Material Science

BOPET polyester film is used for its high tensile strength, chemical and dimensional stability, transparency, reflective, gas and aroma barrier properties and electrical insulation. The most well-known trade names are Mylar® and Melinex®.

Biaxially oriented polypropylene film (BOPP film) is a rugged thermoplastic polymer. When polypropylene is biaxially oriented, BOPP, it becomes crystal clear but remains available in white and matte finishes. BOPP film is commonly used for applications that require moisture resistance, optical clarity and high tensile strength.

A material made from glass fibers. It is used as a reinforcing agent for many polymer products. The resulting composite material properly known as fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) or glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), is called fiberglass in popular usage.

See polytetrafluoroethylene.

The registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber developed by DuPont™. Aramid fibers are a class of heat-resistant and strong synthetic fibers. They are used in aerospace and military applications, for ballistic rated body armor fabric, and as an asbestos substitute. The name is a shortened form of "aromatic polyamide". They are fibers in which the chain molecules are highly oriented along the fiber axis, so the strength of the chemical bond can be exploited.

The registered trademark for polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) developed by Arkema Inc. PVDF is a specialty plastic material in the fluoropolymer family; it is used generally in applications requiring the highest purity, strength, and resistance to solvents, acids, bases and heat and low smoke generation during a fire event. Compared to other fluoropolymers, it has an easier melt process because of its relatively low melting point of around 177°C.
Source: Wikipedia - 07-2009

See biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate.

A registered trademark for flame resistant meta-aramid material developed by DuPont™.

A generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers known generically as polyamides and first produced at DuPont™. Nylon is one of the most common polymers and is technically a synthetic linen.

A particular group of thermoplastic polymers having functional groups linked together by carbonate groups in a long molecular chain. These polymers have features such as; temperature resistance, impact resistance and optical properties.

PET film or PolyEthylene Terephthalate film is a thermoplastic polymer commonly referred to as polyester film. Like most thermoplastics, PET films can be biaxially oriented or bubble extruded. Polyester film is one of the most common substrates used in the converting industry because of its balance of properties in relation to other thermoplastic polymers.

PEEK is a high performance semi-crystalline thermoplastic with extraordinary mechanical properties. PEEK is resistant to both organic and aqueous environments and its characteristics include high temperature performance, excellent wear properties, superior chemical resistance and hydrolytic stability.

PE or polyethylene film is used in greater volume than any other thermoplastic in the world. This low cost, versatile plastic is also the most commonly known because of its use in consumer markets.

PEN is a polyester with good barrier properties prepared from ethylene glycol and one or more naphthalene dicarboxylic acids by condensation polymerization. PEN is also used for manufacturing high performance fibers that have very high modulus and better dimensional stability than Polyester or Nylon fibers.

Polyimide film, known for its high heat resistance is used in applications where reliable, durable performance is required, often in harsh environments.

Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging and labeling, textiles and reusable containers.

An aromatic polymer made from the aromatic monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is commercially manufactured from petroleum. Polystyrene is a thermoplastic substance, normally existing in solid state at room temperature, but melting if heated, and becoming solid again when cooling off.

PTFE's most well known trademark in the industry is the DuPont™ brand name Teflon is a polymer that contains atoms of fluorine. It is characterized by a high resistance to solvents, acids, and bases. It is very non-reactive, and so is often used in containers and pipework for reactive and corrosive chemicals.

Commonly abbreviated PVC, is a widely used thermoplastic polymer. Polyvinyl chloride is produced by polymerization of the monomer vinyl chloride, as shown. Since about 57% of its mass is chlorine, creating a given mass of PVC requires less petroleum than many other polymers.

PVF is mainly used in flammability-lowering coating of airplane interiors and photovoltaic module backsheets. Polyvinyl fluoride is a thermoplastic fluoropolymer with the repeating vinyl fluoride unit. It is structurally very similar to polyvinyl chloride. PVF has low permeability for vapors, burns very slowly, and has excellent resistance to weathering and staining. It is also resistant to most chemicals, except ketones and esters.

See polyvinyl fluoride.

TPU film is a dynamic substrate that can be customized for a variety of performance applications.