|  | Public Health Safety | Public Health

LDPE Film Properties

Polyethylene plastic is a very durable and inexpensive plastic material that is also chemical-resistant. Low-density and high-density are the two forms of polyethylene plastic. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic was discovered in 1933 by Reginald Gibson and Eric Fawcett. LDPE is made from oil and exhibits more flexibility when compared with a high-density polyethylene plastic.

  1. High-Quality Packaging

    • LDPE bags are soft, stretchy and air-, water- and chemical-proof. These bags are quite popular as a low-cost option for high-quality packaging. Owing to the fact that the bags are available in various styles, shapes, colors and sizes, they are widely used for packaging.

    Common Uses of LDPE

    • Bags used for newspapers, dry cleaning, bread and fresh produce are made from LDPE, as are sandwich bags, garbage bags, garment bags, stretch film, pond liners, squeezable bottles and shrink wrap. The grocery sacks made out of LDPE are very soft and usually do not make any rustling sound.

    Properties of LDPE Bags

    • Bags and items manufactured from LDPE are recyclable, though they lose some of the original quality when recycled. LDPE bags can withstand temperatures up to 80 degrees Celsius. LDPE has a high degree of long and short chain branching, which does not allow the chains to pack into a crystal structure. This results in less intermolecular force, which in turn results in an increased ductility and lower tensile strength.

    Garbage Bags

    • Plastic bags are mostly used for lining waste bins or litter bins and waste baskets. This process helps in avoiding the contact of rubbish with the container, thereby keeping the trash bin sanitary. Once the bag is filled with litter, the bag can be conveniently pulled out by its edges and then closed and tied. LPDE bags are the ones that are mostly used as the garbage bags since they are soft, flexible and moisture-resistant.

    Small LDPE Bags

    • Small plastic bags are generally used for storing food items and can also be used for holding other items. Some of the clear bags that have a zipperlike mechanism on one side of the bag are also widely used for storing food items. Since these bags are used to store food items, they are clear and translucent, thus allowing the contents stored in the bag to be visible. Simple clear LDPE bags are available in the grocery section that can be used to store fruits and vegetables. Using twists ties or by tying the open end into a knot can help close the bags.

Public Health - Related Articles