Polyolefin, PVC, and Polyethylene are common shrink film materials on the market. Choosing the right shrink film can help you achieve your work goals quickly. So which of these three packaging films is best suited for you? Next, we’ll provide a detailed explanation.
What is Polyolefin?
Polyolefin shrink film is the preferred material for shrink films. It offers excellent performance and is widely used for packaging a variety of products. It is typically suitable for packaging food, daily necessities, and other items.
What is Polyethylene?
Polyethylene shrink film is cost-effective. It can reach thicknesses of up to 1200 specifications, and even 1500 specifications. Polyethylene is a recyclable packaging film. It can be used for packaging large industrial products like ships and shipping pallets. It comes in three types.
Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE): It has lower density, better flexibility, corrosion resistance, and impact resistance. It can be used to manufacture plastic bags and other types of sacks.
Linear Low-Density Polyethylene (LLDPE): It offers better tear resistance and puncture resistance than LDPE, with higher strength. It can be used to manufacture stretch film, industrial film, and other similar products.
High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE): HDPE is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for use in food contact applications. It is durable, waterproof, and suitable for food packaging, retail product packaging, and pallet wrapping. However, it has poor oxidation resistance.
What is PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)?
PVC shrink film is the material for meteor shower plastic box packaging, such as DVD boxes, gift packaging, game boxes, etc. It is very tear-resistant.
Differences in Properties Between Polyolefins, PVC, and Polyethylene
Below, we will compare these three materials from multiple angles. We aim to provide assistance using our expertise.
What Is the Difference Between Polyolefins and Polyethylene?
Polyolefins are a broad term encompassing all polymers derived from olefins. Polyethylene specifically refers to polymers derived from ethylene. They differ primarily in their chemical and physical properties.
- Polyolefins are softer and less prone to breakage.
- Polyethylene exhibits a variety of molecular structures and different densities.
- Polyethylene offers superior tensile strength and portability.
- Polyolefin is suitable for direct food contact.
- Questions about PVC heat shrink film
What Is The Difference Between PVC And Polyolefins (PE)?
Polyethylene and polyolefins are both plastics formed through free radical polymerization reactions.
Polyolefin shrink film offers excellent transparency and high shrinkage rates. It is suitable for use in the food industry. PVC material provides superior durability and shrink resistance. Its relatively low cost makes it one of the most widely used shrink films.
What is the difference between PVC and polyolefins (PE)?
Both PVC and polyolefins are commonly used transparent films in packaging.
Compared to polyolefins, PVC is more expensive. Polyolefins have broader applications and functionality. They are suitable for direct food contact. PVC materials are less durable for packaging and have a shorter lifespan.
Comparison of Heat Shrink Films
| Material Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Polyolefin |
High transparency. High strength and puncture resistance. Excellent flexibility. Can bundle multiple product units directly. Can contact food directly. Electrical insulation. Strong chemical corrosion resistance. Various shrink film types: cross-linked polyolefin shrink film, high-performance thin and tough shrink film. |
High price. Low shrinkage temperature (can be as low as 90°C). Highest shrinkage rate up to 80% compared with other products. It is recommended to use low-temperature shrink film or cross-linked shrink film. |
| Polyethylene |
Thicker and more durable, strong protection. Suitable for heavy industrial shrink packaging. High transparency. Suitable for shrink and stretch packaging, flexible. Lowest price. |
Shrinkage requires heating. Not suitable for heat-sensitive products. Except HDPE, others cannot be used for food packaging. Polyolefin is recommended for food packaging. |
| PVC |
Strong tear resistance. Clear and transparent packaging. Easy to open. Low price. Most commonly used traditional heat shrink film, widely applied. |
Has chlorine. Made of polyvinyl chloride, cannot be used for food packaging. Releases toxic substances such as hydrogen chloride and chlorine when heated. Requires ventilation and other precautions during the shrink process. Softens at high temperature, unstable. Not recommended for packaging multiple units of products. |
Application Differences Between Polyolefins, PVC, and Polyethylene
Polyolefins
Polyolefin shrink film offers superior performance and broad applicability across various industries. This stems from its moisture resistance and freshness preservation properties. Which allows direct food contact.
- Food Industry: Suitable for both short- and long-shelf-life foods. Cheese packaging, snack packaging, fresh produce packaging, meat packaging, and baked goods.
- Electronics: Cross-linked heat-shrink film prevents static buildup during the packaging of electronics. Smartphones, computers, tablets.
- Pharmaceuticals & Health Supplements: Outer packaging for bottled medications requires additional film sealing to ensure a secure closure, such as for fish oil and Vitamin B.
- Manufactured Goods: Covers most products on the market: children’s toys, kitchenware, shampoo, body wash, and household cleaning tools.
- Industrial Products: Suitable for packaging various construction and renovation materials. Pipes, panels.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene applications are primarily in agriculture and industry. It is not suitable for food packaging.
- Agriculture: Strong barrier properties for heat and moisture retention. Also provides insect protection: greenhouse insulation, mulch film, and agricultural tunnels.
- Industry: Polyethylene film offers excellent waterproofing and sealing properties, suitable for waterproof layers, equipment packaging, and general merchandise packaging.
- Medical: Polyethylene is waterproof and impermeable to liquids. Used in IV bags.
Conclusion
The above explains the differences between Polyethylene, Polyolefin, and PVC. To choose among these three shrink films, first identify your packaging requirements. Each has distinct advantages and disadvantages. Selecting the appropriate one enhances efficiency and reduces costs. Using a safe, durable shrink film ensures maximum object protection. Whether you need PVC, Polyolefin, or PE, explore our products online.
Why Choose BestY Pack?
We are a professional film manufacturer from China. Our factory employs world-leading production technology. With complete production lines, we deliver superior product quality.
Still struggling to choose the right packaging solution? BestY Pack provides the optimal answer. Our production team possesses specialized expertise. We design the best solutions tailored to your needs. We have numerous long-term partners. Based on their product characteristics, we create customized packaging solutions tailored to each client’s needs.
We focus on practical packaging needs. The finest raw materials and technology are our commitment.
FAQ:
Which material is suitable for shrink film?
The suitability of shrink film material depends on product requirements.
Polyolefin offers high strength, making it ideal for products with sharp surfaces. For most industrial products, Polyolefin is more suitable. Specific snacks and processed foods can also use Polyolefin, as it is food-contact safe.
PVC offers strong sealing properties and a rigid texture. It is commonly used for sealing bottle caps, particularly in the pharmaceutical and beverage industries. Cosmetics often feature a transparent PVC seal that is removed before opening.
Is Polyolefin Toxic and Dangerous?
Polyolefin exhibits strong corrosion resistance. It is generally non-toxic and harmless. It is safe for skin contact and meets food contact standards, being FDA-approved. The drawback of Polyolefin is its weaker oxidation resistance. It degrades easily under sunlight. Compared to other materials, it has a lower shrinkage rate. However, it’s important to note that PVC becomes brittle when heated. It is unsuitable for bundling multi-unit products.
Is PVC Heat Shrink Film Safe for Food Packaging?
PVC is unsuitable for food packaging. When heated, PVC releases toxic gases, including chlorides, which can contaminate food and water. According to the U.S. NIH website, “One kilogram of PVC heated to 300 degrees C releases an estimated 12.9 g of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and 4.9 g of carbon monoxide (CO).” (Source:National Institutes of Health)
Hello, customers
My name is Jack Yu. I am the Business Manager at BestY Pack Plastic Products. My areas of expertise include film packaging, cold chain transportation packaging, and shrink products. Additionally, our factory manufactures protective gloves, and I can provide you with professional solutions to help you increase your market share and enhance consumer trust.
Email: ﾠjackyu@bestypack.com
Tel: +86 18368319351