Polyethylene packaging is a durable and reliable material for wrapping and protecting consumer goods. Its molecular structure makes it resistant to water vapor, chemicals, and solvents, and it can be heat sealed for a vacuum seal. Different grades provide unique properties, but it can have thermal expansion and UV vulnerability.
Polyethylene packaging consists of various shapes and grades of thermoplastic polyethylene sheet or film for wrapping, sealing and protecting consumer goods. Polyethylene, which is obtained from petroleum polymers, is the ideal medium in which to accomplish these tasks as the material is both durable and resistant to environmental hazards. Indeed, polyethylene packaging is considered superior to any other material for this purpose and its use is widespread in the flexible packaging market.
What makes polyethylene packaging so reliable is its molecular structure. Its cellular composition is so cross-linked that the passage of water vapor is practically impossible. This also makes polyethylene packaging resistant to damage from contact with chemicals or solvents, as well as being able to resist friction. Of course, there are different grades of polyethylene, ranging from very high density to low density and high molecular weight. Each type of polyethylene provides unique properties, such as elasticity, waterproofing, transparency or high tensile strength.
Another benefit of using polyethylene packaging is that many types can be heat sealed using ultrasonic or high steam heating methods. This simply means that the material can be wrapped around a product and then shrunk to fit the exact size of the item by applying heat. Because this forms a vacuum seal that moisture cannot permeate, polyethylene packaging is particularly desirable for wrapping and protecting electronic and computer components. It is also invaluable for making plastic packaging tamper proof. In addition, polyethylene sheets and films are available in different densities and thicknesses, as well as designer colors.
Polyethylene packaging is relatively cheap to produce. However, the ethane polymerization method used will determine the properties and manufacturing cost of the final product. Most often, polymerization is achieved with the addition of a chemical catalyst, such as titanium. However, further applications can be made during the process to achieve specific results. For example, high voltage treatment creates extended chain crystalline polyethylene, which is transparent despite having a very high density.
While polyethylene offers some advantages as a packaging material, it has some characteristics that can sometimes be considered disadvantages. First, some types of polyethylene tend to have a high degree of thermal expansion. In fact, polymers generally expand about four times more by volume than metals. Also, most types of medium density polyethylene do not have sufficient stiffness to be used in some packaging applications. Finally, polyethylene packaging is not impervious to ultraviolet light, making its properties vulnerable to degradation when exposed to sunlight for long periods.
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