Technical Glossaries
Please find below some packaging material related facts and technical glossaries commonly used in the industry.
Packaging materials
HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
High-density polyethylene (HDPE), one of the polyethylene material is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from petroleum.
It is crisp and tactile and has a high strength-to-density ratio. Has a translucent properties and transparency property is the lowest among polyethylene materials.
HDPE is mostly used in the production of plastic bottles, corrosion-resistant piping, geomembranes, plastic lumber and relatively thinner plastic bags in the packaging industry.
LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), one of the polyethylene material is a polyethylene thermoplastic made from the monomer ethylene.
Excellent transparency and is strong against cold and heat (about -60 ° C to 90 ° C). It has soft and supple properties.
LDPE is mostly used for manufacturing various containers, dispensing bottles, wash bottles, tubing and relatively thicker plastic bags in the packaging industry.
LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene)
Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), one of the polyethylene material is considered a linear polymer, with substantial numbers of short branches, commonly made by copolymerization of ethylene with longer-chain olefins.
Transparency is slightly inferior compared to LDPE (Low-density polyethylene).
It has excellent pinhole resistance, stronger tension, tear and strong impact, stronger seal strength and have a higher heat resistance properties.
IPP (Inflation Polypropylene)
A polypropylene film formed into a tubular shape by a polypropylene inflation tubular film blowing machine.
It has a high transparency and excellent tear resistance properties.
Commonly used in clothing and bread packagings.
OPP / BOPP (Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene)
It is a film made by stretching polypropylene in two directions, vertically and horizontally using polypropylene as its raw material.
Because the film is stretched, it has properties of being strong and rigid.
High moisture resistance and transparency and commonly used for side seal bags of product packagings.
CPP (Cast Polypropylene)
Compared to OPP, transparency is slightly inferior but has heat-sealing properties, has good mechanical properties, has excellent moisture resistance and wear resistance.
Often used for direct mail transparent envelopes, confectionery, snack foods, instant noodles, pastries, retort food, textile products and household goods.
Production Process
Heat Sealing
The process of melting and sealing plastic film using heat.
Side Sealing (Sealing both sides of the film)
The process of folding a sheet of film in half and sealing both sides to form a bag.
Bottom Sealing
The process of sealing the bottom side of the film to form a bag.
Gusset (Side/Bottom)
A gusseted bag has an extra piece of material used to strengthen and expand a bag that allows you to package thicker or bulkier items.
There are two common types of gusset bags, bottom gusset bags, and side gusset bags.
Common samples of side gusset bags are regular plastic shopping bags. With a gusset on both sides of the bag, it allows more room for more items.
Thermal Cutting
The process of cutting while sealing with heat.
Die Cutting
The process of using a die to shear a piece of film to form a bag.
Mostly used to form the handle of the bag.
Printing
Flexographic Printing
A printing method using convex resin plate.
The same concept as Hanko (Japanese seal used as a signature), put ink in the protrusion then pressing it against the film to print.
Gravure Printing
With the variations of the deepness of each cell, printing graduations of colors are possible with gravure printing.
UV Printing
UV printing refers to a printing method that uses ultra-violet lights to cure or dry ink as the printer distributes the ink on the surface of a material (sheet of film).
Advantages of a UV printing is that It saves a great deal of time and money as there is no need to produce plates. It also contributes to the reduction of environmental waste by cutting back the need for constant cleaning.