In the modern packaging industry, shrink film has become an important choice for commodity packaging due to its excellent protection, display and environmental protection properties. However, there are many types of shrink films on the market, and products of different materials and processes have significant differences in performance, applicable scenarios and costs. Understanding these differences will help companies choose the most appropriate packaging solution according to their needs.
PVC shrink film: traditional but widely used
PVC (polyvinyl chloride) shrink film is one of the earliest widely used shrink films, with high transparency, good shrinkage and low cost. Its shrinkage rate is usually between 40%-60%, suitable for beverage bottles, food packaging and other fields. However, PVC film may release harmful substances at high temperatures, and waste disposal has a certain impact on the environment, so it is gradually replaced in markets with higher environmental protection requirements.
PE shrink film: both flexibility and durability
PE (polyethylene) shrink film is known for its flexibility and tear resistance, and is suitable for packaging of irregularly shaped goods. It has a low shrinkage rate (about 20%-30%), but excellent puncture resistance, and is often used for pallet packaging and heavy object fixation. PE film is environmentally friendly and recyclable, but its transparency is slightly inferior to PVC, and its display effect is slightly weaker.
POF shrink film: a representative of environmental protection and high transparency
POF (polyolefin) shrink film is the fastest growing category in recent years. It is made of copolypropylene and linear low-density polyethylene. Its shrinkage rate is as high as 70%-80%, and its transparency is excellent. It is suitable for foods, cosmetics and other commodities with high display requirements. POF film is completely degradable and meets international environmental standards. Although the cost is slightly higher, it is more sustainable in the long run.
PET shrink film: high strength and chemical resistance
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) shrink film is known for its high strength and chemical corrosion resistance. It is suitable for electronic products, hardware tools and other fields that require impact protection. Its shrinkage rate is moderate (about 50%-70%), but its temperature resistance is poor. It is easy to deform under high temperature conditions, and the application scenario needs to be carefully selected.
How to choose a suitable shrink film?
When choosing a shrink film, companies need to comprehensively consider packaging needs, cost budgets and environmental protection requirements. For example, the food industry prefers POF film to ensure safety and display effects; industrial packaging may give priority to the durability of PE or PET film. In the future, as environmental regulations become stricter, the market share of degradable shrink film is expected to expand further.
Understanding the differences in the characteristics of shrink film can help optimize packaging solutions and enhance product competitiveness.
