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Special Formula Plastic Film

05/10/2024 7:13 PM

I am looking to learn the type of the plastic film that is used in these new like grocery shopping bags. You know ones like these?

None I have checked even has the triangle recycling code on them.

The stuff is Incredible tough! My calipers goes down to 0.0001" and this stuff is sooo thin that it can't detect it! it reads zero with many many measurements.

Yet they are sooo strong you can have 20 pounds of weight in them, and they don't fail. just incredible. I found the names of two manufacturers, but havent gotten a reply from my attempts for contact with them. I thought maybe if I knew the formulation(s) maybe I can find other manufacturers.

Joe

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#1

Re: Special Formula Plastic film.

05/10/2024 9:18 PM

You can probably make it yourself, it's probably low density polyethylene...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyethylene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXmPQEEI5ig&ab_channel=StuartWinikoff

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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Special Formula Plastic film.

05/10/2024 9:43 PM

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#3
In reply to #1

Re: Special Formula Plastic film.

05/10/2024 10:54 PM

For 20 years I worked for a company that made many different plastic formulations, and use "PE" many many times but none was even close to the strength of this stuff.

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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Special Formula Plastic film.

05/11/2024 12:27 AM

The methods of treatment to the pe that produces the desired characteristics varies from manufacturer to manufacturer and the methods are likely to be proprietary...the methods are many...

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shashank-Mhaske-2/publication/267405888_Crosslinked_polyethylene/links/547d3ece0cf2cfe203c20265/Crosslinked-polyethylene.pdf

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/crosslinking

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#9
In reply to #4

Re: Special Formula Plastic film.

05/12/2024 4:23 PM

https://omnexus.specialchem.com/selection-guide/polyethylene-plastic

My guess is that these bags are some grade of LLDPE...

"What is linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE)?

The structure of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) has a linear backbone with short and uniform branches (unlike longer branches of LDPE). These short branches are able slide against each other upon elongation without becoming entangled like LPDE. It is structurally similar to LDPE.

How is LLDPE manufactured?

LLDPE is produced by the polymerization of ethylene (or ethane monomer) with:

  • 1-butene, and
  • smaller amounts of 1-hexene and 1-octene.

This process occurs using Ziegler-Natta or metallocene catalysts. In the present-day scenario, LLDPE has been quite successful in replacing LDPE thanks to the below-mentioned properties."...

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#10
In reply to #4

Re: Special Formula Plastic film.

05/12/2024 4:24 PM

I know what you're talking about as I have noticed the same thing...I think the yield /break curve is something like this...

I guess if you know the characteristics you want, you could have a plastics engineer design the formula for you...

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#5

Re: Special Formula Plastic Film

05/11/2024 8:11 AM

Need to be aware that the newer ‘green’ plastic is material from polymers derived from corn. Very short shelf life and UV sensitive.

‘PLA (Polylactide) is a bio-based, 100% biodegradable material made from renewable plant material (corn starch). Field corn is used to create the bags and is not suitable for consumption but is great to use as an end use for packaging materials like our bags.’

Europe has been using this for grocery bags for years. They would store stuff in the bags and store them in the attic and a few years later, the bags would decomposed into pieces,

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#6
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Re: Special Formula Plastic Film

05/12/2024 3:17 AM

Some manufacturers use potato starch.

https://www.carrierbags.co.uk/potato-starch-carrier-bags/

And wood pulp is also an option.

https://www.transpack.co.uk/brands/natureflex/

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#11
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Re: Special Formula Plastic Film

05/14/2024 11:56 AM

I prefer the thermal insulated expandable canvas bags....keeps your ice cream from melting and your lettuce from wilting...last forever and carry all your cold groceries in one easy to manage bag...

And canvass bags for the rest...

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#7
In reply to #5

Re: Special Formula Plastic Film

05/12/2024 1:12 PM

As far as I know, the plastic bags used around here do NOT decompose. I've seen a lot about plastics that are a danger to wildlife because they do not decompose.

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#8

Re: Special Formula Plastic Film

05/12/2024 1:13 PM

Your photo looks a lot like what we call "T-shirt" bags.

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#12

Re: Special Formula Plastic Film

05/15/2024 8:04 AM

I am not sure about the bags,but some plastic kitchen wrap is made from UHMW polyethylene.Very tough,and shrinks when hot.

I have used UHMW to form low friction skid plates when moving heavy equipment when no other method was available.

UHMW is more wear resistant than stainless or even tungsten,and a friction just slightly less than Teflon.

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#13

Re: Special Formula Plastic Film

05/15/2024 8:23 AM

I think this link will answer most of your questions about plastic bag types and plastics in general.

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/guide/513/types-of-plastic-food-bags.html

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