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Main Testing Items of BOPP Films

Main Testing Items of BOPP Films
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Labthink Instruments Co.,L TD 144 Wuyingshan Road, Jinan, China Tel: +86-531-85811021 85864214 Fax: +86-531-85812140 E-mail: trade@labthink.cn Main Testing Items of BOPP Films Abstract: the properties of cigarette packaging materials are the key factors affecting the storage period in relation to the different storing environments. This article analyzes the testing demands of BOPP film (bi-axially oriented polypropylene film), and introduces the tests for several properties of BOPP film, including water vapor transmission rate , flavor protection, coefficient of friction, heat shrinkage and thickness, etc. Key Words: BOPP, bi-axially oriented polypropylene film, cigarette film, flavor protection, coefficient of friction, heat shrinkage, thickness During manufacturing process, several organic and inorganic substances are added to the tobacco, which may generate microorganisms and mould with the changing of the storing environment. When smoking, various microorganisms and mould may change into toxins by the high temperature burning, and put threats to human health. Thus, the storage period of cigarette depends heavily on the environment: two to three year’ storage s period in suitable environment, and less than one year in inferior environment. We must take cigarette packaging and storing environment into consideration, so as to prolong shelf-life period and to reduce cigarette deterioration. 1. The Analysis of Testing Demands Temperature and humidity are the two vital factors affecting cigarette storage. Since cut tobacco would absorb moisture in high humidity environment, and would occur over-drying in low humidity environment, it’ normally s required to store the cigarette in low temperature environment with proper humidity. Therefore, moistening and moldiness are the main factors affecting the quality guarantee period; and flavor protection is of vital importance, especially for high-end cigarettes. At the same time, cut tobacco is apt to absorb other aromas around which would lead to inferior cigarette flavors. Different from other consuming products, even the retail package of cigarette has several layers, including the inner aluminum-foil paper, flexible/rigid paper packaging, and the outer transparent plastic film packaging. Every layer has its respective function, and the whole package barrier property is the key factor relating to moldiness, moistening, and flavor protection. The outer transparent film, i.e., cigarette film is of the highest barrier property among all the packaging materials, which has the closest relationship with the cigarette quality. Now, BOPP (bi-axially oriented polypropylene) film has been widely applied as the cigarette film. Though inferior in barrier performance against oxygen, BOPP film is superior in flavor protection and barrier property against moisture. Yet, with the higher requirements from the high-end cigarette packaging, the barrier performance of BOPP cigarette film, especially flavor protection performance can not meet the demands completely. Thus, high barrier film with PVDC coating has been gradually used in cigarette packaging. Besides, cigarette film should be suitable for high-speed packaging line; and a set of index requirements for coefficient of friction, thickness, shrinkage, heat seal, anti-static electricity and mechanical performances, should be achieved. 2. Testing Items for Cigarette Film Barrier property is the key testing item for cigarette film. Relevant tests include water vapor transmission rate testing, oxygen transmission rate testing and organic gas transmission rate testing, all of which directly relate to the moistening, moldiness and flavor protection effect of the cigarette. Meanwhile, in order to meet the requirements for high speed packaging line and packaging speed with excellent performances, the film should meet the requirements for the following indexes, namely, coefficient of friction, thickness, shrinkage, heat seal,

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Labthink Instruments Co.,L TD 144 Wuyingshan Road, Jinan, China Tel: +86-531-85811021 85864214 Fax: +86-531-85812140 E-mail: trade@labthink.cn anti-static electricity and mechanical properties, etc. Furthermore, as to the artistic and beautiful packaging demand, transparency, stiffness and haze should satisfy high standards. For this purpose, tests for coefficient of friction, heat shrinkage and thickness are of key importance. 2.1 Water Vapor Transmission Rate Testing In order to avoid deterioration caused by moistening, higher barrier property against water vapor is required for cigarette...

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Labthink Instruments Co.,L TD 144 Wuyingshan Road, Jinan, China Tel: +86-531-85811021 85864214 Fax: +86-531-85812140 E-mail: trade@labthink.cn 23 degree. Testing data indicates that, with the temperature increase, the coefficient of friction for films would increase, and even stick-slip would occur. Therefore, coefficient of friction testing in ambient temperature and its data is of little practicability for BOPP cigarette film, and the data at 60 degree is usually the necessity. 2.4 Heat Shrinkage Testing BOPP cigarette film is usually classified into two types: standard type and heat...

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