Woodhead Publishing Biaxial Stretching of Film: Principles and Applications

Biaxial stretching of film is used for a range of applications. Many products ranging from food packaging to packages for fresh cut produce are produced by this process. The first set of chapters review the fundamental principles of biaxial stretching. Emphasis is placed on the technology as well the different types of polymers used. The second collection of chapters examine applications for the process, including product labels, snack packaging and synthetic paper. The book includes a discussion of future applications for biaxial stretching of film. Key Featuers: a valuable reference tool for polymer and fibre engineers, electrical engineers and professionals in the food packaging and paper industries; provides a comprehensive overview of the manufacturing processes of biaxially stretched films and includes a discussion of their future applications; places emphasis on the technology as well as the different types of polymers used. Contents: Part 1 Fundamental principles of biaxial stretching: Fundamentals of biaxial stretching and definitions of terms; Equipment design and requirements of biaxially stretched films; Laboratory evaluations of biaxially stretched films; Polyolefins used in biaxial stretched films; Other polymers used for biaxial films; Biaxial film structures; Typical industrial processes for the biaxial orientation of films; Post-production processing of biaxially oriented films; Strain energy function and stress-strain model for uniaxial and biaxial orientation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET); Academic investigations of biaxially stretched films; Biaxial stretched polyamide film. Part 2 Applications of biaxial films: Fresh cut produce packaging and the use of biaxial stretched films; Biaxial stretched films for use in snack packaging; Biaxially stretched films for product labelling; Applications of biaxial stretched films; Future trends for biaxially oriented films and orienting lines.