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09/23/2024Shrink film is a versatile plastic material used to wrap and protect products. When heat is applied, the film shrinks tightly around the item, providing a secure, tamper-evident seal. The most commonly used shrink films are polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyolefin (POF), and polyethylene (PE). Below is a closer look at these shrink films and their applications. Furui Machinery offers a wide range of shrink wrapping machines designed to work with these films. Please contact us for more details!
Types of Shrink Film: PE, POF, and PVC
1. PVC Shrink Film
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shrink film is a popular and economical choice for packaging non-food items. All of our shrink tunnels can work with PVC film, while the BS-260, BS-4020(B), and BS-4535(B) models are designed specifically for PVC film.
Advantages
- High Clarity: PVC film offers excellent transparency, making it ideal for retail display packaging.
- Cost-Effective: PVC is more affordable compared to POF film, making it a budget-friendly option.
- High shrinkage: PVC film can fit tightly to the surface of the product and is not easy to slip or loosen.
Disadvantages
- Environmental Concerns: PVC contains chlorine, and when burned, it releases harmful substances, making it less eco-friendly.
- Temperature Sensitivity: PVC film tends to be soft in summer but becomes hard and brittle in winter.
- Not Food-Safe: PVC is not recommended for food packaging due to potential chemical leaching.
Applications
- Non-Food Product Packaging: Ideal for packaging toys, magazines, glassware, and electronics.
- Bundled Packaging: Used for collective packing of products like liquor and sports equipment.
2. PE Shrink Film
Polyethylene (PE) film is known for its strength, durability, and flexibility, making it perfect for industrial applications or wrapping large or heavy items. Our BSE series heat shrink tunnels can work with PE, PVC, PP, and POF films, ensuring a tight and durable wrap for industrial products.
Advantages
- Thickness and Strength: PE films are thicker and highly resistant to punctures and tears, making them suitable for heavy-duty packaging.
- Environmental Adaptability: With excellent cold and heat resistance, PE films are ideal for outdoor packaging.
- Eco-Friendly: PE shrink film is non-toxic and odorless, contributing to environmentally responsible packaging.
- Durability: Its high strength, waterproof, and dustproof properties provide superior protection for products.
Disadvantages
- Limited Clarity: PE films offer lower transparency and gloss compared to POF and PVC, making them less suitable for visually appealing packaging.
- Low Shrink Rate: With a shrink rate of around 20%, PE film may not provide the tightness required for certain applications.
Applications
- Heavy Package Wrapping: Commonly used for bundling large goods like bottled drinks, wine, and textiles.
- Industrial Packaging: Ideal for wrapping bulky machinery, composite flooring, and metal products.
3. POF Shrink Film
Polyolefin (POF) shrink film is highly versatile and widely used across various industries, especially for retail and food packaging. The BS series shrink tunnel machines are suitable for PP, PVC, and POF films, especially POF films.
Advantages
- High Clarity: POF films offer excellent transparency and a high-gloss finish, enhancing product presentation.
- Non-Toxic and Food-Safe: POF is free of harmful substances and releases no toxic gases when heat-sealed, making it safe for food packaging.
- Tear Resistance: POF is flexible and resistant to punctures, making it suitable for delicate products.
- Low Temperature Shrinkage: POF shrinks evenly at lower temperatures, ensuring smooth wrapping.
- High Shrinkage Rate: With shrinkage rates above 50%, POF provides a tight, secure fit around products of all shapes and sizes.
Disadvantages
- Higher Cost: POF films are generally more expensive than PE and PVC.
- Limited Temperature Resistance: POF may not perform optimally in extreme temperatures.
Applications
- Food and Medicine Packaging: Suitable for baked goods, fruits, and pharmaceuticals.
- Consumer Goods: Ideal for packaging cosmetics, toys, electronics, and other light products.
- Display Packaging: Often used for gift boxes and retail items requiring attractive presentation.
Tips for Choosing the Right Shrink Film
- Product Requirements: For food and retail packaging, POF is the best option due to its clarity and safety. For industrial applications, PE’s strength makes it the ideal choice.
- Clarity: For products where appearance matters, POF and PVC offer higher clarity compared to PE.
- Strength and Durability: PE film is the strongest, making it suitable for heavy or bulky items.
- Environmental Considerations: POF film is the most eco-friendly option, while PVC poses environmental risks and is better for non-food packaging uses.
- Cost: PVC is the most affordable, followed by PE and POF.
- Equipment Compatibility: Choose the film that is compatible with your shrink tunnel machine. For example, our PE shrink tunnel machines can adapt to PVC and POF films, while PVC and POF machines cannot effectively handle PE films. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us!
Below is a table showing the differences between PVC, PE, and POF films.
| Property | PVC | PE | POF |
| Material Type | Polyvinyl Chloride | Polyethylene | Polyolefin |
| Cost | Low | Medium | High |
| Shrinkage | Medium | Low | High |
| Recyclability | Difficult to recycle, not food-safe | Recyclable, food-safe | Recyclable, food safe |
| Clarity | High | Poor | High |
| Strength | Moderate strength | High strength | High strength |
| Thickness | 0.02-0.06mm | 0.06-0.2mm | 0.03-0.1mm |
| Heating Time | 5-10s | 10-60s | 8-16s |
| Shrink Temperature | 110-130°C | 150-180°C | 130-170°C |
Conclusion
In conclusion, selecting the right shrink film is crucial to optimizing your packaging process. PVC, PE, and POF films each have distinct properties, making them suitable for different applications. At Furui Machinery, we offer a wide range of shrink wrapping machines compatible with these films to meet your packaging needs. Contact us today to find the right solution for your business!
