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| What is OPP Film? |
Why is OPP used so widely for packaging applications? |
What type of films does ExxonMobil Chemical supply? |
What is coated film? |
What are the advantages of coated film? |
Why should we use OPP film for labeling? |
Can OPP be microwaved? |
Can OPP be frozen? |
| What is OPP Film?
A. OPP, oriented polypropylene, is a flexible material derived from melting and orienting (stretching!) a polymer called polypropylene. This raw material, an oil by-product, is inert and unaffected by most chemical agents occurring in everyday life. It meets the requirements of the US Food and Drug Administration and other relevant authorities throughout the world. Uncoated polypropylene contains primarily carbon and hydrogen, and includes no heavy metals or other environmentally hazardous substances. By orienting polypropylene, we can improve its physical properties, such as water vapor barrier, stiffness, dimensional stability, and optics.
Packaging and labeling are our two major markets. ExxonMobil Chemical Films offers a wide range of products to meet the diverse needs of these industries.
| Why is OPP used so widely for packaging applications?
A. OPP films are very versatile, can be adapted for many diverse uses and are suitable for many types of packaging machines. Because of their physical and barrier properties especially when coated - OPP films are used in labeling and packaging for a large range of consumer products such as biscuits, snack foods, confectionery, bakery goods, soft drinks, aerosol cans and overwrap applications.
OPP films are very lightweight, bringing extra advantages in terms of packaging and ecotax economies and are environmentally stable. (Ecotax refers to savings on environmental tax levies. Currently, environmental taxes in Europe vary from country to country. In most countries, tax is charged on weight of materials being used.)
OPP films also offer superior printability, machinability, and graphic appeal and provide cost savings over other flexible packaging materials.
Moreover, OPP films can be laminated to other materials such as paper, PE, aluminum or other polymeric films. Laminations can be made using solvent-based or water based materials. The main printing technologies can be utilized to print OPP films, such as gravure, flexo, offset UV, letterset UV and digital processes. Cold seal adhesives can also be used directly on single layer films using a release lacquer on the opposite side of the film or in a lamination with a release OPP film.
| What type of films does ExxonMobil Chemical supply?
A. Our product range is classified into several families:
Bicor™:
Bi-oriented transparent polypropylene films. Designed for use in overwrap, horizontal and vertical packaging applications.
OPPalyte™ :
Bi-oriented white opaque cavitated polypropylene films, providing excellent UV light protection.
Metallyte™:
Bi-oriented metallized polypropylene films with transparent or white opaque base films. These provide excellent humidity, aroma and light barriers and can also be used for decorative purposes.
For the above product families, films can be either coated or plain.
Hicor™:
Mono and bi-oriented high-density polyethylene films. Ideal for twist-wrap applications and in laminations for use on vertical & horizontal machines.
For the labeling business, we also have a distinct product family:
Label-Lyte™:
Bi-oriented OPP films, which are transparent, white or metallized and specially designed for many labeling applications: reel-fed wrap-around, shrink reel-fed wrap-around (ROSO™), Cut & Stack wrap-around (Lithor™) and pressure sensitive.
Digilyte™:
These transparent and white BOPP films are all printable with new digital printing technology (Indigo Omnius) and suitable for flexible packaging and label applications.
| What is coated film?
A. Coated film is OPP film (white, transparent or metallized) which has been coated on one or both sides. The types of coating we use are Acrylic, LTSC (low temperature sealing coating), PVdC (polyvinylidene chloride), and PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol), all of which are water based. Coatings are applied to films after orientation.
| What are the advantages of coated film?
A. Benefits provided by these coatings can be classified in terms of better protection (oxygen, light, water and aroma barriers), performance on packaging machines (seal integrity, efficiency, speed, slip, friction, hot tack etc.) and appearance (printing, gloss, etc.).
Acrylic coating offers an excellent surface for printing and exceptional gloss and haze characteristics, combined with very good aroma protection.
LTSC (low temperature sealing coating) is a coating specially designed for HFFS (horizontal form, fill and seal) lines, which allows machines to run at very high or low speeds, while keeping constant seal temperature settings.
PVdC (polyvinylidene chloride) coating provides superior barrier properties (humidity, oxygen and aroma) and offers excellent optics and good machine efficiency.
Finally, PVOH (polyvinyl alcohol), with its excellent oxygen barrier is typically used to protect food products that are sensitive to oxidation.
| Why should we use OPP film for labeling?
A. OPP films for labeling offer an attractive appearance and touch and are both moisture resistant and durable. With the widest range of OPP films for labeling solutions, we can offer white glossy or white matt, metallized or transparent labels (no-label look).
| Can OPP be microwaved?
A. Most of our OPP films designed for food packaging applications can be used to reheat already prepared foods. No OPP films should be used for initial cooking where higher temperatures are required. Please contact your ExxonMobil representative for information and to discuss your microwave application.
| Can OPP be frozen?
A. All of our OPP films designed for food packaging applications may be used in frozen storage. However, acrylic coating may be disturbed by water condensation. Thorough testing is recommended when considering acrylic coated films in refrigerated or frozen applications. Please contact your ExxonMobil representative for information and to discuss your freezer application.
Please use our email form to send us your questions.
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