHMHDPE
XLPE
It is also the least expensive of all
polymer packaging films.
Itis possible to alter basic properties of
LDPE film by blending other polymers
and/or additives, like LLDPE, Color
Pigments, Black Carbon etc. to meet your
specific application.
Improved Tensile Properties.
Higher Elongation.
Improved Stress Crack Resistance and
Low Temperature Brittleness.
Improved Stiffness.
Fabrication Versatility
Film (blown and cast) extrusion
Injection molding
Blow molding
Sheet, profile, or pipe extrusion
Thermoforming
Rotomolding
Foaming
Wire & Cable
Markets/Applications for PE
Rigid and flexible packaging
Films, Bottles, Food Storage, Shrink film
Hygiene and medical (nonwovens)
Pipe and Tubing
Fibers
Consumer and industrial liners
Automotive applications
Stretch film and heavy duty shipping sacks
Agricultural films
Footwear
Wire and Cable
Durables, Toys
Polyethylene in
Packaging
Raw material - Polyethylene
Process
Injection moulding
Blow moulding
Film extrusion
Lamination
Thermoforming
Polyethylene used in Packaging
Polyethylene
LDPE
LLDPE
HDPE
LDPE
Properties
Moderate moisture vapour barrier
Low gas barrier
Clear / inert / sealable
Density : 0.915 - 0.925
Application
Closures / lids
Packaging of horticulture produce
Ready to eat snack food
Pharma bottles
LLDPE
Properties
Density : 0.9150 - 0.925
Good impact strength
Clear / inert / sealable
Moderate moisture vapour barrier
Low gas barrier
Excellent puncture resistant / tear strength
Good ESCR property
Applications
Caps and closures / lids
Packaging of horticulture produce
Lamination film
Rotomoulded products
Ready to eat snack food
HDPE
Properties
Density : 0.940 - 0.96
Excellent moisture vapour barrier
Low gas barrier
Good strength and stiffness
Hazy
Application
Caps and closures / lids
Bottles / Drums
Films for lamination
Crates
woven sacks
Containers
HMHDPE
Properties
Density : 0.944 - 0.96
Excellent moisture vapour barrier
Low gas barrier
Good impact strength and stiffness
Hazy
Excellent ESCR
Application
Bottles / Drums
Films
Polyethylene Properties
Type Specific Water Gas Resistance Use Applications
vapor to grease temperature
gravity barrier barrier and oils range (°F)
Ultra low density 0.880-0.890 Good Poor Good -60 to 210 Films, cross-linked foams
Linear low density 0.900-0.910 Good Fair Good -60 to 210 Pallets, thermoformed
container films, coatings,
nettings, foams
Low density 0.910-0.925 Good Fair Good -60 to 180 Bottles, tubs, cups, tubing,
closures, drums, pails
Processability of LLDPE in
relation to LDPE & HDPE
Property LDPE LLDPE HDPE
Film Best Medium Most difficult
Moulding Flexible Stiffer but warps less Rigid
Blow Moulding Good parison strength Poor parison strength Rigid stiff parison
Rotational Moulding Good flow Best flow More rigid
Power Coating Low temp. flexibility Higher temp. needed Rigid
Cross Linked Foam Easy to control Difficult to control Easy to control
Application & Structures
Caps & Closures
Process - injection moulding
Material - PP / PE
Specification - based on neck dia in mm and
type of threading
Application & Structures
Containers
Process - injection moulding / thermoforming
Material - PP / PE
Specification - based on volume of container
Application & Structures
Bottles
Process - blow moulding/ IBM/ Multilayer
Material - PE
Specification - based on volume, neck dia and
type of threading
Application & Structures
Tubes
Process - lamination / extrusion / blow
moulding
Material - PP / PE / PET / EVOH / Adhesive /
Nylon
Specification - based on volume of tube
Limitations
Polyethylene does not biodegrade unless
first oxidized.
Polyolefines are highly susceptible to
photooxidation, or oxidation caused by the
exposure to light.
Shrink Wrapping
Shrink Wrapping
Stretch Wrapping
Stretch Wrapping
IS : 2508 (1984) - Low Density Polyethylene Films
TEST EQUIPMENT RANGE & UNIT
Density Electronic Balance 1 g/cc
Melt Flow Index Melt Flow Index 190 deg cent.
Tester
Thickness Thickness Tester Above 40 micron
Tensile Strength UTM kg/cm2
Elongation at break UTM %
Impact Resistance Dart Impact Tester gf
Carbon Black Carbon Black Tester 1-3%
Appearance Observation -
IS : 2508 (1984) - Low Density Polyethylene Films
TEST EQUIPMENT RANGE & UNIT
Width Scale mm
Haze Haze Meter more than 6%
Co efficient of Co efficient of More than 0.4
Friction Friction tester
Gloss Gloss meter %
IS : 7903 (2011) Textiles - Tarpaulines Made From High Density
Polyethylene Woven Fabric
TEST EQUIPMENT RANGE & UNIT
Identification of the DSC
Major Component
Carbon Black Carbon black Min: 2.5%
Content content tester
Measuring Tape mm
Dimensions (L X W)
Electronic Balance Min: 200g/m2
Mass
Breaking Strength & UTM Min: 981 N
Elongation
Testing and Evaluation of Plastic Films,
Laminates & Pouches
Thickness
Standard : IS 2508 –
1984 Low Density
Polyethylene Films
Unit : mm / Gauge /
Microns Affects:
• Mechanical
properties
Equipment : Dial
Gauge Micrometer • Barrier properties
• Seal-ability and
• Product protection.
Tensile Strength & Elongation
• The maximum stress that a material can
withstand while being stretched or pulled
apart
• Depends on the fiber strength, mostly on
degree of bonding between fibers
Standard : As per ASTM D 882
Unit : Kg/cm2
Equipment: Shimadzu UTM
Strain / Elongation – change in length /
original length and given as percentage
Density
The weight per unit volume of Material
Equipment : Density Meter
Unit : g/cc
Standard : IS:2508, ASTM D1895
Significance : Criteria for identification of
material
HAZE
Standard : ASTM D 1003
Equipment : Haze Meter
Unit : Percentage
GLOSS
Standard : ASTM D-2457
Equipment : Gloss meter
Unit :Percentage Measurement Of Shining
Appearance Of Film
Significance:
Comparative study of surface property and
aesthetic appearance
HEAT SEAL STRENGTH
• Standard Used: ASTM F 88
• Equipment : Shimadzu UTM
• Unit : Kgf/25mm
• Depends On:
Dwell Time ,Temperature , Pressure, Seal
Contamination, Thickness Variation, MFI, Type Of
Sealant Layer, Type Of Sealing Process (Impulse /
High Frequency / Ultrasonic).
PEEL or STRIPPING STRENGTH
Standard : ASTM D 903
Equipment : Tensile Tester.
Unit : gf/25mm.
Reliability of continuing adhesion during packaging,
sealing and storage.
The Degree Of Bond Varies :-
• The Adhesive Used.
• The Quantity Of Adhesive.
• Affinity To Moisture.
• Excess Solvent Retention.
• Climatic Conditions.
DART IMPACT TEST
Standard : IS 2508 – 1984
Equipment : Dart Impact Tester
Unit : gf at 50% failure
Films Drop Height
Low Impact Film 220 Mm
Normal Impact 660 Mm
High Impact 1520 Mm
COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION
Standard :ASTM D-1894
Equipment : Mecmesin Friction Tester
Unit: unit-less
Two types: static & dynamic
Related to slip properties of films.
It can be film to film or film to metal
COF
Flex Crack Resistance
Standards: ASTM F 392
Equipment: United States Testing Co. Inc. (5000 ES)
•Gelbo-flex tester is used to determine the flex crack
resistance for the materials or products including
•Flexible plastic films
•Coextruded structures
•Coated films and paper
WATER VAPOUR TRANSMISSION RATE
• Standard : IS 1060 –II & ASTM F - 1249
• Equipment : Mocon WVTR tester
• Unit:(g/m2/24 hrs.) At 38 1c & 90 ± 2% RH.
• Most important barrier property for moisture sensitive
products
• Decides shelf life of the products
• Directly proportional to thickness
• Varies from polymer to polymer
OXYGEN TRANSMISSION RATE
Standard : ASTM D 1434
Equipment : Mocon OTR Tester
UNIT : cc / m2/ 24 hrs. At 23ºC and 1atm pressure
Most important property for oxygen sensitive products
Used to test vacuum packaging / gas packaging
materials
MIGRATION TEST
Standard : IS 9845
The phenomenon of transfer of substances from the
package to the product.
Unit : PPM , mg / (dm)2
The constituents which are transferred are known as
migrants.
Types of migration: Specific migration &
Overall migration.
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