ABSTRACT
Polymers are widely used in packaging of food, chemicals, medicines, industrial components, agriculture, and household items as listed in Table 26.1. Polymer consumption has an average growth rate of 5% and it will touch a figure of 227 million metric tons in 2015. Criteria for selection of a particular polymer for packaging is its biodegradability, migration of hazardous compounds, barrier properties, processability, strength, and inertness. Polymers are made to order in a variety of fashions using additives, functionalization, crosslinking, and so on for a particular application. A successful packaging material should be able to maintain the quality of the packed commodities to meet the customers’ expectation as it moves from manufacturer to customer. Common Polymers Used in Packaging
|
Application |
Polymer |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Food and beverage packaging |
Ready meals |
HIPS, PVC, PS |
|
Flour, spices, sugar |
PP/HDPE woven bags, PET/PE, PET/PET/PE, PET/PA/PE, PET/AL/PE layered bags |
|
|
Meats and seafood |
PP/EVOH blend, HDPE |
|
|
Snacks and confectioneries |
PET/PE, PET/MET-PET/PE, PET/MET-BOPP, BOPP/BOPP, PET/PA/AL/PE, PA/PE, MET-PET/PE layered bags |
|
|
Dairy and cheese |
PET, HDPE |
|
|
Ghee, oils, pickles |
PET/PE, PET/PA/PE, HDPE |
|
|
Beverage |
Packages: PET/AL/PE, PET/PA/AL/PE, PA/AL/PE, PA/PE Bottles: PET, PEN |
|
|
Frozen desserts |
PP, HDPE |
|
|
Vegetables, fruits |
PP |
|
|
Cosmetics and personal care |
Creams, lotions |
PVC, HDPE, PMMA |
|
Retail and consumer goods |
Blisters or clamshells |
PVC, PET |
|
Skin or stretch packaging |
LDPE |
|
|
Medical and pharmaceutical |
Tablets and capsules |
PVC, PET |
|
Syrup and solutions |
PP, HDPE |
|
|
Agriculture |
Seeds |
PP, BOPP, VMPET, PE |
|
Fertilizers |
PP, HDPE/PP |
|
|
Pesticides |
PET/VMPET/CPP |
|
|
Automotive |
Lubricants |
PET/PE, PET/MET-PET/PE layered, HDPE |
|
Gasoline |
HDPE, EVOH/HDPE layered |
|
|
Metal parts |
PP |
|
|
Construction materials |
Cement, sand |
PP/HDPE woven bags, PP |
|
Household |
Water bottles |
PET |
|
Paints |
HDPE, PP |
|
|
Cleaning liquids, shampoo |
HDPE |
|
