Microcreped Film

 

Textiles / Paper / Nonwovens / Films / Healthcare / Service

Softness, Bulk, Shrinkage Control, Stretch, Extensibility,

Drape, Hand, Decorative Effects, Absorbency


While creping plastic films has previously been done experimentally, it has only recently come into commercial use.  The process has been evolving and a number of applications are foreseen.  In recent years, Spunbond (polyethylene) has been contract creped for construction applications and the techniques to process 100% Polypropylene nonwovens have become commercial.  This experience led us to believe that films could also be Microcreped and, in cooperation with a specialty film extruder Micrex recently started production of a creped polyethylene film product.  In short, we now feel that it is feasible to process a variety of thermoplastic films giving them distinctive functional advantages and a visually distinctive appearance and are seeking cooperators in this development effort.

We also believe that there are opportunities to develop intellectual property in this new area of plastic film technology.

Some of the characteristics practical to add to films are:

  1. Thickness increase of up to 20 times the original film thickness (10 X is typical)
  2. Machine direction stretch of up to 300% ( 25% is typical)
  3. Machine direction compressibility resulting from the crepe pattern
  4. Z direction cushioning resulting from the energy absorption characteristics of the creped, stretchy film (partly depends on base film stiffness)
  5. Greater flexibility in the MD and greater stiffness in the CD
  6. Crepe can be heat set for permanence of not heat set thus partially reversible.

These and other modifications may lead to new products in a variety of fields ranging from packaging to cushioned flooring under-layment and a large number of others.

 A few conceptual examples are:

  1. Bags for commodity packaging that expand (stretch) while being filled and then contract to conform to the volume of material filled.
  2. Food packages that automatically conform to the volume of the contents.
  3. Creped slip-sheets that automatically expand when the load is removed.
  4. Slip-sheets that are both waterproof and provide cushioning similar to corrugated boards.
  5. Rolls of Microcreped film have very high resistance to compression in the X direction and are waterproof. 
  6. Metalized suceptor film that reflects radiant energy at angles dictated by the crepe pattern. The void space provided by the crepe also allows the drainage of food juices thus keeping the meal from becoming soggy during cooking.

We trust that this gives you some idea of the opportunity that Microcreping presents to those willing to make the effort to work with us to explore this new idea. You have the film manufacturing and marketing resources and Micrex has useful new technology. We hope to discuss cooperative programs.

 

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