All about metallized film

Properties and advantages of polyolefin films

Due to its properties, POF film has the following advantages:

• Strength, resistance to tearing, stretching, impact and puncture;
• Equal thickness, neat welds throughout the bond. Reliability. Resistance to high and low temperatures: polyolefin shrink film withstands heat up to +30 and frost up to -50 degrees Celsius;
• Lightness and speed of shrinkage, which reaches 64%, at a temperature of 120 degrees provides a shrinkage rate within two minutes up to 60%. With a high degree of shrinkage (up to 80%), it is possible to achieve the "second skin" effect and to pack objects with complex shapes;
• Complete tightness of the resulting coating;
• Resistant to solvents and fats;
• Glossy shine and high transparency. Pof film fits round and angular shapes of packed items equally well.
• Resistance to extraneous "chemical" odors;
• Ease of use and, in comparison with similar products, a small price;
• Environmental friendliness and safety of production and use of polyolefin films. For example, chlorine contained in another film material - PVC, harms the health of workers, quickly spoils the machines involved in production and shrinking processes, and pollutes the air during disposal.

Varieties

Metallic films can be of several varieties, each of which has its own characteristics. Some of them can be flexible, while others are tough.

Flexible

These include polypropylene and BOPP films. 90% of them are used in the food industry for packaging various food products. This includes a package of ice cream, various snacks, and glazed curds. 10% is used for non-food products, for example, window bases, for cars.

Hard

Their direct purpose is considered to be the production of thermoformed packaging. These include blisters, confectionery containers of different shapes or trays made of laminated PET film. In addition, rigid films are used as decorative inserts or drug blisters. PET films have the best properties. They are not afraid of moisture, resistant to ultraviolet rays. Manufacturers produce such products with both matte and glossy surfaces. As for the main color, then most often it is either gold or silver. Among the new technologies, it is worth noting self-adhesive films made of natural gold, which are most often used for street advertising. However, to work with them, a person must know not only theory, but also have experience.

Since there is no polymer base in such a film, the effect of an old mirror will not appear in it. In addition, the gold layer is protected from contamination, which makes it possible to use such a composite for 14-15 years. However, this material has a fairly high price. Also, one cannot fail to note another option - this is a metallized laminated tint film. With its help, you can protect the glass of the car from ultraviolet rays, prevent the interior from burning out, and also extend the life of some elements in the interior.

Varieties of PET films

1. OPET - various types of electrical insulation, polarizing film, etc. are made from it.
2. BOPET is distinguished by its special puncture resistance and thickness up to 4 microns; it is used for various types of flexible packaging (liquid and viscous food products, household chemicals, feed, etc.).
3. PET-G - used in the production of shrink labels.
4. A-PET - due to its thermal and shock resistance and hardness, is used in the production of packaging containers for frozen products.

Due to its plasticity, unsurpassed barrier characteristics, PET film is widely used in the packaging production of blisters and correctors for food products and packaging of technical spare parts and stationery, household appliances and souvenirs.

Varieties of PET blister packaging

Double-sided packaging made of rigid PET film is in two forms, folding into a kind of envelope with grooves for each part or part of the entire product and fastened with locks, which are special protuberances of the groove. Allows you to store and safely transport goods of any shape and size. Due to its relatively high cost, it is used for fragile and small parts.

With a folded edge - ode the form has folded edges, into which a cardboard or plastic base is inserted and fixed with glue or staples. Simple and inexpensive, it allows you to colorfully pack small items.

For welding - similar to the previous version, but it is connected to the base by gluing the flat edge of the form to the cardboard base. Excellent value for money.

Tuba - the original shape, stylishness and practicality of packaging allows it to be used for almost all types of products, from small stationery to gift bottles of wine or toys. Convenience of decoration and transportation, both empty packaging and with goods, make it very popular.

Showcases - lightweight and practical PET showcases are great for mobile decoration of any retail outlet. At the same time, it is almost impossible to use them for third-party goods, since the showcase is made with special shapes for a certain type of product.

Cutting-out is a transparent plastic box for stylized packaging of toys and confectionery products, souvenirs and high-quality textiles, cosmetics and a variety of stationery.

Correxes are a form for single-piece packaging of various goods, most often boxed chocolates. Transparent or metal-like "silver, copper or gold", it increases the transportability of the product and keeps its external characteristics at a high level for a long time.

Multi-layer packaging

Single-layer packaging films are being replaced by multilayer containers (3-7 layers), usually consisting of a protective inner PET film, a cardboard base, a metallized layer, a decorative paper layer and an outer protective PET layer. Often, when producing such a unique material, a combination of several methods is used: coextrusion and lamination, lamination and extrusion, etc.

In this type of packaging, the polymer is an indispensable part, protecting both the product from damage and leakage, and protects the packaging from destruction when the product hits it and exposure to light, moisture and temperature. It is used for packaging juices, milk, baby food, etc.

LDPE film production technology

When receiving the material, extruders are used, in which LDPE is processed in the form of granules or powder. Equipment for the production of high-pressure polyethylene differs structurally, based on the shape of the resulting products.

Products can be produced in the form:

• LDPE sheets
• LDPE sleeves.

The first type is formed with a pair of plates arranged in parallel, the second requires a round head.

The technological process consists of certain stages:

• raw materials are loaded into the hopper, additives are introduced in order to achieve the desired characteristics and shades of the future material;
• then the polymer mass enters the screw-shaped screw, where, under the rotational action created by pressure and friction, the raw material is heated and melted;
• when the mass becomes homogeneous, extrusion begins.Plastic flows are forced through the head, during which a linear high-pressure polyethylene or a sleeve is obtained;
• at the end of the forming process, the finished product is cooled, pulled by receiving devices, and wound into rolls.

Features and production

Metallized film is a base on one side of which aluminum is sprayed. A variety of polymer films can be used as the main material. The most common among them are polypropylene, which are abbreviated as BOPP. There are also polyethylene terephthalate films, abbreviated as BOPET. Slightly less often, both polystyrene and polyamide are used for manufacturing. The process of creating a metallized film is based on heating aluminum to a temperature when evaporation begins to occur. Usually it is in the range of 1600-1700 degrees Celsius.

To achieve such a temperature regime, it is necessary to put a piece of aluminum on tantalum, and then place it in a carbon crucible. Next, a high voltage current must be passed through it. After this, the evaporation process takes place. However, the most advanced option for the metallization of such a material is the use of spraying systems. It uses plasma, which is held by a magnetic field in specially made devices called magnetrons.

If we talk about the properties of metallized films, then they have a surface that slightly resembles aluminum foil. Such products have both advantages and disadvantages. For a start, it's worth noting the pros.

• First of all, it is the protection of packaged products from exposure to light.
• Improvement of gas barrier properties.
• The products look more attractive.
• The cost of metallized film packaging will be cheaper than foil packaging.
• As for the gold-plated film, its advantage lies in the duration of use.
• The metallized film is environmentally friendly.

As for the shortcomings, this material practically does not have them. The only thing that cannot be done is to microwave products packed in a metallized film. Otherwise, it will not only spark, but also burn, and this can lead to the creation of a fire hazard.

Material features

For even greater convenience of working with such material, it is processed during manufacture with an antistatic agent. The film, intended for showcases and billboards, has a solvent base for greater paint durability and a more colorful image (up to 3 years warranty).

Scope of application

Despite the fact that film for a laser printer or inkjet is expensive, the limitless possibilities of this direction and the impeccable quality of the finished image make it more and more popular.

The most common areas where images applied by a printing or copying machine to film are successfully used:

• making slides;
• printing of advertising materials;
• production of color separation forms;
• for raster and hatch projects;
• creation of original layouts;
• for transferring pictures to dishes, fabric, various computer devices, any surfaces (magnets, rubber, etc.);
• decoration of cars and motor vehicles using aquagraphics;
• showcase decor;
• production of posters, billboards, signs;
• issue of stickers, labels, stickers, etc .;
• transfer of temporary body tattoos;
• production of protective stickers, warning stickers for office equipment, etc.

The basis for the adhesive films is kraft paper with a silicone coating on one side and an adhesive, water-soluble layer on the other.

In the manufacture of advertising slates and presentation materials, a two-layer film is usually used, it allows you to use one side for applying an image on pigment printers, the other on inkjet printers.

The film intended for stickers and similar products is produced with a special adhesive coating, due to which the paint adheres very well, provides accurate color rendition and even borders of the picture. The image does not fade, does not spread, dries very quickly. Most often it is suitable for use with pigment and water-borne paints. Naturally, they are heat-stabilized and treated with an antistatic agent.

It is important to select the correct type of film for the printer you are using. Then the clarity of the picture, the realistic color reproduction and the quality of adhesion to the toner will cause a real delight.

When choosing a printer and film, you need to take into account the printing method and temperature conditions.

PET application

The main areas of use of polyethylene terephthalate:

1. Production of various fibers (lavsan, etc.).
2. Production of films (stretch, shrink, holographic, polarizing films, laminate, vacuum, packaging for sausages, printed products).
3. Production of packaging (both separately and as part of multi-layer packaging based on paper, various layers of plastic).

A new area of ​​PET use can be called the automotive industry: auto body parts, parts for compressors, engines, electrical boards, pumps, polarizing film, connectors, etc.

Tricks or useful tips

If you need to print on thermal transfer film for printing on a laser printer on an inkjet, then you first need to apply the image on sublimation paper, then transfer the image to film and only then transfer it to the finished product. If the thermal transfer film is for inkjet, then you can print directly, on almost any printer with aqueous ink.

Popular experimenters manage not only to reuse the film, removing the paint with a solvent, to use a film for a laser printer on an inkjet printer, applying a layer of gelatin on it, and to adapt the film for lamination for printing. If the film is thin, then craftsmen print on two sheets to achieve the desired thickness for thermal printing.

Choosing between inkjet printers to print on film, you do not have to worry, even if the model is the simplest, 4-color - the result will be exceptional and almost indistinguishable when printed on a 6-color machine.

If the machine “does not see” the transparent film for an inkjet printer, then it is enough to draw a thick black line (0.5 cm) on the edge with a slate pencil or a marker for discs. Often a sheet of film has a white square or strip of peelable paper that allows the printer to recognize the sheet. After printing, it is removed. It also allows you to pick up a sheet of film without leaving fingerprints on it.

There is translucent tracing paper between the laser and inkjet transparencies. Its purpose is to separate the film and prevent sheets from sticking together.

Varieties of films

According to their properties, they are conditionally divided into the following groups:

1. one-, two-sided;
2. matte, glossy;
3. transparent, opaque, translucent;
4. white and colored;
5. self-adhesive and non-adhesive;
6. waterproof and without resistance;
7. siliconized and with other types of special coatings;
8. thermal transfer and for printing at normal temperature, etc.

The most popular among users of transparent film for the printer is produced by very many manufacturers, both little-known and mega-popular, such as LOMOND, XEROX, WWM.

The produced film can be used in inkjet and laser printers and apparatus, in color and black and white. There are universal options and special ones, only for laser or inkjet printing.

Thin film (up to 100 microns) is designed for technologies with normal temperatures, and everything thicker than 125 microns can be used for thermal printing.

On the free sale, usually A4 film size is found, roll versions (1.05, 1.60 m) or wide-format versions are sold in specialized stores. Custom-made material of non-standard width and any type of winding.

Application

Metallized dense film is quite in demand today and is used in a variety of areas. It is used for tinting glass, for printing, for protecting windows from daylight, in electrical engineering and astronautics. Many people meet with some products made from this material in their everyday life. These can be rigid liners found in candy boxes, as well as confectionery containers or trays in which quickly perishable products are stored. In addition, metallized films are used to package meat or fish that are stored under vacuum.

In addition, some Christmas tree decorations, as well as garlands, are also made of a single-layer metallized film. It is also used to make gift wrapping for flowers and toys. In hot or cold weather, such films are glued to glass. Some experts use it in such an area as the production of capacitors. In the printing industry, some materials are made from just this material. Most often it is used for the production of full colors.

In such an area as construction, metallized film is laid when arranging a "warm floor", as well as when laying a water supply system. Here it acts not only as thermal insulation, but also as waterproofing. Quite often, the material can be found in the decoration of offices, showrooms and even ordinary stores.

Summing up, we can say that such a simple material as metallized film is the most used material, as it is found in many areas of activity. The cost is not too high, but the effect of the application is huge.

In the next video you will find a brief overview of metallized BOPP film.