Polyethylene is one of the materials that we find most frequently among household objects and beyond. Most plastic bags used by retail stores, for example, are made of polyethylene, a strong and reliable material, suitable for containing products of various sizes, weights and compositions.. Not only that, thanks to its characteristics, polyethylene is widely used in the production of different items, such as food containers, protective films, pipes, car components and much more.
What makes it so versatile? We explain in this article.
What is Polyethylene (PE)
It is common to find the acronym PE 04 on plastic packaging. But what does it mean? The acronym PE indicates that the packaging is made of polyethylene, the most common plastic material.. It is a thermoplastic polymer with a low particle density, with a simple structure since it is composed only of carbon and hydrogen. Its invention occurred by mistake more than 100 years ago, thanks to the German chemist Hans von Pechmann who accidentally synthesized this substance while heating diazomethane.
Polyethylene is a particularly safe material, resistant to stress and temperatures, easy to work with and low cost. Its characteristics make it well suited to different uses and in various sectors, from food to textile to industrial.
Differences between LDPE and HDPE
Depending on the polymer used and its processing, different characteristics of polyethylene can be obtained, in terms of resistance, thickness, density and transparency.
Among the most used types we find LDPE and HDPE, both thermoplastic polymers composed of carbon and hydrogen but with different properties.
The acronym LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene) indicates a low density polyethylene composed of a chain of polymers that have ramifications. For this reason it is ductile and flexible, particularly light and suitable for the production of envelopes and bags, protective films and films.
Polyethylene HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) it is, on the contrary, composed of linear chains and consequently harder and denser. Its characteristics make HDPE polyethylene more suitable for the production of rigid packaging such as containers and bottles. Compared to LDPE, it resists high temperatures better but is slightly more opaque. Both are perfectly waterproof and protect the product contained from possible contamination with other substances.
Furthermore, These are two 100% recyclable plastic materials and therefore potentially reusable infinite times.
Flexible packaging for fashion and textiles: the advantages of polyethylene
In the fashion, clothing and textile sectors, large quantities of bags, envelopes and containers are used daily for the most varied uses.
Whether they are shoppers with handles, personalized envelopes for e-commerce shipments or transparent ones with pressure closure, the material mainly used for their production is polyethylene.
It perfectly protects the contained article, prevents the formation of bad smells or parasites that can ruin the fabric, is shock-resistant and can be customized with the printing of logos or other commercial information, thus also becoming a marketing tool.. Furthermore, products made of polyethylene are ecological both because they are 100% recyclable and because many of them, such as bags and envelopes, can be used several times before being disposed of.
Teamplast PE products for the fashion, textile and retail sectors
Among our polyethylene articles for the fashion, textile and retail sectors in general, we can produce for example:
• Colourful and custom printed shoppers
• E-commerce shipping envelopes with custom printing
• Transparent or colored and printed envelopes
• Neutral or coloured and printed envelopes with adhesive flap
• Colorful and custom printed money transport envelopes
• Transparent or colored and printed envelopes with pressure closure
Not only that, we deal with different types of material, such as polypropylene which allows us to create items with a different performance and for a different use.
All our products can be customized according to the specific needs of the customer: we study together the characteristics it must have, we analyse the chosen material, we design the shape, the thickness and the graphic images or colours to be used for a unique and tailor-made result.
For a no-obligation quote, contact us via the form or send an email to info@teamplast-srl.it.
