Thursday, May 21, 2015

Choosing The Right Thermoplastic For Your Product

By Lenna Stockwell


Thermoplastic is a word that encompasses many unique varieties of plastic. In general, just about any product can be created by a thermoforming company. Often though, thermoplastics are used as a container or package. If you have a product that needs packaging or needs to be created out of thermoplastic, one of the first steps is determining which thermoplastic best suits your needs.

When it comes to liquids, there are several different options to consider. Carbonated beverages, such as soda or beer, work well when encased in a thermoform plastic known as polyethylene terephthalate or PET. This type of plastic also is used to make water bottles. PET is one of the most easily recyclable thermoplastics; however, most thermoplastics can be recycled. PET is accepted by all curbside recycling programs and can be recycled into carpeting, non-food containers and many other items.

For liquids that are a bit more acidic or perhaps contain a chemical such as bleach or ammonia, you will need a type of thermoplastic that will be resistant to the chemical you produce. For these liquids, it might be wise to consider high-density polyethylene. This thermoplastic is also simply called HDPE and aside from being used to create bottles for detergent, cleaners, bleach and milk, HDPE also is used to create the filament in 3-D printers as well as containers for food storage and even whimsical products such as hula hoops.

If you produce a product with high oil content, such as mineral oil, vegetable oil or even motor oil, you might consider low-density polyethylene. This thermoplastic, also called LDPE, can hold items that have a high level of acid. LDPE also can be used to make those flexible lids we find on plastic storage containers and also are used to make squeezable catsup jars and plastic grocery store bags, both the types in the produce and meat department as well as the ones used in the checkout lane.

Polypropylene is yet another option for custom thermoforming. This is yet another form of thermoplastic that can be used to make reusable containers. Sometimes your custom thermoform packaging will include more than one type of product. For instance, you might have part of the package created out of HDPE and the lid formed out of polypropylene. In addition, polypropylene also can be used to create items in sheet form, such as the coating for trading cards or stationary folders.

These are just a few of your options, but the professionals at a thermoforming company will have the best idea about what type of thermoplastic best suits your thermoform packaging needs. In addition, they might have some bio-based and sustainable options to consider. Custom thermoforming provides you with a myriad of options, and virtually any size or type of packaging can be constructed using this process.




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