packaging protection Archives

Industrial packaging, Protection-and-padding

Bubble Wrap

Post by 360 Ecopackaging On 25 de May de 2023 0 Comments

In today’s post we will develop a very employed element in packaging, the alveolar film, more commonly known as bubble wrap.

This type of film can be used in the packaging of fragile and small objects, such as the packaging of parts for industrial use, as well as insulation in sectors such as construction.

This type of film is a transparent and flexible material, composed of polyethylene plastic sheets joined together by mechanical-thermal methods, which allows the formation of air bubbles, its main characteristic, these bubbles provide excellent cushioning and insulating properties.

Types of bubble film

2-layer bubble film or Simple:

This type of bubble film is composed of only two sheets of polyethylene, which makes its manufacturing process very simple.

The first film or layer used passes through a perforated cylinder that suctions it by pressure, then it is sealed with the second layer by means of heat, which creates air bubbles.

3-layer bubble film or Closed:

The 3-layer or closed bubble film is made of 3 polyethylene sheets, which makes it more resistant than the simple film.

The creation process has few differences with respect to the simple film, the fundamental difference, as its name suggests, is that a third sheet of polyethylene is added on top, creating a sort of second bubble that cushions impacts, which makes this type of plastic more resistant and improves its properties.

Characteristics of bubble film

Thickness:

Bubble film can be presented in different thicknesses measured in grams per m2

Thickness – Bubble Type

30g/m2 – Very thin bubble, more economical.

40g/m2 – Commercial bubble

50g/m2 – Standard bubble wrap and highly recommended for all packaging uses.

60g/m2 – Strong bubbles, professional use.

70g/m2 – Very strong and resistant bubble paper.

more than 80 – Extra strong, not very common in packaging.

Laminate:

How to use bubble film

One of the most common questions when packaging products with bubble film is the arrangement of the bubbles, that is, whether to put the bubble inside or outside.

We may think that it is indifferent since the order of the factors does not alter the product, but it is not.

Below, we show you two photos with two boxes packed with bubble film, one of them with the bubble facing outwards and the other facing inwards.

As we can see in the first photo in which the bubble is facing outwards, between bubble and bubble we are only protecting our product with a thin layer of flat polyethylene film, which makes the protection decreases considerably, on the other hand, the bubbles are exposed to all kinds of blows, scratches etc. and could be easily punctured.

If we look at the second photo in which the bubble film is with the bubble facing inwards, we can see that the object is completely protected and the bubbles do not run the risk of being punctured.

If we use triple-layer bubble film in our pack6aging, we would not have any of these problems, since by creating a second bubble it makes no difference how the film is placed, because a flat surface will always appear on top, with the bubbles placed underneath, which means that they are protected. The use of this type of film would have a higher cost, since it has a more complex manufacturing process.

As a final conclusion and after analyzing the honeycomb film in detail, we can see the number of possibilities offered by a product so commonly used in both industrial and domestic use, so depending on our needs we must analyze what type of film or what characteristics it should have to obtain the best results.

Wrapping up our journey through the fascinating world of bubble wrap, we hope you have discovered its importance and versatility in protecting our precious belongings.

As we reflect on the need to reduce environmental impact, let us also remember the value of reusing and recycling this material to minimize its ecological footprint. Let’s continue working together towards a sustainable future!

If you have any further questions or comments, feel free to share them. Contact us.

Industrial packaging, Physical and chemical protection, Transport and logistics

Aluminium Foil Barrier

Post by 360 Ecopackaging On 30 de November de 2022 0 Comments

The Heat-Sealable bag, Insulating bag or Aluminium Foil barrier material is a widely used element in packaging to prevent corrosion, especially when it comes to metal packaging and electronic items.

It is used in conjunction with desiccant salts precisely to prevent moisture from oxidizing the metal on long ship voyages, but is also used for long-term protection of machinery and other products, for example, for storage if long-term storage is planned.

COMPOSITION

This material is mainly composed of aluminum and polyethylene. Depending on the manufacturer, the proportion of each material and even the type of plastic used may vary. For example, sometimes polyester, PET plastic or polypropylene are added. As for polyethylene, it can be of high or low density.

Some barrier materials have more plastic than aluminum or vice versa. The quality and correct protection of the product will depend to a large extent on the total thickness of the barrier film from which the bags are made and how many grams it weighs per square meter, as well as the proportion of aluminum it contains. The more aluminum the material contains to the detriment of plastic, the lower the vapor transmission inside the container.

This material is waterproof and resistant to external factors such as ultraviolet rays.

PRESENTATION

Generally we can find this material in rolls whose measures can vary according to the customer’s needs, although it is also common to find manufacturers and companies that sell ready-made bags with the measures that the customer deems appropriate.

The aluminium foil barrier bag can also be vacuum sealed if desired, with the help of special machines that absorb oxygen from inside the bag. In this way, the product is better protected against oxidation.

There are several ways of sealing this bag. As its name suggests, the most common way is with heat, although we can also opt for plastic closures that seal the container.

This material can also be printed, so it is common for a company to print its own corporate logo, as well as the specifications of the material and the temperature to which it must be subjected for sealing.

This material must be manufactured in compliance with DIN 55531-1, which is the German and European standard in general.

Other world standards equivalent to this norm that can be found are the following:

USA: MIL-B-131.
France: NF H 00310.
Germany (military classification): TL 8135-0003.
United Kingdom (military classification): DEF STAN 81-75/1.

To conclude, it is convenient to point out the main difference between aluminum barrier material and other plastic materials that we will see later, such as shrink film or VCI. For long boat trips, adverse weather conditions or long storage periods, aluminum is the most convenient option for the correct protection of the product against plastic compounds, since it is much more resistant.

Industrial packaging, Physical and chemical protection, Transport and logistics

Case study, Use of Desiccant Salts

Post by 360 Ecopackaging On 17 de November de 2022 0 Comments

In the previous post we have seen what a DIN unit is and the degree of absorption per unit, therefore we must remember that a DIN unit is equivalent to an absorption of 6g of water and that to absorb these 6g of water approximately 30g of desiccant salts are necessary (depending on the type of salt and the conditions).

Having recalled the previous post, we consider a practical case for a part of dimensions 1150x750x750mm (length x width x height) to be transported in a box equipped with a thermoweldable bag of inner dimensions 1200x800x800mm.

To calculate the volume of air enclosed between the box and the part we must find the differential of volumes, therefore:

1,2 x 0,8 x 0,8 – 1,15 x 0,75 x 0,75 = 0,121 m3

Once this data has been calculated, we go to the formula:

n = 1/a · ( V · b + m · c + A · e · D · t )

And we calculate the number “n” of DIN units replacing each constant by its value, (to know the value of these parameters do not hesitate to visit our previous post).

The result would be n = 2 approximately, so about 60g of desiccant compound would be necessary for this packaging. We must bear in mind that it is always better to distribute these salts proportionally so that the atmosphere always maintains homogeneous humidity levels, so whenever possible we will use several bags distributed homogeneously.

As we have mentioned in previous posts, it is important to define the volume of air that we want to maintain with low humidity levels in order to calculate the number of DIN units that will be necessary. Once we know this information, our supplier will tell us the exact grams of salt that we will need depending on its composition.

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