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Polyethylene

A Guide to the Use of Polyethylene in Tape Products

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Industry Knowledge,Uncategorized
Polyethylene plastic chemical symbolPolyethylene plastic is ubiquitous in our lives. The most common use is packaging for food and plastic garbage can liners. Most of us also have that “plastic sheet” somewhere in our basement or garage that we use to cover firewood, our grill, or anything else that we need to protect.

What is Polyethylene and Where Does it Come From?

Polyethylene is produced from the polymerization (controlled reaction) of ethylene monomer is the presence of catalysts to form a stable plastic. The ethylene monomer feedstock in North America comes mostly from our abundant supply of natural gas but it can also be produced from the naphtha portion of crude oil. The abundance of natural gas production in the USA has helped to stabilize the price of ethylene monomer and ultimately has kept the price for polyethylene stable as well.

Types of Polyethylene

Polyethylene is classified primarily by density, branching (think of a tree with either very different or uniform size branches), and molecular weight. These properties affect the tensile strength, ductility, hardness, and impact strength of the material.

For tape products, the most common types of polyethylene are:

  •   Low Density Polyethylene Film (LDPE)- has a density range of 0.91-0.94g/cm³ along with both short and long chain branching which translates into lower tensile strength but great ductility.
  •   Linear Low Density Polyethylene Film (LLDPE)- has a density range of 0.915-0.925 g/cm³. LLDPE has consistent short branching in the polymer structure which leads to higher tensile strength and puncture resistance.
  •   Medium Density Polyethylene Film (MDPE)-has a density range of 0.926-0.94g/cm³.  MDPE exhibits a lower degree of short and long chain branching compared to LDPE so tensile strength is significantly improved.
  •   High Density Polyethylene Film (HDPE) – has a density range of 0.941 and above. It has a very low degree of branching and offers a significant improvement in tensile strength over both LDPE and MDPE.
  •   Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene Film (UHMWPE)-has a density of 0.93 and 0.935 g/cm³ but also has a molecular weight that far exceeds the others. This results in an exceptionally tough material that offers outstanding cut, wear, and chemical resistance.
  •   Coextruded Films- also called “Coex” for short. This is essentially an “alloy” in which two films such as LDPE and HDPE are extruded together offering the good stretch and conformability of the LDPE along with the  improved toughness of the HDPE.
  •   Cross-Linked Polyethylene Foam- (PEF or XLPE)- a medium to high density polyethylene that has cross-linking bonds on the structure of the polymer. This is then exposed to radiation or a chemical reactions that creates a semi-rigid
 

How is Polyethylene Used in the Tape World?Polyethylene plastic film in blue color

One of the largest uses for polyethylene film is for surface protection films. If you’ve ever purchased a new refrigerator, wash machine, or dishwasher, you most likely have had to remove “that film” from the painted metal or stainless steel. LDPE is the prevalent film used for this application along with Coex. Aside from appliances, surface protection films are used widely in electronics, building and construction applications, and in the painted metals industries. These films are mainly coated with acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives which are “tuned” to be removable from the applied surface. LDPE and MDPE are often used in tapes for patching, bundling, sealing, and wrapping. The conformability of the film allows intimate surface contact and enables good adhesion. A rubber-based adhesive system is commonly used for adhesion to a broad range of materials. These tapes are also used as a separator between dissimilar metals such as steel and aluminum. The tape creates an interface that prevents galvanic corrosion. HDPE is often used for release liners. Silicone release coatings can be applied to the film and then adhesives can be coated on them allowing a tape to be produced with a tough release liner that is difficult to tear during application and removal. UHMWPE tapes offer very low friction and can be used to protect surfaces that experience repeated contact and wear. The UHMPE absorbs shock without fracturing and can be used for hopper liners, chutes, and in high wear furniture applications. These tape are usually coated with an aggressive acrylic adhesive system that has excellent adhesion to many surfaces and can be used indoors or outdoors. Polyethylene foam is renowned for its’ ability withstand pressure without losing its’ cushioning ability. These foam tapes are coated with either acrylic or rubber-base adhesives and can be used for mounting mirrors, POP displays, clips, signs, and as glazing tapes to seal insulated glass units into framing systems. Want to know more about polyethylene tapes? Contact Tom Brown, Inc.
Rick Alexander

About the Author

Rick Alexander is the National Sales Manager for Tom Brown, Inc. His early experience was in R&D, product management, and sales management for both Main Tape and Adhesives Research, Inc. Rick brings over 40 years of pressure-sensitive tape experience and Tom Brown’s world class converting capabilities to help solve customer bonding, assembly, and sealing challenges.

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