Barrier Material
-A flexible packaging material possessing
properties that limit the transmission of
various gases through the material. ( used
to keep products dry, wet or extend shelf
life and assure product freshness)
Barrier Packaging - The
utilization of engineered materials that
possess properties capable of preventing the
permeation of harmful substances through
material, which would result in product
damage.
Biaxial Orientation - A
film that has been stretched under certain
temperature conditions equally in both the
machine and transverse directions.
Blocking - A condition
where a plastic film tends to stick to an
adjacent surface, either film or some other
substance.
Blown Film - Film produced
by extruding resin into a tube, which is
expanded by air pressure.
Bubble - The inflated tube
of film in the blown film extrusion process.
Cast Film - Film extruded
through a flat die into a quench system.
Center folded Film - Film
folded in half in the machine direction and
then wound into roll form.
Center folder - A device
used to produce center folded film from flat
film.
Clarity
- Degree of transparency.
Coefficient of Friction (COF)
- In plastics films, indicates the
ease with which a film surface is slid
against like film or adjacent surface. A low
value (near zero) indicates a slippery; a
high value (7 or more) indicates a tacky
film, which will stick to itself.
Co-extruded Film - Flexible
packaging material consisting of two or more
different materials that are layered within
a single ply during the extrusion process.
Collar Sealed - A style of
heat seal where a molded fitment is sealed
into the perimeter of a pouch or bag between
the front and rear panels of the bag or
pouch.
Copolymer - This is more
than one plastic polymerized together at the
same time.
Core - A paper tube used as
a base for forming a roll of film. (PVC
cores used for clean room applications)
Density - Weight per unit
volume. Films with a low density offer more
coverage per weight of film.
Desiccant - A substance
used to absorb moisture. (typically placed
inside enclosures to aid in the prevention
of corrosion)
Elmendorf Tear Resistance - A
measure of the resistance to tear after the
film has been cut.
Elongation - The percentage
a film will deform or stretch prior to
breaking.
ESD: Electro Static Discharge
- The release of potential electricity (or
static); “sparking”
Export Packaging -
Preparation of an item or product for
overseas shipment (typically by ocean
freight) through utilization of crating,
cushioning and flexible packaging materials.
Extrusion - Technique for
producing film. A mixture of resin and
plasticizer is fed through a heated barrel
where it is made plastic by heat and
pressure by a continuously moving screw. The
plastic mixture is forced out through a
circular die, blown into a bubble, and then
wound onto a roll at the end of the bubble.
Fitment - An injection
molded “Spout or Valve” that is typically
heat-sealed to a flexible packaging
material.
FIBC: Flexible Intermediate Bulk
Container - Woven polypropylene
bulk bags.
Film - A general term for
plastics having a thickness of 0.010 inches
(10 mils) or less.
Fish Eye - An unrefined or
unbelted mass in a transparent plastic film
which has not blended completely into the
surrounding material, giving somewhat the
appearance of a fish eye. Also called gel.
Fogging - A buildup of
water droplets on the surface of a film.
Gas Transmission Rate - (GTR)
A measure of the permeability of a packaging
film to gases. Expressed in cc/100sq. in./24
hrs./mil.
Gauge - Thickness of a
plastic film(1/1000"=.001"=100 gauge)
Gaylord - A heavy duty
corrugated carton of pallet load
proportions.
Gloss -The amount of light
reflected from a film at a given angle in
ratio to the total light striking the
sample. The more light a film reflects, the
higher the gloss of the film.
Haze - The proportion of
light which scatters in passing through a
plastic film. Measured in percentage (the
lower the percentage, the clearer the film),
haze distorts colors and imparts a dusty,
cloudy appearance to the film.
Heat Sealing - Joining
plastic films by controlled application of
heat and pressure to the area to be sealed.
Impact Resistance - The
resistance to impact of a film.
Impulse Sealing - A heat
sealing technique in which a pulse of
electrical energy is applied to the sealing
area for a very short time, followed
immediately by cooling while material is
held under pressure.
Initial Tear Resistance - A
measure of the force needed to begin a tear
in a film.
Irradiation - A process
that uses high-energy electrons to
cross-link or sterilize a film.
Laminated Structure (also
Lamination) - A flexible packaging
material comprised of two or more layers of
separate materials that are attached by
means of adhesive, solvents, or extrusion
coating to form a single ply, multi-layer
material designed to provide specific
protective functions.
Lap Seal - A method of
sealing plastic films where the two pieces
to be sealed are overlapped, then heated to
form a seal.
Low Temperature Flexibility
- The lowest temperature at which a film can
withstand a flexing test without cracking.
Machine Direction (MD) -
The direction parallel to that taken by the
majority of molecules in a plastic film, or
the direction of the film web as it moves
through the film-making machine. Also called
Longitudinal Direction.
Migration - The
Transmission of a material from within a
plastic film to its surface or to another
contacting material. Also called Bleed or
Exudation.
Mil - Measure of the
thickness of a plastic film. (.001" = 1 mil)
Modulus - A measure of film
stiffness.
Mono Layer Film – Flexible
packaging material consisting of a single
ply of polymer.
Monomer - A comparatively
simple organic compound which can under
certain conditions, react to form a polymer.
Multi-ply Bag - A bag
consisting of two or more plys of material
that are not joined together. “A Bag-in a
Bag”.
MVTR: Moisture Vapor Transmission
Rate - A measurement of the amount
of gaseous water that permeates through a
material over a specific time and under
specific conditions.
Orange Peel - A surface
distortion of a plastic film which looks
like the skin of an orange.
Orientation - Mechanical
stretching of a plastic film to produce a
parallel arrangement of its molecules. Films
may be stretched uniaxially (in one
direction, called preferential) or biaxially
(in two directions).
OTR: Oxygen Transmission Rate
- A measurement of the amount of Oxygen that
permeates through a material over a specific
time and under specific conditions.
Plastic - A synthetic resin
which (a) generally has a high molecular
weight;(b) is made up of at least two
atoms;(c) is sold in its unprocessed and
processed states but in between, while it is
being processed into finished items, is
softened enough through the combined
application heat, pressure, and mechanical
working to be formed into various shapes.
Plasticizer - A substance
blended into a plastic to improve
flexibility or softness.
Polyethylene - A resin made
from ethylene gas which produces tough
transparent film.
Polymer - A chain-like
compound of high molecular weight formed by
the linking together of simple molecules
under suitable conditions. When two or more
monomers are involved, the product is called
a copolymer. (SEE MONOMER)
Polypropylene - A resin
made from propylene gas which produces
lightweight, highly transparent, stiff film.
Preservation Packaging -
Preparation of an item or product for long
term (usually 3 months or more) storage
within an enclosure that will protect the
item from spoilage or damage.
PVC - (POLYVINYL CHLORIDE)
- A thermoplastic material composed of
polymers of vinyl chloride; a colorless
solid with outstanding resistance to water,
alcohols, and concentrated acids and
alkalis. Compounded with plasticizers, PVC
yields a flexible film, widely used in the
manufacture of clothing and packaging films.
Resin - A solid or
semi-solid organic material which has an
indefinite and often high molecular weight;
it exhibits a tendency to flow when
subjected to stress and usually has a
distinct softening or melting temperature
range.
Sheet - A general term for
plastic having a thickness of 0.010" or
more.
Single Wound Film
- Flat film wound on a core. (similar to
paper towels)
3D Shroud - A three
dimensional cover comprised of four side
panels and an integral top panel (used for
covering equipment, pallet loads & etc.).
VCI: Volatile Corrosive Gas
Inhibitor - A substance utilized as
a deterrent to corrosion.