Food Stretch Film

1. Product introduction

In the field of food packaging, food stretch film plays a crucial role. It is not only the key to maintaining food freshness and preventing food spoilage, but also plays an irreplaceable role in facilitating food storage, transportation and sales. With the continuous improvement of consumers' requirements for food quality and safety, the performance and quality of food stretch film are also continuing to develop and improve.

2. Structure and composition

Multi-layer structure: Food stretch film is usually made of multi-layer co-extrusion technology and has a multi-layer structure. In general, the innermost layer is in direct contact with food, and polyethylene (PE) materials with good heat sealing and food safety are often used. The intermediate layer may contain blocking materials, such as ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), which have excellent blocking properties for oxygen, water vapor, etc., and can effectively prevent external gases and moisture from entering the packaging, thereby extending the shelf life of the food. The outermost layer is mostly a material with certain strength, wear resistance and printing adaptability, such as linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) or polypropylene (PP), which can protect the packaging from physical damage during transportation and storage, and provide a good printing surface for product identification.

Material characteristics: Polyethylene (PE): is a widely used in food packaging material, with good flexibility, transparency and heat sealing. Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is soft and suitable for packaging that requires better flexibility. High-density polyethylene (HDPE), on the other hand, has higher strength and rigidity.

Ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH): Its gas barrier performance is very excellent, especially the oxygen barrier ability is very strong. In the multilayer structure, even a very thin layer of EVOH can significantly improve the barrier effect of the entire stretched film.

Polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC): It is also an excellent barrier material, which has a good barrier effect on oxygen, water vapor and odor, and can provide comprehensive protection for food.

3. Performance characteristics

Tensile property: Food tensile film has good tensile property, can be tightly wrapped food. During the stretching process, it is able to adapt to the shape of the food, reducing the air content in the package and reducing the risk of food oxidation. At the same time, the appropriate stretching ratio can also ensure the stability of the packaging during storage and transportation, and prevent the packaging from loosening or breaking.

Barrier properties: Gas barrier: through the intermediate layer of blocking materials, such as EVOH or PVDC, effectively prevent the exchange of oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases. For easily oxidized foods, such as meat, nuts, etc., this gas barrier property can maintain the color, flavor and nutritional composition of the food. For example, in meat packaging, a low-oxygen environment can inhibit bacterial growth and fat oxidation, extending the shelf life of meat.

Water vapor barrier: prevent external water vapor from entering the inside of the package or water vapor loss in the package. For dry foods, such as cookies, potato chips, etc., preventing water vapor from entering can maintain its crisp taste; For fresh food, such as fruits, vegetables, etc., moderate water vapor barrier helps to maintain its freshness.

Preservation performance: Due to its good tensile and barrier properties, food stretch film can create a relatively stable internal environment for food, slow down the metabolism of food and microbial growth rate. This helps to extend the shelf life of food and reduce the loss of food during storage and transportation.

Heat sealing performance: Excellent heat sealing, capable of achieving a reliable seal at low temperatures and pressures. This is not only conducive to improving the efficiency of packaging, reducing packaging costs, but also to ensure the sealing of packaging, preventing food leakage and external contamination.

4. Application field

Fresh food: It is widely used in the packaging of fresh food, such as meat, fish, fruits and vegetables. For meat and fish, the stretch film can be tightly wrapped to reduce blood leakage and maintain the color and freshness of the meat; For fruits and vegetables, it can regulate the gas composition in the package, delay its respiration and extend the shelf life.

Snack foods: snack foods such as potato chips, nuts, candy, etc., also use a lot of food stretch film packaging. Stretch film can effectively prevent these foods from moisture, oxidation and fragmentation, maintain their taste and flavor, at the same time, its good printing adaptability is also easy to display product information and brand image on the packaging.

Baked goods: bread, pastries and other baked goods use food stretching film packaging, on the one hand, can prevent the loss of moisture, maintain the softness of the bread, on the other hand, can also block the outside dust and microorganisms, extend its shelf life.

5. FAQ

What is food stretch film?

Food stretch film is a plastic film used for food packaging, through the stretching process to make it better fit and protective, often used for food preservation and protection.

What is the main function of food stretch film?

The main functions include protecting food from physical damage, preventing food spoilage, extending shelf life, and maintaining the freshness and taste of food.

What are the common types of food stretch film?

Common types include single-layer PE film, multi-layer co-extruded film, EVOH high barrier film, PA/PE co-extruded film, etc., depending on the barrier property and application needs.

Is food stretch film safe?

Food stretch films are usually produced using food-grade raw materials and are certified to ensure safety when in contact with food.

How does food stretch film extend the shelf life of food?

By blocking oxygen, moisture and other environmental factors, it slows down the oxidation and microbial growth of food, thereby extending shelf life.

Which food stretch film is suitable for food packaging?

Suitable for all kinds of food, including fresh meat, seafood, fruits, vegetables, cooked food, snacks, etc.

How to choose a stretch film suitable for a particular food?

Select according to the characteristics of the food (such as humidity, oil content, whether high barrier is required, etc.) and packaging needs (such as vacuum packaging, pallet packaging, etc.).

How does the tensile property of food stretch film affect the packaging effect?

Good tensile properties can make the film closely fit the surface of the food, reduce the intrusion of air and bacteria, and improve the protective effect of the packaging.

How does the transparency of food stretch film affect packaging?

The high transparency of the stretch film can show the appearance of the food, attract consumers, but also easy to check the freshness and quality of the food.

Is food stretch film easy to recycle?

Many food stretch film materials are recyclable, but the specific recycling depends on local recycling policies and the specific material of the film.

How does food stretch film perform at high or low temperatures?

Depending on the material, food stretch film can maintain its properties within a certain temperature range, but prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures should be avoided.

What is the puncture resistance of food stretch film?

Puncture resistance refers to the ability of the film to resist penetration by sharp objects, which is very important for protecting fragile foods and preventing packaging breakage.

What is the heat sealing property of food stretch film?

Heat seal performance refers to the ability of the film to seal when heated, which is essential to ensure the tightness of the package and prevent the leakage of the contents.