Polyethylene film manufacturers have been attempting to replace
paper bags for the last several years but have not been completely
successful yet. One of the major reasons is that polyethylene bag
does not have good deadfold and crease retention, characteristics
that are offered by paper bags. The new developments of HM HDPE
grade has helped in improving these characteristics. Some of the
polyethylene bags of three-layer structure containing new HM HDPE
grade in core structure have crease resistance and deadfold characteristics
similar to paper. Such Polyethylene bags are increasingly used in
American fast food chains as well as other retail stores. These
type of plastic bags are now manufactured between 15-100 micron
thickness. The three layer co-extrusion system is found to be more
suitable. Generally the outerlayer contains paper like film while
the rigidity is derived from the core of HM HDPE. A major masterbatch
manufacturer Schulman is marketing a special masterbatch called
Papermatch which provides paper like feel to polyethylene in the
skin layers.
(Source:
Modern Plastics International, October 2000) |
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