Popular Plastic Resins and Types of Packaging (For Your Product)
For decades, plastic resins are considered as the main base for all different plastics.
But through different molding and chemical processes, this resin plastic can transform to fit according to your needs.
First of all, these resins are created with heat that cracks down the hydrocarbons.
Due to the heating procedure, large molecules of resins are cracked down into small pieces of propylene and ethylene.
These plastic resins are highly energy efficient and lighter in weight as compared to other alternatives. 7 types of resins are easily available for the manufacturing process.
Let’s have a look at them and their common uses.
High-Density Polyethylene HPDE
Made up with petroleum, this High-Density Polyethylene has stronger intermolecular forces between its molecules as compared to other types of resins.
The tensile strength of HDPE is comparatively more powerful as compared to low-density polyethylene.
As compared to other types of plastic packaging, High-Density Polyethylene can with stand-in higher temperatures for longer periods. Such as 110 ◦C for continually and 120 C for short periods.
Common Uses
This HPDE plastic type is commonly used in milk jugs, grocery bags, motor oil, distilled water bottles, dish detergent, fabric softener, bleaches & lotions, liquid laundry, etc.
Properties
With different temp capabilities, this is stiff material
Provides excellent resistance against many solvents
It has a higher value of tensile strength
Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
PETE or PET belongs to the family of polyesters, and it is highly used in beverages, liquid and food containers. The structure of PET is semi-rigid, and it is not as heavy as compared to others.
Against solvents and alcohols, PETE acts an absolute barrier. For producing fiberfill and yawns of carpets, the clean & recycle pellets and flakes of PET are in great demand in the market.
Common Uses
PET is commonly used in peanut butter jars; fruit juices bottles, soft drink bottles, space blankets, alcohol beverages bottles, etc.
Properties
Excellent resistance material to different solvents
High capability value
High impact value and shatter resistance
Excellently resist oxygen, water, and Carbon Dioxide
Low-Density Polyethylene
Made up from oil, LDPE has tensile power, and its density ratio is lower. As compared to HDPE, the resilience value of this plastic packaging is high.
This resin type can withstand 95 C for short periods and 80 C for a longer time.
Due to the high values toughness, flexibility, and transparency value, Low-Density Polyethylene packaging is used in film applications. This resin type is unbreakable.
Common Uses
The common uses of LDPE are in dry-cleaning bags; trash can liners, food storage containers, squeezable containers, six-pack soda can rings, bread bags, etc.
Properties
Act as a strong resilient against oils, acids, and bases
With toughness, flexibility and translucent, this resin type provides an excellent combination of packaging for the materials that require heat sealing
Polystyrene
Made up with petroleum, the pure form of PS is colorless.
Polystyrene is hard plastic with a limited coefficient of flexibility.
It can be transparent or can be molded into different colors; the general purpose of this plastic packaging material is rigid, hard and brittle. With low melting points, PS can make high impact polystyrene when it is combined with rubber.
The HIP is commonly used for durable applications and rigid packaging purposes.
Common Uses
PS is commonly used in yogurt cups, drinking straws, vitamins syrup bottles, hot cups, clear carryout containers, bottle caps, knives & forks, egg cartons, fast food packets, etc.
Properties
In foamed form, it has excellent insulation properties
The low thermal conductivity value
Offers significant value off stiffness
For short-shelf life products, it can act as an excellent barrier
Offers high optical clarity value
Polyvinyl Chloride or PVC
In PVC, 45% of its texture contains chloride, and it requires less petroleum in its manufacturing process.
After PET, PVC is considered as the most widely used plastic because it is chemically and biologically resistant.
In addition to the list of its stable properties, PVS has high values of stable electrical properties, weather abilities and flow characteristics.
PVC products with their diverse slate are widely distributed into flexible and rigid materials.
Common Uses
PVC is commonly used in clothing bags, electrical wire insulation, tubing, upholstery, pipes, chemical water bottles, waterbeds, pool toys, plastic bottles, etc.
Properties
The rigid packaging of PVC includes
Clamshells
Blister packs
Flexible packaging of PVC includes
Shrink wraps
Meet wrap
Bags for bedding & medical purposes
Tamper resistant
Polypropylene
With a low coefficient of toughness as compared to HDPE, PP is often used for the packaging of food.
With less bristling values, PP is not so flexible like LDPE. Translucent in nature and reasonably economical, PP is stiffer than other types of plastic packaging.
With the high value of resistance, the melting point of Polypropylene is 160 C. As PP is used in food containers so it can’t be melted down into hot water and hot dishwasher.
Common Uses
PP is commonly used in the drinking straws, battery cases, hinged containers, bottle caps, liners of cereal boxes etc.
Properties
Best for the bottles of syrups and catsup
Safe for medicine bottles
Highly effective for the containers of deli food, takeout meals, yogurt and margarine
Closures and bottle caps
Others
This is the category in which biodegradable, chemically wash, photosensitive and plant-based type of plastics can fit. Basically, any resin type other than PP, PS PVC, PRT, and HDPE & LDPE can fit into this category.
The original 6 plastic resigns developed in 1988 and registered with the mark of other 7 plastic packaging type identifications.
Listing the properties and common uses of these other types of resins are nearly impossible due to the high level of diversity in their applications and features.
On the basis of production, product details, brief information about end sale, the capacity of the plastic, and basic inventory measures, The Plastic Industry Producers Statistic Group of American Chemistry Council has provided timely, relevant, extensive business use and comprehensive report on resins.
Resin packaging producers use this PIPS report for making critical decisions in business.
Reference
https://www.chemicalsafetyfacts.org/types-plastic-food-packaging-safety-close-look/
https://plastics.americanchemistry.com/Jobs/EconomicStatistics/Plastics-Statistics/
https://www.alppm.com/plastic-resins-packaging/