Differences:BOPP Film VS BOPET Film VS BOPA Film

BOPP, BOPET, and BOPA films have different characteristics. It is important to choose the right film. BOPP film is low in cost and has high transparency, so it is often used for food and bread packaging.BOPET film is tough and resistant to high temperatures. It is often used for electrical appliance packaging. BOPA film is strong and has good barrier properties. It is suitable for fresh produce and frozen foods. When choosing, consider cost, appearance, and actual needs. The right choice will extend shelf life, be popular with consumers, and be environmentally friendly.

This guide introduces their characteristics, applications, and advantages and disadvantages to help you make a better choice.

What is BOPP?

What is BOPP?

BOPP film is a biaxially oriented polypropylene film. It is made by stretching polypropylene with a special machine in the longitudinal and transverse directions. This changes the arrangement of the molecular chains or chain ends, giving BOPP excellent strength and transparency. BOPP film has a wide range of applications, including packaging, labeling, and composite materials, and is widely used in many fields.

Features of BOPP

• Moisture resistance: Excellent water resistance and vapor barrier properties.
• Light weight: BOPP has a very low density, which means that more film can be produced per pound of raw material. This greatly reduces costs for large-scale, high-volume production.
• Good transparency and gloss: High transparency and excellent gloss. Provides excellent product visibility and makes products more attractive.

Uses of BOPP film

BOPP film has a wide range of applications, mainly in the following areas:

• Food and beverage packaging: High strength, durable, and moisture-proof. Can be made into a variety of packaging bags to ensure the transportation and storage of food and beverages.
• Labels and branding: High transparency, smooth surface, and easy to print. Can be used to make eye-catching labels, which is conducive to brand enhancement.
• Laminating material: Enhances strength and durability. Suitable for printed materials such as brochures and posters.
• Tamper-proof film: Used for packaging pharmaceuticals and electronic components. Ensures product safety and enhances consumer trust.
• Personal care product packaging: Protects products and maintains quality; creates attractive packaging to enhance brand awareness.
• Medical packaging: High strength and transparency. Can be made into various medical packaging; protects medical devices and facilitates identification.
• Tape: High strength and tear-resistant, suitable for manufacturing various types of tape. Meets strong adhesive requirements.
• Agricultural film: High transparency and weather resistance. Can be used as greenhouse coverings and mulch to protect crops.

Advantages and Disadvantages of BOPP

Advantages: Low cost, transparent, durable, environmentally friendly, lightweight. Reduces product damage caused by transportation. Keeps products dry, no need for layering, high transparency, and UV-resistant.

Disadvantages: Poor Heat-Sealing Performance; Due to the non-polar nature of the film surface, it has a wide range of crystallization properties. This can lead to poor printing performance and poor ink adhesion. However, after technical improvements, many of these disadvantages have been improved through coating and the addition of special additives.

What is BOPET?

BOPET is made from Oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). It has high tensile strength, good chemical properties and dimensional stability, and is also transparent. It has good barrier properties against gases and aromas, and is electrically insulating. Because its stretching method is similar to BOPP, it also has excellent strength and thermal stability.In packaging applications, BOPET effectively blocks oxygen and water vapor. It has high tensile strength and is fully recyclable. With a wide range of applications, it is a highly promising packaging material.

Features of BOPET

BOPET has many features. It has high rigidity, hardness, and toughness. It is puncture-resistant, wear-resistant, and resistant to high and low temperatures. It is resistant to chemical corrosion and oil, has airtightness and aroma retention, is non-toxic, odorless, and easy to recycle.

Its applicable temperature range is from -70°C to 150°C. It is resistant to high temperatures and can be used for microwave oven packaging. It has good gas barrier properties, and oxygen and carbon dioxide cannot penetrate it. It has extremely high transparency, excellent mechanical strength, thermal stability, and chemical resistance. It can adapt to various packaging needs. Its strength and rigidity also provide better structural protection for products.

Applications of BOPET

BOPET is durable and sturdy, making it highly favored in the food packaging industry. It is often used to package foods that need to be stored for long periods of time. It is also suitable for protective films in industrial and electronic products.

Its advantages are obvious in pre-packaged food packaging. This material is strong and transparent, and is particularly resistant to high temperatures. When pre-cooked food is heated in a microwave oven, the packaging does not deform or melt at all. There is no need to change the packaging, which is very convenient. It can also be used for flexible printed circuits, displays, and insulation materials for electronic products.

Advantages and disadvantages of BOPET

BOPET has many advantages, such as heat resistance, no deformation at high temperatures, and no performance degradation. It is often used in electronic components in high-temperature environments. It is resistant to chemical corrosion and is not easily corroded or dissolved by chemicals. It is suitable for chemical equipment and chemical environments.

However, it also has drawbacks, primarily its high cost, which makes it more expensive than BOPP. This makes it less appealing for mid-to-low-end markets and companies with strict cost control requirements. Despite this, in many high-end applications where performance is critical, it remains an indispensable material.

What is BOPA？

BOPA film is a biaxially oriented polyamide film. It is produced using state-of-the-art three-layer co-extrusion and flat cast die extrusion processes. Polyamide is abbreviated as PA. It is also known as biaxially oriented polyamide (nylon) film, abbreviated as Bopa.PA6 and PA66 are commonly used in film production. However, due to the rapid crystallization rate of PA66, which makes processing more challenging, PA6 is typically preferred. BOPA offers excellent properties and is suitable for various high-end packaging applications. It features extremely high tensile strength, puncture resistance, and superior flexibility.

BOPA Applications

BOPA film is widely used in food packaging.

This is because of its excellent oxygen barrier performance. It prevents odors. It is often used for meat, sausage, smoked meat, smoked fish, grains, cheese, and other dairy products.
It is commonly found in packaging for high-temperature microwave cooking foods, frozen foods, vegetables, agricultural products, and marine products.
Used for frozen food packaging. BOPA’s high strength, puncture resistance, and cold resistance can protect food.

BOPA film is also used in medical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, mechanical, electronic, and other industrial packaging. In the medical field, it can protect medicines from moisture and oxidation;

• electronic component packaging can prevent environmental damage;
• agricultural products such as dried fruits and vegetables can be packaged to preserve freshness;
• cosmetic packaging can maintain the quality of liquid and cream cosmetics.

 Advantages and Disadvantages of BOPA

Advantages: Excellent barrier properties, effectively blocking gases and water vapor. Ideal for packaging items with high freshness requirements, such as food and pharmaceuticals, as it extends shelf life and ensures freshness and quality. High durability with strong tensile strength and puncture resistance, making it less prone to damage during transportation and handling. Provides excellent product protection and reduces losses.

Disadvantages: It is relatively expensive. It is sensitive to changes in humidity and temperature. Care must be taken during storage and handling to ensure appropriate environmental conditions, as performance may deteriorate—such as dimensional changes or reduced barrier properties—which can increase management complexity and costs.

comparison

Property	BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene)	BOPET (Biaxially Oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate)	BOPA (Biaxially Oriented Polyamide/Nylon)
Material	Polypropylene (PP)	Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)	Polyamide (Nylon)
Moisture Barrier	Low	High	High
Heat Resistance	Low (Melting point: 170°C)	High (Melting point: 260°C)	Medium (Good high/low temp resistance)
Gas Barrier	Low	High	Very High
Puncture/Abrasion Resistance	Low	High	Very High
Flexibility	Medium (Tg: −10°C)	Low	High
Cost	Low	Medium	High
Oxygen Barrier	Poor	Good	Good
Primary Applications	Snack packaging, labels, stationery	Food packaging, industrial uses, electrical insulation	Perishable food, medical, vacuum packaging
Liquid Barrier	Medium	High	Low
Metallization Suitability	Poor	Good	Good
Temperature Range	-50°C to 120°C	-70°C to 150°C	-60°C to 150°C
General Characteristics	High physical stability, good clarity, but variable heat-sealing & printability	Excellent mechanical properties, high/low temp resistance, chemical resistance, recyclable	Wear/corrosion-resistant, excellent oxygen barrier but poor water vapor barrier

Selecting the appropriate film

Selecting the appropriate film requires consideration of multiple factors.

• Barrier performance: For example, food packaging must block moisture and oxygen to prevent spoilage.
• Mechanical properties: This is crucial. Packaging film for outdoor products must be high-strength and flexible to withstand harsh environments.
• Cost considerations: Costs must stay within budget while aiming for high cost-effectiveness. The usage cycle must also be taken into account.
• Other factors: From production energy consumption and recyclability to sustainability and environmental friendliness after disposal. Ensuring environmental friendliness and quality is essential for selecting the appropriate film.