The Armadillo of Package Printing
February 2004
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Synthetic labeling materials are grabbing the attention of converters with their durability and versatility.
WITH ITS UNIQUE shell, the nine-banded armadillo is the only mammal in the animal kingdom with armor. Made from plates of bones, its armored shell is coated with a layer of horny skin, protecting the creature from most impending harm. Even with the armored shell, this seemingly awkward animal is very versatile, able to run and even swim.
Within the package-printing industry, there is a similar anomaly. Like the armadillo, synthetic labeling materials provide durability and protection for tough applications, along with added versatility.
Synthetics
Converters are increasingly looking to synthetic labeling material to meet the needs of their customers. Yet when it comes to choosing one, knowing what constitutes a "synthetic material" is a good place to begin.
"In the '90s, things changed in the synthetic industry, moving from a niche toward a commodity market. Packaging film manufacturers decided to become involved in the synthetic market and began to throw topcoatings onto products and call them all synthetics. So, synthetics are really anything but PET and vinyl," said David Hoag, national converting sales manager for Arjobex (Charlotte, N.C.). "True synthetics are mostly all polypropylenes (PP) and polyethylenes (PE). PP and PE are the two resins that categorize 95 percent of synthetic materials."
While carrying the title "durable like film, printable like paper," synthetic materials with these two base resins have varying characteristics. Brian Verkuilen, sales representative, Contract Converting LLC (Greenville, Wis.), said, "The basic differences of [PEs] and [PPs] are in the melt index, tensile strength, and cold temperature performance." Verkuilen explained that PE will begin melting at 210°F, has low tensile but high tear-resistance, and maintains its cold strength down to -65°F. PP has a melt index of 230°F, has high tensile but low tear-resistance, and becomes brittle in freezing temperatures. Depending on the end-use application requirements, both PP and PE are good choices for converters and end users.
D is for durability
Synthetic material, by nature, is water and grease-resistant. Christopher Paskey, sales and marketing manager for Valeron Strength Film (Houston, Texas), commented, "Synthetic papers are all highly resistant to water, whereas traditional papers, unless latex saturated or coated, are not. Water resistance is key to durability, as synthetic papers will typically not breakdown when exposed to water and/or harsh environmental conditions, though not all synthetics are UV-resistant."
Kari Virtanen, business development manager, films, Raflatac ( Fletcher, N.C.), expanded on this quality. "It is the nature of the polymer. It is water resistant. … Paper is not water resistant, and that is why it is not durable."
WITH ITS UNIQUE shell, the nine-banded armadillo is the only mammal in the animal kingdom with armor. Made from plates of bones, its armored shell is coated with a layer of horny skin, protecting the creature from most impending harm. Even with the armored shell, this seemingly awkward animal is very versatile, able to run and even swim.
Within the package-printing industry, there is a similar anomaly. Like the armadillo, synthetic labeling materials provide durability and protection for tough applications, along with added versatility.
Synthetics
Converters are increasingly looking to synthetic labeling material to meet the needs of their customers. Yet when it comes to choosing one, knowing what constitutes a "synthetic material" is a good place to begin.
"In the '90s, things changed in the synthetic industry, moving from a niche toward a commodity market. Packaging film manufacturers decided to become involved in the synthetic market and began to throw topcoatings onto products and call them all synthetics. So, synthetics are really anything but PET and vinyl," said David Hoag, national converting sales manager for Arjobex (Charlotte, N.C.). "True synthetics are mostly all polypropylenes (PP) and polyethylenes (PE). PP and PE are the two resins that categorize 95 percent of synthetic materials."
While carrying the title "durable like film, printable like paper," synthetic materials with these two base resins have varying characteristics. Brian Verkuilen, sales representative, Contract Converting LLC (Greenville, Wis.), said, "The basic differences of [PEs] and [PPs] are in the melt index, tensile strength, and cold temperature performance." Verkuilen explained that PE will begin melting at 210°F, has low tensile but high tear-resistance, and maintains its cold strength down to -65°F. PP has a melt index of 230°F, has high tensile but low tear-resistance, and becomes brittle in freezing temperatures. Depending on the end-use application requirements, both PP and PE are good choices for converters and end users.
D is for durability
Synthetic material, by nature, is water and grease-resistant. Christopher Paskey, sales and marketing manager for Valeron Strength Film (Houston, Texas), commented, "Synthetic papers are all highly resistant to water, whereas traditional papers, unless latex saturated or coated, are not. Water resistance is key to durability, as synthetic papers will typically not breakdown when exposed to water and/or harsh environmental conditions, though not all synthetics are UV-resistant."
Kari Virtanen, business development manager, films, Raflatac ( Fletcher, N.C.), expanded on this quality. "It is the nature of the polymer. It is water resistant. … Paper is not water resistant, and that is why it is not durable."
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