polyethylene film

Polyethylene Film

Nexcycle Plastics recycles plastic scrap for making polyethylene film. As a polyethylene recycler, we recycle polyethylene for a variety of products made using the extrusion or injection molding processes, i.e., polyethylene film. Our products, NPI – 04HDPE Mixed Color and NPI – 01LL/LD Mixed Color are all manufactured from recycled polyethylene and are ideally suited for making polyethylene film. As a leading polyethylene recycler and compounder, we have an extensive supply of polyethylene and are well placed to offer you a low cost alternative to virgin resin.

What is Polyethylene Film?
As a part of the much larger category of plastic film, our polyethylene products are the most widely used resins for making plastic film. Usually defined as a flat piece of thermoplastic resin with the length considerably longer than the width with a thicknesses of 10 mils (1 mil = 0.001 inch) or less (averaging 0.7 mils to 1.5 mils), plastic film typically includes any flexible sheets of plastic including polyethylene film which has its own unique combination of properties. Derived from ethylene gas, it can be made using addition polymerization in low or high pressure processes which are typically defined according to their density. As an alternative to using metal, glass or some other material, polyethylene film has revolutionized the packaging industry. Available as a thin plastic sheet of varying thicknesses and properties, polyethylene film is used for everything from grocery and garbage bags to packaging wrap for large pallets of boxes.

Resin Properties
Some of the most important properties of our recycled polyethylene as a plastic film material include its melt index and density properties. They are key indicators of what the melt strength and flow will be for processing. If you're looking for resin to use in blow molding, film extrusion, pipe and profile extrusion processes, the lower the melt index, the greater the melt strength will be. If you're looking for resins for your injection molding process, a higher melt index will mean a faster melt flow which helps to fill the mold cavities in shorter period of time. The properties of our products are listed below:

LL/LD RESIN PROPERTIES	ASTM TEST	UNIT ENGLISH (METRIC)	NOMINAL VALUES
Melt Index	D1238	gm/10 min	0.5 to 1.2
Density	D1505	gm/cm3	.918 to .930
-	-	-	-
HDPE RESIN PROPERTIES	ASTM TEST	UNIT ENGLISH (METRIC)	NOMINAL VALUES
Melt Index	D1238	gm/10 min	0.3 to 0.9
Density	D1505	gm/cm3	.945 to .960
-	-	-	-

Applications
There are three main industries that use polyethylene film: packaging, agriculture and horticulture, and construction. As a part of the much larger packaging family called flexible packaging, polyethylene film makes up more than half of all flexible packaging followed closely by aluminum and paper. It also represents a major portion of all plastic packaging which can be used as a bag or wrap for protection. This includes everything from grocery bags to garbage bags, dry cleaning garment bags and plastic or stretch wrap for protecting buildings and crops from excessive moisture.

Packaging: the primary function of packaging is to contain the product and here the versatility of polyethylene films with regards to sealing methods is extremely valuable. Polyethylene films can be heat sealed, stapled or stitched, bonded with adhesives or, in some cases, sealed with ultrasonic or high frequency heating. Our low density polyethylene (LDPE) or linear LDPE resins have a lower tensile strength than HDPE, but are often used to make packaging with heat sealing capabilities.
Agriculture and Horticulture: The second largest use for polyethylene film is in agriculture and horticulture for crop protection. Film offers less protection than glass in colder climates, but more in warmer climates for loss of heat and water. Related applications include using polyethylene film for mulching, seed conservation, disease and pest control, and conservation.
Building and Construction: the building and construction industries account for 25% of polyethylene film consumption. One of the most interesting uses of polyethylene film in buildings is that of a moisture or moisture vapor barrier. Polyethylene film is used as a lightweight tarp for covering up materials and equipment on site. Low density polyethylene is often used for weatherproofing a building under construction. Other related uses include shuttering and the curing of concrete.

Nexcycle Plastics Inc. 235 Wilkinson Road, Brampton, Ontario, Canada, L6T 4M2
Tel: 905.454.2666 ~ Toll Free: 1.800.463.6169 ~ Fax: 905.454.2668
Or contact us at one of our two locations: Brampton and Red Deer