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PET PE Bags & Polyethylene Packaging
What Everyone Ought to Know about PET PE Bags
With the need for better packaging and storage alternatives increasing worldwide, PET/PE has stepped onto the scene as a go-to option instead of rigid packaging and boxes, especially for storing food. But before we go on, what exactly is this material and how can it cater to different packaging needs? To answer this, we need to take a close look at PET and PE.
What is PET?
PET, short for polyethylene terephthalate, is a popular type of plastic commonly employed in a variety of industries around the world.
It is a strong, clear, lightweight polymer that is widely utilized in the food industry for storage and transportation. PET is also used as storage to inedible materials like liquid soap, shampoos, and window cleaners, just to name a few.
Taking a deeper look at this material, PET at its basic level is formed by a chemical process called esterification. Here, an acid (terephthalic acid) combines with an alcohol (ethylene glycol) at certain defined conditions to form the polyester PET. This material is the most common thermoplastic polymer of the polyester family.
PET has the resin identification number “1”, meaning that it can be recycled repeatedly.
What is PE?
Polyethylene is a popular polymer in the packaging industry and is the most common plastic in use in the world today.
It is available in different forms and is composed of a combination of smaller units (called monomers) of ethylene. PE is classified by its density, with the most common polyethylene types being HDPE, LDPE, and LLDPE.
LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene) is defined within a density range of 0.915-0.925g/cm3. It has better tensile strength than the LDPE variant and possesses some favorable qualities like higher impact and puncture
resistance over LDPE. It is popular in the packaging industry and may also be used for cable coverings, toys, buckets, and containers.
LLDPE is useful in film applications due to its unique blend of toughness, flexibility, and relative transparency.
Common CareClear Polyester Laminations
CareClear can be laminated different ways depending what is necessary to the products inside the packaging bag. We can help you navigate the decision regarding which lamination is best from a basic PET/PE, or KPET/PE lamination, to enhanced laminations with EVOH, or PVDC coatings.
With so many options we have a lamination for most demanding applications from retort pouches, to a wide array of shelf stable application from FDA food, to industrial packaging. Printed or un-printed the CareClear material family of PET/PE base plastic is a great solution for products made in China and beyond. Our base CareClear-P PET/PE materials are also an amazingly economical choice in comparison to most suppliers.
Name | Base Formulation | Description |
|---|---|---|
PET/PE | General use clear barrier | |
PET/Nylon/PE | Enhanced Moisture / water barrier and strength | |
KPET/PE | PVDC coated for higher barrier | |
KPET/Nylon/PE | Enhanced barrier and strength | |
PET/ALox/PE | ALox specialty film | |
PET/EasyPeel | Easy Peable heat sealable interior sealant layer | |
BOPP/PE | For low barrier uses |
Chemical Structures
PET is made up of recurring units of the monomer ethylene terephthalate.
The hexagonal-shaped object in this structure (called an aromatic ring) gives this polymer its strength and stiffness. This stiffness makes it more resistant to deformation compared to other polymers.
Molecular Structure of PET
Polyethylene is composed of repeating monomers of ethylene and has a molecular structure that looks like this.
PE is made of non-polar, saturated hydrocarbons with high molecular weight. This quality grants it excellent chemical stability, meaning that it is inert to chemical attacks from strong bases and acids.
Molecular structure of polyethylene in its most stable form
Method of Production
PET is produced from a simple chemical process called esterification. This process involves the heating of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid to a molten liquid which can be molded into different shapes depending on the manufacturer’s specifications.
The two constituents in this process are combined at low vacuum pressure and high temperature, forming long polymer chains. This continues as the mixture thickens, with longer chain polymers being formed. The process is then stopped when the desired chain length is achieved.
PE is produced from the polymerization of ethylene at the right conditions in the presence of a catalyst.
PE film is produced by a process known as “blown film extrusion”. This is a step-by-step process that is used in manufacturing other types of polymers and employs a device called an “extruder” during production.
Why CareClear over other polymers?
Every day, different types of polymers are synthesized, finding applications in a variety of industries. However, PET and PE have stood out among these polymers in the thin-film industry, leaving users around the world wondering why these polymers dominate thin-film applications.
PET is favored over other plastics in thin-film applications due to its high mechanical strength. It also possesses superb electrical properties which make it a good substrate for film solar cells and incredibly useful in the manufacture of semiconductors.
PET plastic also display low moisture absorption, heat resistance, presenting an ability to retain their physical properties over a fairly wide range of temperatures. Its
excellent gas barrier qualities mean that this film comes in particularly useful for packaging films where long shelf life is vital.
PE exhibits good tape adhesion, making it a solid option as a protection in certain applications like waterproofing and painting.
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What Type of Coatings Can Be Applied to CareClear Packaging?
While both polymers boast many impressive features that make them great for various purposes, including storage, PET has limited barrier properties, especially for certain oxygen-sensitive food and drinks.
These properties of PET can be improved by coating it with enhanced barriers like Nylon 6 and vinyl-alcohol. These coatings are applied to one surface of a monolayer polyester structure.
PET Laminated to PE
PET laminated to PE (otherwise termed PET/PE film) is a material composed of a PET film laminated with a thin layer of PE film. This material is available in a variety of forms depending on its purpose. Common variations of PET/PE include coatings with EVOH, PVDC (KPET), and haptic coatings like soft touch.
PET/PE film is different from other polymers as it has a terrific blockade against moisture and gases. It is air and water-tight, making it an ideal option as storage bags for perishable goods with limited shelf life.
Common Applications and Uses of PET/PE Film
PET/PE film is commonly employed in the packaging industry. Some of its applications include:
- Food and beverage packaging.
- Thermoforming process for multiple packaging applications.
- Pharmaceutical and medical products packaging.
Comparison of CareClear to other barrier materials
PET/PE film is better suited to packaging certain substances over other barriers due to its properties. PET/PE film, which is a double layer barrier, has better optical transparency and is lightweight compared to other barriers like metals.
It is a transparent material that offers an economical clear barrier. It is also chemically inactive and will not interact with your product in any way, even if it's stored for days.
Technical Specifications
PET/PE can be altered in several ways to produce different variations through the use of coatings. It is FDA-approved and possesses a high contact clarity. The example technical specifications below are for a 3.0 mil PET/PE lamination.
Properties | Test Method | Unit of Measure | Typical Value |
|---|---|---|---|
Caliper | mils | 3.0 | |
Yield | sq. In/Lb | 8,564 | |
MVTR | Mocon | gms/100 sq.in. /24 hrs | .33 |
OTR | ASTM-1434-66 | cc/100 sq. in /24 hrs | 7.3 |
Haze | Mullen | PSI | 47 |
Tensile MD | ASTM D-882 | Lbs. at break | 19 |
Tensile XMD | ASTM D-882 | Lbs. at break | 22 |
Tear MD | ASTM 689 | Lbs. at break | 48 |
Tear XMD | ASTM 689 | Lbs. at break | 48 |
Puncture | Fed. TM 2065 | Lbs | 12 |
Here is a simple table showing the properties of a 3 mil PET/LLDPE laminated film. Please contact our experts on our website if you didn't find the information you need.
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