Polyethylene sleeve: characteristics, application

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The most common types of packaging are made from polyethylene film. Popular T-shirt bags and materials for product wrapping are made from it. However, in terms of convenience, the sleeve bag is the best option. Its advantages include the possibility of using material of different lengths. That is, in some way, the user himself can vary the packaging parameters. At the same time, the polyethylene sleeve retains all the advantages of classic bags, which include strength, ease of handling and tightness.

Where is polyethylene sleeve used?

The film is the basis for further production of bags. Therefore, it can be called universal. The sleeve can act as a consumable in the construction industry, in providing catering enterprises, as well as in households. As a rule, a polyethylene sleeve for packaging is used where it is supposed to work with large volumes of a product or goods. For example, for packing bulk materials. The absence of pronounced seams and perforations allows you to organize automatic packaging lines that do not require the involvement of operators.

The film is used in the form of a sleeve and in specialized areas. So, there is polyethylene, originally designed for use in electrical needs. With the help of such a package, you can isolate devices and devices, protect them from moisture. A polyethylene sleeve for seedlings is also common, which is subject to increased requirements in terms of environmental cleanliness.

Production technology

Again, polyethylene is originally a raw material for the manufacture of bags with handles and other specialized or household containers. The sleeve, in turn, is a derivative of the general process for obtaining film material. For its manufacture, plastic granules with certain quality characteristics are used. During the melting process, a polyethylene sleeve is formed for packaging in the form of a film. In the future, manufacturers can divide the roll into segments, creating a semi-finished product for a full-fledged bag with handles.

In order to increase strength, manufacturers also add special additives, plasticizers and modifiers to the primary composition. As a result, the polyethylene sleeve acquires improved tensile strength qualities. Also, the technological process may include printing and creating folded inserts. But such operations are usually performed on special orders.

Features

The length of the package is usually not fixed - the sleeve is produced in one piece. As for the width, the most common formats are 20, 30 and 40 cm, althoughdepending on the capabilities of the equipment, this corridor of standard sizes can increase. In terms of thickness, most of the films fit into the range of 30–200 µm. Despite the thin structure, the polyethylene sleeve can withstand heavy loads - several tens of kilograms. It is noteworthy that materials made from recycled polyethylene have thicker layers, which also leads to high strength characteristics.

Film performance

As already noted, the technical characteristics of polyethylene are determined to a large extent by additives that are introduced during the manufacturing process. In particular, sliding modifiers endow the material with a lower coefficient of friction. This simplifies the opening of the sleeve, gives the film a specific shine, but at the same time eliminates the static effect. Especially to prevent sticking of the inner walls of the material, anti-blocking additives are also used. With such an addition, the film not only gets rid of the sticking effect, but also acquires surface roughness. The means of providing external protection, which are supplemented with polyethylene film, are also common. The sleeve, in the processing of which a flame retardant was used, for example, is resistant to fire. The principle of fire suppression is implemented by introducing layered silicate composites that form a carbonaceous layer. As a result, a refractory barrier is formed, which also prevents the release of volatile products during combustion.

Material cost

Usually manufacturers set prices inindividually, focusing on the parameters of a particular order. The cost is affected by the dimensions of the canvas, and the thickness, as well as the operational properties that the polyethylene film is endowed with. The price of rolls with a width of 15 to 150 cm averages 180-200 rubles per 1 kg. In this case, the thickness can vary from 40 to 120 microns. A thicker film can increase the price tag by another 50 rubles. per kilogram, but even here a lot depends on the volume of the order.

Small-format products in the form of sleeves with a width of 6 to 15 cm are also common. With the help of such a film, small packaging bags can be formed at catering establishments. However, there are many industrial enterprises where small-format polyethylene film is used. The price in this case is already 250-300 rubles per 1 kg. The increase in cost is due to the complexity of the process of manufacturing rolls with a small width.

Conclusion

With the help of practical material made of polyethylene, it is possible to provide both mechanical protection of the product and protect it from exposure to elevated temperatures with humidity. At the same time, technologists strive to obtain new performance qualities of the material due to improved modifiers. In particular, if you plan to use a polyethylene sleeve in places exposed to sunlight, you should pay attention to the content of light stabilizers in the structure. So, if the film is purchased to cover the greenhouse, then the open sun will not harm the heat-resistant coating. Conversely, to keepelasticity and strength at low temperatures, use a film containing frost-resistant additives.