Atlantic Poly Blog

If you deal in plastics, as in manufacture them, sell them, use them, order them or need them in your business, there are some terms you will need to know. Over the next few blog posts, Atlantic Poly, a plastic bag and products company in MA, would like to acquaint you with some of the more necessary plastics terms. Last week we listed some of the terms, here are  few more….

Calcium Carbonate: A filler and extender used in thermoplastics. It occurs naturally in the form of minerals such as calcite, chalk, limestone, marble, and whiting.

Cast: The cast film process involves the extrusion of molten polymers through a flat slot die to form a thin film or sheet. This film of molten polymer is then quenched by passing through a set of chill rolls (typically water-cooled). The film quenches immediately, and the edges are trimmed prior to winding or stacking.

Centerfold: Folding a film along the length to obtain a two layered product with half the width.

Cfold: Folding of a film along the length to obtain a two layered product with flaps folded on each side of the folded product. The folded film profile looks like a stapled pin from a stapler.

Chill Roll: A cored roll, usually temperature controlled with circulating water, which cools a molten polymer web on contact before winding.

Coextrusion: Fabrication of a multi-layer film by pumping materials through separate extruders and then merging the extruded material into a common die assembly. These die assemblies are constructed to maintain distinct material layers with fusion occurring at the boundaries due to the pressures and temperature of the extruded material.

Color Concentrate: A plastics compound which contains a high percentage of pigment to be blended into base resins. The term masterbatch is sometimes used for color concentrate as well as for concentration of other additives. Comonomer: A monomer which copolymerizes with another monomer.

Copolymer: A polymer resulting from the polymerization reaction of two chemically different monomers.

Corona Treat: The process by which the surface energy of plastic films, foils and paper is increased in order to allow improved wettability and adhesion to inks, coatings and adhesives.

Degradation: A deleterious change in the chemical structure, physical properties, or appearance of a plastic caused by exposure to heat, light, oxygen, or weathering.

Density: Weight per unit volume of a substance usually reported in g/cm3 or lb/ft3.

Die: A steel block containing an orifice through which plastic is extruded, shaping the extrudate to the desired form.

Die Gap: Distance between the metal faces forming the die opening.

Die Lines: Vertical or horizontal marks on the extrudate and in the finished product caused by damaged die elements or by contamination held up in the die land.

Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC): Method used to determine thermal histories of polymers such as melting points and glass transition points.

Drawdown: In extrusion, the process of pulling the extrudate away from the die at a linear speed higher than that at which the melt is emerging from the die, thus reducing the cross-sectional dimensions of the extrudate.

Elasticity: The property (of plastic materials) of recovering original size and shape after deformation.

Elastomer: A material which, at room temperature, can be stretched under low stress to at least twice its original length and, upon immediate release of the stress, will return with force to its approximate original length.

Elongation: Deformation caused by stretching; the fractional increase in length of a material stressed in tension.

Embossing: The process used to modify the surface texture of a smooth film to achieve special surface properties such as surface area, coefficient of friction, gloss, adhesion, etc., and alter the bulk density of the film. For example, embossing forms a waffle from a pancake.

Erucamide: A fatty acid-based slip additive used in polyolefin resins.

Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA): Copolymeric member of the polyolefin family derived from random copolymerization of vinyl acetate and ethylene.

Extruder, Single Screw: Basic machine consists of a screw, barrel, drive mechanism, resin feed arrangement and controls. The constantly turning screw augers the resin through the heated barrel where it is heated to proper temperature and blended into a homogeneous melt. Before the melt can leave the barrel, it must pass through a breaker plate and screen pack. The melt is then extruded through the die into the desired shape.

Extrusion: Compacting and melting a plastic material and forcing it through an orifice in a continuous fashion.

Blown Film: Process involves extruding a continuous thin walled tube of plastic and inflating it immediately after it leaves the die. The pressure is such that the tube stretches, increasing its diameter and reducing its wall thickness to desired gauge. Air is trapped within the blow tube (bubble) between the die and collapsing rolls which convert it to layflat film to facilitate winding onto a roll.

Cast Film: Process by which a polymer is extruded from a slot die onto the surface of a water-cooled roll. Film is clearer and has more sparkle than blown film.

Coating: Coating of a substrate by extruding a thin film of molten polymer and pressing it onto the substrate.

For information on anything plastic, contact Atlantic Poly.

If you deal in plastics, as in manufacture them, sell them, use them, order them or need them in your business, there are some terms you will need to know. Over the next few blog posts, Atlantic Poly, a plastic bag and products company in MA, would like to acquaint you with some of the more necessary plastics terms.

Additive: A compound or substance added to a polymer to improve or alter some characteristic of the polymer. Examples include pigments, antistats and flame retardant.

Antiblock Agent: Additive incorporated in film to prevent the adhesion (sticking) between touching layers of film during fabrication, storage, or use.

Antioxidant: An additive which inhibits the degradation and oxidation of material when exposed to ambient air during processing and subsequently in the end product form.

Antistatic Agent: Additive which imparts a slight degree of electrical conductivity to plastics, permitting the dissipation of static electricity.

Average Molecular Weight: Molecular weight of polymers is determined by viscosity of the material in solution at a specific temperature. This results in an average molecular weight of the molecular chains independent of specific chain length. The value obtained falls between weight and number average molecular weight.

Banbury Mixer: A compounding apparatus consisting of two contra-rotating spiral-shaped blades encased in intersecting cylindrical housings so as to leave a ridge between blades.

Barrel: The tubular portion of the extruder or injection molding machine in which the extruder screw is placed and rotates.

Barrier Resins: Polymers which have very low permeability to gases.

Beta Gauge: A thickness measuring device used for sheeting or extruded pans. The device operates by beta radiation being emitted on one side of the pan and a detector placed on the opposite side. When a pan is passed through the beam, some of the beta radiation is absorbed, which is indicative of the pan thickness.

Biaxial Orientation: The process of stretching a hot plastic film or other article in two directions under conditions resulting in molecular orientation in two directions.

Biodegradation: The degradation of plastics by microorganisms when buried in the soil. Some plastics can be modified to become biodegradable by the incorporation of a biodegradable additive such as corn starch.

Blend: The mixing of polymers with other polymers or copolymers, usually where the mixture results in the desired physical properties.

Blocking: An undesirable adhesion between layers of film or sheeting which may have developed during processing or storage. Blocking can be prevented by adding antiblock agents to the resin.

Bloom: A thin, greasy film on the surface of a plastic film or pan usually caused by the exudation of an additive. Slip additives are designed to migrate or bloom to the surface of films.

Breaker Plate: A perforated plate located at the rear end of an extruder head or die adapter serving to support the screen pack. The breaker plat also helps to generate back pressure in extrusion.

Bulk Density: The density (mass per unit of volume) of a resin in solid form (granular, nodular, pellet, powder, etc.) expressed in g/cm3 or lb/ft3.
 
For information on anything plastic, contact Atlantic Poly.
 

Have you ever taken the time to consider the advantages of using polyurethane products as opposed to alternative plastic or rubber products?

• Polyurethane has excellent abrasion resistance and has out performed ordinary rubber and plastic sometimes by a factor of as much as 8 to 1
• Polyurethane has significantly better impact resistance than structural plastics.  So why buy bubble pack made of any other product?
• The physical properties of polyurethane are very resistant to environmental conditions such as heat, cold, and aging.  This makes our products perfect for roll-off liner bins.
• Polyurethane has excellent long term stability in water and is resistant to swelling and deterioration in temperatures as high as 80ºC. It is also very resistant to mold, mildew and fungus growth, which make is it an excellent choice for applications in which there is exposure to a moist environment.
• Polyurethane is resistant to oil and solvents and outperforms metal in chemical resistance. It is also resistant to radiation and is stable under high vacuum conditions. Protect both your products and industrial capital equipment via our large assortment of polyethylene roll stock.
• Polyurethane can be used to reduce noise levels in manufacturing facilities. By having machinery such as ductwork and feed chutes lined with polyurethane, clatter and banging will be reduced.

Call today to discuss any need.  For a quote, contact Atlantic Poly Inc.

Manufacturing companies and remodeling and construction companies all have in common the possibility of exposure to potentially hazardous materials, whether they are chemicals in liquid form, or air born contaminants. For protection from hazardous materials companies use Roll Off Dumpster Liners.  Roll Off Dumpster Liners are garbage bags for the dumpster that are easy to use, easy to dispose of, and keep hazardous materials contained .
 
Keeping the workplace safe and secure, while saving money is important to every business. Roll off dumpster liners add a level of safety and security in the workplace that cannot be achieved by using dumpsters alone. Dumpster liners allow another level of additional security against leaks and spills as well as air born hazards.

Industrial facilities and construction sites that are involved with hazardous materials need to exercise extra precautions; these precautions are economically addressed with dumpster liners therefore better protecting workers, employees, and all others who may be in the immediate area. Additionally, dumpster liners lower wash-out costs and increase container longevity.

Roll off liners are used daily by manufacturing companies as well as concrete, asbestos abatement, and environmental services companies to contain hazardous materials. Made from polyethylene they provide a cleaner, safer, easier way to dump debris, and other airborne contaminants. For a quote, contact Atlantic Poly Inc.

If you are a company that packs or ships product or materials, shrink wrap is the most popular and most inexpensive material used for packing. Today, you can buy hand held shrink wrap, machine shrink wrap or an economical alternative called discount shrink wrap. Overall however, shrink wrap is the most economical way to pack and store and it offers products complete protection from theft and damage.

Shrink wrap or stretch film is used to pack boxes, pallets of food, DVDs, electronic equipment, palatalized products, appliances and numerous other items. Shrink film is also used during storage, to keep items contained and secure on warehouse shelves then, making these same pallets easier to move around and transport. Stretch film also protects products against theft.

Hand held shrink wrap uses high temperatures to shrink, but there is also shrink wrap that can be used in one step shrink wrap machines. Shrink wrap films are available as low-temp film, anti-fog film and pre-perforated film.

Poly shrink film can also be used to wrap large items like boats and cars for the winter and most comes with UV protection.  Generally, prices depend on the length, width, and shine and clarity qualities. For more information or a quote on shrink wrap, contact Atlantic Poly.

Home remodeling projects are on the rise. Which is good news for construction and remodeling companies. How can you keep costs down while your revenues increase? By getting competitive costs for supplies and by cutting down on labor costs.

Dust barriers or construction film is an important, but often overlooked part of construction costs for contractors. Those contractors who are interested in keeping their customers’ homes as clean and inhabitable as possible take advantage of dust barriers on the job.

Dust is a common problem in remodeling projects, and keeping your customers happy is very important for both repeat and referral business. However, dust works against you. To reduce clean up, and to keep your customers homes clean, contractors want to be able to contain dusty areas as much possible. The best way to do this is to invest in dust barriers or construction film.

Dust control products include temporary barrier systems, plastic sheeting, and floor protection. Contractors who use dust control supplies save money on labor while impressing customers. This is a great way to increase customer satisfaction and referrals. At the same time, construction film and other dust control methods make clean up quicker and more efficient, saving you money on labor costs.

For a competitive quote on construction film and floor coverings, contact Atlantic Poly.

With the increase in technology, the world has become smaller and smaller. Now it is quite common for companies to ship goods not only from state to state, but also from one country to another. To keep the shipping process running smoothly, the right shipping supplies and packaging materials are imperative.
 
Properly packaged goods are more likely to reach their destination unharmed. If you product is not packaged properly, the fault lies with you and not the shipping company, which means additional shipping costs will be incurred by your company as well.
 
The right shipping and packaging materials begins with corrugated boxes and bubble wrap and ends with packing list envelopes and the right packaging tapes.  These packaging materials and shipping supplies are important for smooth shipping of products and the safe arrival of the promised merchandise at an economical price.

Why take risk when shipping? Ensure that your company’s packages arrive at the right destination, on-time and safely. Contact Atlantic Poly for more information on packaging materials and shipping supplies.

Vinyl ID badges are becoming more and more commonplace in the workplace as our world environment changes. More and more hospitals, health care facilities, event staffing agencies, bio-tech companies, manufacturing firms and computer programing companies are requiring ID badges for their employees.
 
What started out in large international corporations that needed to effectively identify their different staff members has now become a need for medium sized companies and small businesses as well.

Vinyl ID badges help business owners give their staff members a secure work place that distinguishes employees from visitors and strangers. Most businesses use plastic ID holders or ID badges in order to identify their staff.

Plastic ID badges help building security keep track of people entering and exiting your building.  In most companies these plastic identification cards play an important HR role as well helping managers and business owners better keep track of employees' time and attendance as well.

At Atlantic Poly our vinyl ID badges can be made with pins or clips to attach to clothes, or they can be attached to a string to hang around your employees necks. For more information on ID badges or other vinyl pouches, contact us.

If you use plastic bags in your business, you may be contemplating making the switch to paper. Every time you go to the grocery store, you get asked, "Paper or plastic?" and after hearing and reading about the “impact” of plastic bags on the environment you might be leaning toward paper.

It isn't. Paper bags, although they decompose readily, also have a negative impact on the environment. To make paper bags, trees must be cut and used, adding to the possibility of deforestation issues. Trees absorb greenhouse gases and so fewer trees mean that there can be an increase in greenhouse gases. In fact, more of these gases are created during the paper bag manufacturing process.

According to the 1989 Plastic Recycling Directory, Society of Plastics Industry, it takes about four times LESS energy to make plastic bags. It also takes about 90% LESS energy to recycle plastic bags than paper. Unfortunately, most bags, regardless of if they are paper or plastic, simply are not being recycled.

In another paper, Comparison of the Effects on the Environment of Polyethylene and Paper Carrier Bags, it was reported that paper bags can generate 70 times more air pollutants and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.

Also, degradability is not an issue with plastic bags or paper bags because very little materials of any kind decompose in a landfill because there is a lack of air and light.
 
If your business uses plastic bags, bring on paper if you wish, but don’t make the switch from plastic bags entirely – it’s bad for the environment.

For more information on plastic bags or for a quote, contact Atlantic Poly.

GreenLiving

With environmental concerns today, there is a high need to create packaging that can be recycled; biodegradable packaging is a new trend.
 
What defines biodegradable? This is an important question. There are special characteristics of biodegradable plastic bags and packaging:

• They consist of renewable resources
• Or they can be harvested directly from nature
• They can completely decompose, with the aid of micro-organisms, when placed in a composting area

Biodegradable is a buzz word these days. But many products that claim to be easily decomposed are not. This is because up until very recently there were no hard-fast rules, guidelines or regulations for products and many manufacturers were calling their plastics biodegradable, when they were not.  Biodegradable plastic bags are plant-based.

Moving Toward Biodegradable Packing

Prior to recent years, nearly all packaging for food, produce, and supplies were sold in plastics that were oil-based, made from petroleum. Now with the rising costs of oil, companies are looking for ways to save money.

It is believed that there will be a growing demand for this corn-based biodegradable product, causing the market to grow by about 20% over the next year. Consumers and environmentalists, along with national recycling regulations, are helping with the growth.

Increasing interest in the new PLA technology is because of these main factors which include:

• The improved quality of bioplastics
• The growing market share of these products
• Cost-competitiveness
• More competition as new bioplastic companies crop up around the world

Purchasing Biodegradable Plastic Bags and Packaging

Now that you are more familiar with what it means to be biodegradable and how easily products that are made of natural substances can filter back into the soil instead of piling up in landfills, why not agree to purchase these products?

For more information on biodegradable plastics and recycled plastic bags, contact Atlantic Poly.

Greenliving.com