PE: The Protector of Food Packaging

PE: The Protector of Food Packaging

Introduction

 

Today, let's delve into the role of PE, the lifeguard of food packaging. Have you heard of the term 'PE'? PE stands for Polyethylene, a plastic material widely used in various aspects of our daily lives, particularly in food packaging. PE is extruded in the form of film, among which LLDPE (Linear Low Density Polyethylene) and LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) are popularly used films in flexible packaging. HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), possessing relatively superior heat resistance, is commonly used in what we generally call plastic bags. Today, we'll explore LDPE and LLDPE, which are frequently used in flexible packaging, and learn about how to distinguish between these two and their individual characteristics.

 

Summary

 

1. PE (Polyethylene) is extensively used in food packaging, with LLDPE and LDPE being the most commonly used films in flexible packaging.

2. LLDPE exhibits exceptional impact resistance and chemical resistance. It can be manufactured at a low cost but has poor heat resistance, making it unsuitable for high-temperature conditions.

3. On the other hand, LDPE has excellent processability and is mainly used in the coating process. Caution is required when using PE as it can pose safety issues during microwave cooking and may affect food due to its distinct smell.

 

LLDPE

 

LLDPE, with its high impact and chemical resistance, is used as a robust packaging material. It also has good flexibility, making it suitable for products of various shapes and sizes, and can be manufactured at a low cost. However, its low heat resistance makes it unsuitable for high-temperature conditions. This property gives it a lower melting point compared to other flexible packaging materials, making it more suitable for heat sealing and is often used on the food contact surface. Despite the somewhat low productivity in film form leading to significant thickness variations, it is extensively used in food packaging due to its advantageous properties such as pinhole resistance, impact resistance, and the benefit in heat sealing. LDPE Conversely, LDPE, with its superior processability compared to LLDPE, is mainly used in the coating process. The process of extruding LDPE raw material and applying it in the coating process is primarily used when the impact resistance of a single layer of LLDPE is insufficient. It is not significantly different from LLDPE and thus offers stability, making it suitable for food packaging.

 

Conclusion

 

PE is suitable for packaging sharp and hard foods such as frozen dumplings. Because of its relatively low melting point, it has high sealing density, so it is widely used even in sprays where leakage of contents or high-speed packaging occurs. However, it may have a distinct smell produced during the manufacturing process, which can affect the food, so it is often avoided in such cases. Users should be cautious about potential safety issues during microwave cooking. Due to PE's relatively low melting point, localized high-temperature areas caused during microwave cooking may result in the deformation of PE, producing by-products that can be harmful to the body.

 

Also, the various additives in LLDPE may migrate into the food, which can lead to unpredictable outcomes. PE is an indispensable part of our lives as a food packaging material due to its diverse applications and exceptional properties. We have explored the role of PE: The Protector of Food Packaging, so far. Thank you.