Film Properties

Product protection by Films

Water vapour

Light

Aroma

Food
Moisture

Oxygen

Required properties of films

mechanical strength:
barrier properties:

heat resistance:

sealant:

optics:

tear propagation resistance

puncture resistance
gas (O2,N2,CO2)
aroma
water vapor
boiling resistance (~100C)
pasteurization
sterilization (~121C)
microwaveable
refrigerateable
high seam stength
low temperature sealable
peel
transparent
gloss
scratch resistance
UV-resistant
0078d

POLYAMIDE
USA 1932 Polyamide - 6.6 ("Nylon") was developed and produced 1938 by Du Pont.
Europe/Germany 1938 Polyamide -6 (Perlon) was developed and production from 1939.
In packaging films Polyamide 6 is mostly being used.
Density =1,14 [Kg/dm]

Melting point (FP) =220 C

incinerating with Oxygen present results into: CO2,H2O and N0x

with calorific value of: 28,7 MJ/kg

Typical Properties: Low Gas-Barrier and hydrophilic

From raw material (Granulate) to packaging film: Extrusion into an unoriented cast/flat-film, cooling, winding.
Alternatives: Coextrusion or in-line-coating with polyolefin-sealing layers.
After extrusion biaxial or monoaxial stretching possible.
Alternatives: Coextrusion PA/EVOH/PA monoaxial in machine direction (MD).
Using of PA in packaging:
Always as substrate-layer in composite-films, either oriented e.g. as top-film for flowpack,
or unoriented for deep drawing application.
Summery of properties:
High gas barrier (by using EVOH even higher), strong, firm and very tough, (see Nylon stockings)
good optical transparency, good thermal resistance, good flex crack resistance at low temperatures,
bad Water-vapour barrier.

0082d

POLYETHYLEN
Developed 1936, 1939 Production by ICI (LDPE) starting 1952 ZIEGLER & NATTER Catalyst were developed to produce
the various PE polymers (LLDPE, HDPE, MDPE)). The Metallocene Catalyst was developed in the mid 90s.
Type

Density [Kg/dm]

Melting Point [C]

LDPE
LLDPE
MDPE
HDPE
mPE

0,915 - 0,925
0,920 - 0,935
0,925 - 0,940
0,940 - 0,965
0,882 0,912

105 - 115
125 - 135
115 - 125
125 - 135
70 - 122

In addition there are variety of copolymers up to Ionomer and a multitude of Metallocene PEs
incinerating PE with Oxygen present results into: C02 und H20

with calorific value of: 43,4 MJ/kg

Typical properties: soft and low melting

From Raw material (Granulate) to packaging film: extrusion into an blown film, cast film or coating
Usage of PE in packaging
Mainly as mono film for bundle packs, palletising and packaging, without any specific gas barrier function,
also PEs are used in sealing layers for composite films (multilayer packaging films).
Summery of properties:
Good water vapour barrier, soft and firm, medium optical transparency, at low temperatures sealable (there for used as
sealing layer, good flex crack resistance, impermeable for unpolar Gases (O2 , CO2 and N)

0083d

Simplified production process of

Polyethylene
Standard LLDPE
- Olefin + Ziegler & Natter Catalyst = LLDPE

Metallocene PE
- Olefin + Metallocene Catalyst = mPE

0052d

Ionomer
(Surlyn, from DuPont)
In multilayer-films Ionomer are predominantly used as sealing layers.
Ionomer are thermoplastics whose molecular chains are cross linked via ionic bond.
All Ionomer available on the market contain either

zinc

or

sodium

Ionomer

Exceptional features:
High impact resistance, even at low temperatures
High puncture and abrasion resistance
High melt elasticity
Excellent thermoforming performance
Bonds well with POLYAMIDE (co-extrusion)
Low sealing temperature, high seal strength, excellent hot tack
Resistant to oil, fats, greases and solvents, therefore less sensitive to contamination of
the sealing areas, for instance with fat or meat juice during fresh meat packaging

Excellent clarity and high gloss, therefore superb pack appearance

0084e

Sketch of a composite film

Substrate
Adhesive
Sealing layer

Barrier

Oxygen and water vapour barrier

Required thickness for oxygen barrier
of 10 ccm / m d bar

R e q ire d th ic k n e s fo r o x y g e n b a rrie r o f 1 0
c c m / s q m /d a y / b a r
HDP E

0,4
90
7500
20000
20000

m
m
m
m
m

=
=
=
=
=

0,0004 mm EVOH
0,0900 mm PA unoriented
7,5000 mm PP unoriented
20,000 mm LDPE
20,000 mm HDPE

LD P E
PP
PA
EVOH
1

m
m
m
m
m

=
=
=
=
=

0,040 mm HDPE
0,070 mm PP unoriented
0,100 mm LDPE
0,200 mm EVOH
0,900 mm PA unoriented

100

1000

10000

100000

th i c k n e ss i n m

Required thickness for water vapour

barrier of 1 g / m d
40
70
100
200
900

10

R e q ire d t h ic k n e s fo r o x y g e n b a rrie r o f 1 0
c c m /s qm /day /bar
HDPE
LDP E
PP
PA
EVOH
0

200

400

600

800

1000

th i c k n e ss i n m

0080e

Pyramid of barrier - properties

Light proof
Oxygen proof
Water vapour
impermeable

Laminates/Composites
oriented PP with Al and PE, I
oriented PA with Al and PE, I
oriented P with Al and PE

Transparent
with
High oxygen barrier
With high water vapour barrier

Transparent
with
medium oxygen barrier
With high water vapour barrier

Transparent
with
low oxygen barrier
With high water vapour barrier

Laminates/Composites
unoriented PA/EVOH/PA with PE or I
oriented PA/EVOH/PA with PE
oriented, lack.PVOH with PE
oriented metallised PET,
PA with PE or I

Laminates/Composites
BOPP with PVDC-Lack ,PE
oriented PA with PE
PET oriented with PVDC-Lack, PE
unoriented, coextr.PA/PEmulti-layer film

Mono-Films
BOPP
PP
PE
EVA
Ionomer

0081e

Comparison of plastic films in terms of their

application-related properties
thermoformable non-oriented films

Films

PP PA 6 PET EVOH LLDPE LDPE

Properties
Optical properties (clarity, gloss)
0
0
+
+
0
Tensile strength
+ ++
+
0
0
Impact penetration resistance
+ ++
0
0
0
Toughness
+ ++
0
0
Stiffness
+
+
++
+
0
-Thermal stability
0
+
++
+
Oxygen barrier
-+
0
++
--Aroma barrier
0
+
++
+
-Water vapour barrier
++
0
-+
+
Chemical resistance
++
+
+
+
+
+
Sealability
+
---+
+
Processing performance (metallization, printing laminating) + ++
++
+
+

0324e

Comparison of Combitherm Multi Plus

and Combitherm MD / TC / SC

Location of measurement points

200
180
160

Multi MD 200

140
Dicke in m

2
120

100

Multi Plus 155

80
60

Size of mould: L =

180 mm

40

B =
T =

115 mm
90 mm

20
0
1

4
Mepunkte

Comparison of Puncture Resistance

75 N
67 N
55 N
Force

Force

Distance

Distance

16 mm

14 mm

Combitherm Multi Plus 250

tough

Force

Combitherm Multi I Plus 250

tougher

Distance
16 mm
Combitherm TCI 250

toughest

0327d

Properties

Comparison of plastic films in terms of their

application-related properties
Films

Oriented films
Properties
Optical properties (clarity, gloss)
Tensile strength
Impact penetration resistance
Toughness
Stiffness
Thermal stability
Oxygen barrier
Aroma barrier
Water vapour barrier
Chemical resistance
Sealability
Processing performance (metallization, printing laminating)

BOPP
+
+
+
+
+
0
-++
+
+*
++

PAB/PAL
+
++
++
++
+
+
+
+
+
-++

OPET
++
++
+
0
++
++
0
++
0
++
-++
Ra

0325e

Barrier properties of raw plastic materials

H2O [g/(m*d)] 40C/ 90% r.h.

1.000

PA6
PS

OPA

100

PC
PET

EVOH

LDPE

OPET

10

PP
OPP

HDPE

PVDC
1
1

Foliendicke 25 m

10

100

1.000

O2 [ml/(m*d*bar)] 23C/ 75% r.h.

10.000

Barrier properties of raw plastic materials

Barrier

UV light transmission spectra of Combitherm Multi

Plus and PA/PE film struktures

0206e

Comparison of Combitherm Multi Plus and MD

Combitherm TC
Combitherm
Multi Plus

Combitherm
Multi MD

Polyethylene
Polyethylene
Tie Layer
Polyamide

Polyamide
tie layer
Polyamide
tie layer
Polyethylene
Polyethylene
(EVA)

Polyamide mod.
tie layer
Polyamide mod.
tie layer
Polyethylene
Polyethylene
(EVA)

Polyamide
Tie Layer
Polyethylene
Polyethylene / EVA
Polyethylene / EVA
Polyethylene
Tie Layer
Polyamide
Polyamide
Ionomer
Polyethylene
Polyethylene

Combitherm TC / I
TC I 250

Ionomer
Ionomer
Ionomer

TC 140

Polyamide

Polyethylene

Polyamide

Tie Layer

Tie Layer

Polyamide

Polyethylene

Tie Layer

Polyethylene / EVA

Polyethylene

Polyethylene / EVA

EVA

Polyethylene
Tie Layer
Polyamide
Polyamide
Ionomer
Ionomer
Ionomer
0376de

Comparison of thermoforming capabilities

of Combitherm Multi Plus, MD, TC and SC

90 mm

C`therm MD 170

100 mm

C`therm MP 180
120 mm

C`therm TC 170
SuperClear 10

Properties

Rule-of-thumb for maximum draw depth

without plug-assist

Rule-of-thumb to calculate remaning thickness on

corners of package

R x 100
D=
6,1 + ( 1,5 L/T + 0,93 B/T )

D [m]
R [m]
L [mm]
B [mm]
T [mm]

=
=
=
=
=

Required film thickness

Desired remaining thickness (recoummended 25-30 m)
Length of mould
Width of mould
Depth of mould

Example: R=30m, L=200mm, B=100mm, T=80mm; =>>D= 272 m