Facts & Facets to Learn about BOPP Films

 Being a variant of polypropylene or PP, BOPP implies biaxially-oriented polypropylene. It’s a printing surface that can be manufactured into stickers, labels, textiles, and a slew of plastic materials and parts.

BOPP is polypropylene, which is stretched flat. It is oriented with the system stretching in two directions. Thus, the biaxially-oriented or BO becomes a part of BOPP. Three common processes can be practiced to make BOPP –simultaneous tenter frame orientation, double bubble process, and tenter frame sequential process.

Common Applications of BOPP Films

BOPP holds the importance to have PP plastic’s properties like ruggedness, moisture resistance, fatigue resistance, low toxicity, flexible finishing, and controllable transparency (or translucency). They make easily-printable and long-lasting stickers & labels, while the off-the-shelf adhesives cannot get attached to the material. It’s perfect for food-safe and long-lasting labels. Mentioned below are the common applications of BOPP films:

●       Food packaging labels

●       Plastic ropes

●       Containers

●       Medical-grade plastics

●       Performance textiles

●       Laboratory items

Reasons Why BOPP Is Great for Labels

Without decorating, these BOPP labels can be immersed in the ice-water and even subjected to high-humidity. BOPP Labels made are extremely tough, and materials provide outstanding resistance to fatigue in comparison to other label materials. These labels comprise an unusual resistance to bases, acids, and solvents.

BOPP films are made metal-colored, white, or even crystal clear. The ability to create clear BOPP films results in transparent label creations. In this manner, the content becomes clearer to get viewed. BOPP films can also build waterproof labels, provided the right use of inks & adhesives.

For food packaging, BOPP offers a host of advantages. Besides being non-toxic, the material is resistant to acids and solvents. Many beverage and food items are acidic, including tomatoes, coffee, citrus, etc. Although these items don’t come in contact with labels in general, they have limited contacts during the manufacturing process. With BOPP films, this issue gets mitigated. Besides, using BOPP films for biscuit packaging is extremely environment-friendly.

BOPP films have acquired critical acclaims from both end-users as well as manufacturers. Currently, it has garnered momentum in the packaging arena of the 21^st century.

High barrier films best packaging solutions

For the past almost half a century, films have been used for different packaging things.  From the stretch films in the 1970s to the single-layered and multilayered films of the 80s, in the last decade, the high barrier packaging films are widely used worldwide. It is the reason it reached the expert’s prediction of 15.9 billion USD global market size in 2019 at a CAGR of 5%  With more and more items packed to extend shelf life, and it is only to increase more in the future. 

Need for high barrier package films

 

Compared to conventional packaging methods, flexible packaging with high barrier films has many advantages.  They are in high demand for packaging fast-moving consumers to sports goods and from electronics to medical supplies. Most of their use is in the food packaging industry, they prevent oxygenation and hence the degradation of the food materials.  They help in packing the following foods.

●        Fresh foods

●        Convenience foods

●        Dried foods

●        Cheese & confectionaries

●        Snacks, drinks, &  baked foods

●        Personal care products, cosmetic & medicines

 

Benefits of high barrier films

It is not without reason that the high barrier films market share is rising in billions of US dollars worldwide.  With the increased need for packing foods for ready eating or heating ovens and other requirements, the need for high barrier packaging films is increasing every day.  The demand for food items across the nook and corner of the world needs excellent packaging not to lose its nutrition value.  Hence there are many benefits of high barrier films including

 

●        Have value-added features like resealable zippers and sliders

●        Fast machining speeds with increased heat tolerance and strength due to the ongoing substrate movements

●        Extends shelf life without using much of preservatives

●        Provides clear transparency and glittering gloss

●        Enables innovative solutions with packaged weight reduction

●        Effective barrier to gas, moisture, aroma, mineral oil for food packaging

●        Best replacement for aluminum foils and reduces waste

●        Enables easier recycling with the possibility to design mono-material barrier laminates

●        Free from chlorine and with a lower carbon footprint

 

Jindal Poly is one of the best high barrier film manufacturers and suppliers in India for assured protection of products with integrity and quality worldwide.

The usages of plastics in the packaging process

 

The plastic film is a vital packaging material, and it has a wide range of applications. It is used in packaging three types of applications such as food, non-food, and others. It is worth noticing that plastic films may differ by color and resin for any of these categories; it can even be made of one coating of plastic or up to ten coats according to the packaging requirement.

PET Films are an essential choice for packaging. The plastics may have different materials such as aluminum or paper if there is a need for that particular property.

The plastics mainly used in the packaging have a diverse portfolio, and each one has its specialties. Let's have a look at some of the common types.

1. PVC

PVC film is used in a stretch wrap (although in minimal quantities) and pallet wrap, shrink wrap (in meager quantities), certain bags and liners, duct tape, stickers, blood bags, and IV. bags

It is also used for the packaging of fresh red meat. It is semi-permeable because, as already stated, it only allows sufficient oxygen to go into the film to make the meat fresh and keep its shiny red color. PVC film is also a good oil and grease barrier. It is punch-resistant and has excellent clinging and excellent clarity.

2. PET

Chemically treated PET film is usually found for non-food applications such as film photography, x-ray, and magnetic audio and video capture. It is often used in photovoltaic, overhead, jet-film, and typically laminated items such as business cards and luggage.

Its primary packaging use, however, is metallic and in microwave packs, brick packs, and medical packaging (e.g., sterile wraps and pull-out packs, lidding material) packaging. It is also used in cigarette and tobacco packaging, as well as the stickers for the same.

Conclusion

PET is used for such applications because it has excellent mechanical characteristics such as toughness and rigidity, as well as excellent thermal characteristics, which can resist higher processing temperatures than certain other resins. PET Films also can be clear or pigmented, which is advantageous in specific applications.