BO PET film manufacture
The basic raw material for biaxial-oriented polyester films is polyethylene terephthalate in granulate form. Polymers often contain special additives depending on the film type.
The manufacture of biaxial-oriented films is based on two physical processes:
- Extrusion is a process consisting of transforming polymer into melt, moulding it to the required shape (in this case film) and cooling it below the melting temperature.
- Orientation is the act of drawing film at melting temperature. In this process the film crystallises, which results in a change in its properties. Most importantly, high strength of the film is achieved and its ductility is reduced. The tensile strength properties of biaxial‑oriented films make them an ideal material for flexible packaging, electrical-insulation materials, bandages, separation layers and film-type sandwich structures – so-called laminates.
Both processes – extrusion and orientation – are completed in a single step, meaning the film has a favourable price and high value of use.
BOPET film is manufactured at Fatra on 2 different production lines: Line A and Line B.
| Line A | Line B | |
|---|---|---|
| film thicknesses Film width extruders pouring head |
6 – 50 µm (75 µm) 3400 2x dual-screw co-extrusive A/B/A |
23 – 150 µm 2200 1x single-screw mono-extrusive |
