Shrink sleeve label is the No.3 labeling method in the world today after self-adhesive labels and wet glue labels. It allows for 360° decoration on any shape of packaging container, such as bottles, cans, jars, and more, providing the best visual impact on the shelf to attract consumer attention. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the materials, inks and printing processes used for shrink sleeve label can help users make informed decisions to choose best shrink sleeve labels for the optimal shrink performance and product appearance.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website.
The materials of shrink sleeve label substrates are made from a variety of polymers, including PVC, white opaque film, oriented polystyrene, polyester, polyolefin, and hybrid/multilayer films. The most commonly used substrates are OPS (oriented polystyrene), PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PETG (modified polyethylene terephthalate_ol), and polyolefins. In addition, composite, hybrid or multilayer films, as well as specialty films (e.g., white opaque films), also expand and enrich the substrates for shrink sleeve labels, providing more options.
In order to ensure the beauty, safety and durability of shrink sleeve labels, the best shrink sleeve label solution should be selected based on the nature and characteristics of different shrink films. Following is the most commonly used shrink sleeve label materials in today&#;s market.
PVC shrink film is one of the first material used for shrink sleeve labels. PVC shrink film is easy to process, has good transparency, high shrinkage rate, large shrinkage curve and good printing effect. Its shrinkage rate is between 40% and 60%, and it has high tensile strength and large temperature shrinkage range.
With good printing adaptability, PVC shrink film can be processed by rotogravure printing, letterpress printing, offset printing and flexographic printing and other methods, and can be used with UV, solvent or water-based inks. The corresponding UV protection level and optical whitening level can also be provided for PVC shrink film.
Compared with other shrink film materials, the cost of PVC film is relatively low. And, shrink sleeve label made of PVC shrink film does not require a high heat source. The main processing heat source is hot air, infrared or a combination of these two.
However, PVC shrink film is difficult to recycle and will produce toxic gas when burned, which is not good for the environment. PVC has been banned in Europe and Japan. For regions where the environmental requirements are not very strict, PVC is still the most important material in the field of shrink sleeve labels.
PET shrink film, an internationally recognized environmentally friendly materials for shrink sleeve labels, is the advanced unidirectional shrinkable film at present. Its technical indexes, physical properties, application scope and usage are close to that of PVC shrink film. Its transverse shrinkage rate is about 70%, longitudinal shrinkage rate is less than 3%. Moreover, due to non-toxic and non-polluting, PET film is the most ideal material to replace PVC film for shrink sleeve label production.
PETG film, a modified film, is often referred to as just PET, or commonly referred to as PETG. PETG film is transparent and has the highest shrinkage of all shrink film substrates. Among all types of shrink films, PETG films are environmentally friendly, can shrink up to 78% and can be pre-adjusted for shrinkage. PETG film is the only substrate choice for distributors requiring shrinkage of 75% or more. PETG film will shrink all the way to the narrow neck of a wine bottle or 2L beverage bottle.
However, its high cost and excessive shrinkage rate limit its use. Its current market share in shrink sleeve label section is about 15% to 20%.
Currently, there are several white opaque films on the market, including PET films with various mineral fillers. There are glossy and non-glossy ones. If shading is required, white opaque film will provide 70%~80% shading. If 99% to 100% opacity is required, black printing on the back of the film is needed. There are examples of this with products such as Nesquik or Fairlife dairy drinks in the USA. When the label is removed, the inside of the sleeve will show 100% black.
The shrinkage of white opaque films is very similar to that of clear PET films, which is about 75%. A new product on the market is a two-color film that is white on one side and black or gray on the other. These films provide complete blackout without the need to print 100% black on the reverse side.
PET is a great alternative when brand owners don&#;t allow PVC. It has a good feel to the touch and has an excellent print surface with a vibrant appearance and better print results than that of PVC film. PET substrates are also UV resistant and have the ability to protect labels or even the product contents when a higher level of protection is required.
OPS (Oriented Polystyrene) film is a transparent film with special applications. It has a good shrinkage performance of up to 65% and is also good for the environment and is widely used as an alternative to PVC film. However, OPS film is difficult to process and requires very fine handling. Special care should be taken when printing with solvent-based inks. Gravure printing requires less acetate because it corrodes OPS film.
Compared with PVC shrink film, OPS shrink film has excellent environmental protection; Compared with PETG shrink film, OPS shrink film is less expensive and more economical. OPS shrink film currently has a market share of 5%, and maintains a rapid growth momentum of development in shrink sleeve label sector.
OPP films have a low shrinkage rate and are mainly used for shrink wrap-around labels. OPP films are of good quality and low price and are very competitive, with approximately l8% to 20% of the market share.
In order to improve the scratch resistance of the ink layer, better protection of printed graphics, OPP film is suitable for containers that require low shrinkage, close to the cylindrical shape. The biggest difference between OPP film and above mentioned shrink sleeve label substrates is that it is designed for ring canister.
In addition to shrink sleeve label materials mentioned above, other film materials used for the production of shrink sleeve labels include Polyethylene (PE), Polylactic Acid (PLA), Polyolefin (PO), hybrid or multilayer polymer films. Material properties, overall cost and other factors should be considered when selecting materials.
The main materials for shrink sleeve labels are PVC film, PETG film and OPS film, of which, PET heat-shrinkable film is particularly prominent. The comprehensive performance of the three shrink film materials are as below:
In term of gloss, the three kinds of shrink film all have good gloss and can ensure excellent label printing effect.
In term of stiffness, PVC film is the best, followed by PET film, OPS film is the worst.
In term of shrinkage, here is the comparison.
In term of enviornmental protion, PET film is more conducive to environmental protection comparing with PVC film and OPS film.
Currently, the price of PET shrink film is approaching the price of PVC. Therefore, PET film is the most ideal material to replace PVC film.
The above discussed the comprehensive performance of several film materials, as well as their respective advantages and disadvantages. So, which film material should be selected for your shrink sleeve labels? Actully, the selection of shirnk film materials for shrink sleeve labels should take many factor into considerations, such as its functions of labelling, its costs and more. The base principle is to fulfill the function of the label while minimizing the cost. Following factors are usually considered when choosing the most suitable film material for shrink sleeve labels.
Meeting customer&#;s functional requirements is the primary factor to consider when designing shrink sleeve labels. If shrink sleeve labels are not able to meet customer&#;s requirements, it is useless even if the cost is low. According to above mentioned comparison table, if bottle type belongs to shaped bottles and shrinkage rate needs to be higher than 70%, PET film is the best choice. PVC film is only suitable for ordinary bottle types.
In addition, the stiffness of PET film and PVC film is significantly higher than that of OPS film. So, if there is a need to label the appearance of a better feel, PET film or PVC film are more suitable. And, the gloss of PET film&#;s appearance after printing is also better than that of the other two films.
The cost of shrink sleeve label materials is undoubtedly the most important factor in the common concern for both end-users and label printing manufacturer. When it comes to material costs, people are often accustomed to convert it to the price per ton so as to measure the price of materials. But, a more scientific approach should be to consider the cost of materials required per unit area. In other words, the unit cost of the film should be considered ($/kg), the density of the film material and label thickness.
Generally, the lowest cost of shrink film label materials is OPS film. PVC shrink sleeve labels has slightly higher prices, PET shrink sleeve labels are the most expensive. The density of OPS is much lower than that of PVC film and PET film. Correspondingly, the thickness of PVC is the thickest, followed by PET, and OPS is the thinnest.
In most cases, storage cost includes the storage of film materials and the storage of finished labels. PET film hardly shrinks below 60&#;. And it has very high stability for transportation and is more stable than PVC film. So, there is no problem for PET shrink sleeve labels to withstand long-distance sea and land transportation.
The transportation requirements of OPS are relatively strict because it has a certain natural shrinkage rate. Its transportation process generally needs to use thermal insulation measures, such as foam insulation layer or refrigerated trucks. In addition, the storage time of OPS films is shorter.
In addition, PET films and PVC films can be stored for six months from the date of manufacturing, while OPS films can be stored for three months from the date of shipment. Compared with the other two films, OPS film will have problems in printing after long-term storage because this film will become brittle, its shrinkage rate will decrease or become unstable.
From the point of view of production process, the printing ink required for PET film and PVC film is basically the same. However, the adhesion of inks originally used for PVC shrink film printing is slightly reduced on PET film surface, and only a slight adjustment of the white ink is required. As the solvent resistance of the film surface is much lower than that of PVC film, OPS film requires the use of new low corrosion inks. The total demand for these inks is very small, so the ink cost of OPS films is usually higher than that of PET and PVC printing inks.
In addition, if the same automatic sleeve labeling is adopted, OPS shrink sleeve labels have more precise requirements for the customer&#;s automatic sleeve labeling equipment. Therefore, only a small number of customers will choose OPS film as their shrink sleeve label material.
After more than ten years of development, the total demand for shrink sleeve labels is still growing steadily. Especially, more and more high-end customers put forward environmental protection requirements. And, more products will be packaged in shaped bottles to enhance the display effect, so many customers tend to PET film when they are choosing substrate materials for their shrink sleeve labels.
Although PETG and PET differ by only one letter &#;G&#; in their names, in the field of modern material science, PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and PETG ((Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified) each hold a unique position.
While they are similar in name and basic properties, these two plastics exhibit significant differences in several aspects.
Now, we will delve into the core differences between PET and PETG, covering the following topics:
1. Basic Properties of PET
2. Basic Properties of PETG
3. Key Advantages of PET and PETG
4. Primary Applications of PET and PETG
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Herofu.
PET, or Polyethylene Terephthalate, is a thermoplastic polyester.
It is produced through the polycondensation reaction of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. It is a crystalline type of saturated polyester, appearing as a milky white or light yellow, highly crystalline polymer with a smooth and glossy surface, commonly found in everyday life.
As a widely used plastic, PET is renowned for its excellent transparency and high-strength properties, especially holding a significant position in the packaging industry.
The expanding market size of PET reflects its importance in the global plastics market.
BOPET films, a typical PET product, elevate these properties to offer superior durability, clarity, and performance for packaging and industrial applications. Engineered for excellence, our films provide the strength and flexibility needed in today&#;s demanding market.
The &#;G&#; in PETG stands for Glycol-modified.
Glycol modification is achieved by incorporating ethylene glycol, a diol, into the chemical structure of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate).
The addition of ethylene glycol alters several physical and chemical properties of the original PET, endowing PETG with more unique characteristics.
Advantages of PET as a Packaging Material Include:
Exhibits excellent mechanical properties, with impact strength 3 to 5 times greater than other films, and good foldability.
Resistant to oil, fat, dilute acids and alkalis, and most solvents.
Possesses excellent resistance to high and low temperatures, can be used long-term at 120&#;, withstand temperatures as high as 150&#; in the short term, and as low as -70&#;, with minimal impact on its mechanical properties at these temperatures.
Low permeability to gases and water vapor, providing excellent barrier properties against gases, water, oil, and odors.
High transparency, capable of blocking UV rays, and possesses good gloss.
Non-toxic and odorless, with good hygienic safety, suitable for food packaging.
High transparency and glossiness, as well as good scratch resistance
Exceptional toughness and impact resistance
Excellent resistance to chemical corrosion
Good processability, suitable for injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, and other processing methods
Good fluidity, easy to color and blend, enabling the achievement of various appearances easily.
Compared to unmodified PET, PETG also has the following advantages:
Enhanced toughness and impact resistance: PETG is more flexible and impact-resistant, with lower brittleness, which improves its durability.
Improved Processability: PETG is easier to mold and process, particularly in thermoforming and extrusion, and its ease of processing at lower temperatures reduces the risk of warping and stress cracking.
Although PET and PETG originate from the same basic material, they exhibit significant differences in their application fields. Understanding these differences is crucial for making appropriate material choices in various applications.
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), a versatile thermoplastic polyester, is extensively used in beverage and food packaging (such as water and soft drink bottles), textile fibers (including clothing and home textiles), and various types of containers and bottles (involving both food and non-food packaging).
PETG, due to its superior physical properties, such as enhanced toughness, excellent thermal stability, high transparency and gloss, chemical stability, and ease of printing, is widely used in the field of 3D printing.
It is particularly suitable for printing a variety of objects, such as durable mechanical parts, intricate prototypes, and visually appealing artworks.
Moreover, PETG is also widely used in manufacturing food containers, cosmetic bottles, and pharmaceutical packaging, especially for products requiring transparency and chemical resistance.
The heat shrink properties of PETG make it an ideal choice for manufacturing heat shrink labels and packaging films, which are widely used for tightly packaging beverage bottles, electrical wires and cables, and various products.
While PET and PETG might seem similar at first glance, their differences underscore the importance of material science in our daily lives and industries. PET&#;s widespread use in packaging and textiles highlights its versatility and durability, whereas PETG&#;s enhanced flexibility and chemical resistance open new doors for innovative applications, especially in 3D printing and medical devices.
Choosing between PET and PETG ultimately depends on the specific requirements of your project, emphasizing the need to consider each material&#;s unique advantages. As we continue to explore and understand these materials, we pave the way for more sustainable and effective solutions in various applications.
The journey through the world of plastics is a reminder of how small changes in chemical composition can lead to significant advancements in technology and environmental stewardship.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Petg Shrink Film. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.