what is polyethylene?
Polyethylene is a type of polyolefin, meaning it is a single monomer film that is formed with the addition of ethylene during polymerization. PE is used in several forms of flexible protective packaging, including shrink film and stretch film, performing very differently for each.
type of polyethylene
The three most common forms of PE include High-Density Polyethylene, Low-Density Polyethylene, and Linear Low-Density Polyethylene.
Why Shrink and Stretch film is different?
Shrink film and stretch film are often confused, as they look very similar and as mentioned above, can both be made of polyethylene. However, they each perform very differently:
When PE is used in a shrink film application, it is loosely placed over a single item or multiple items around which it will shrink when heat is applied, creating a tight, tamper-resistant seal of protection.
When PE is used in stretch applications, it is formulated differently to be able to stretch around items. The elastic memory of the film, along with its ability to cling to itself, keeps a tight layer of protection around the items. Stretch film is generally used for palletizing, or unitizing multiple items on a pallet to keep them from shifting during shipment. Stretch film usually stretches about 100-300%, whereas shrink film will typically only stretch to around 50-75% before breakage occurs.
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