The leading manufacturer of water soluble PVA film and bags in China
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The leading manufacturer of water soluble PVA film and bags in China
Introduction
Water-soluble films are lightweight sheets or pouches that break down or degrade when subjected to water or other aqueous solutions. They are also referred to as water-soluble pouches or water-soluble bags. Usually, biodegradable polymers like polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), which can be dissolved in water without creating any hazardous residues, are used to create these films. Due to their numerous uses and environmentally benign traits, water-soluble films have become a potential solution in contemporary industries. These films are a flexible option for industries like packaging, agriculture, personal care, and more due to their special ability to dissolve or disintegrate when exposed to water.
1. Polymer Base
Water-soluble films have a polymer matrix at their structural core, which acts as their base. The solubility, mechanical strength, and overall performance of the film are significantly influenced by the polymer choice. The following notable polymers are used in the creation of water-soluble films:
a. Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA)
Vinyl acetate is polymerized, then hydrolyzed to produce polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a synthetic polymer. Due to its high water solubility and biodegradability, PVA-based films are frequently used. PVA molecules contain hydroxyl (OH) groups, which strengthen hydrogen bonds with water molecules and promote PVA breakdown. PVA films are appropriate for uses including detergent pods, agricultural films, and pharmaceutical packaging because of their transparency, flexibility, and good film-forming qualities.
b. Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)
PVP is a synthetic polymer that is noted for being non-toxic and water soluble. PVP-based films provide good stability, flexibility, and tensile strength. Water-soluble pouches for unit-dose pharmaceuticals offer ease and safety in fields like pharmaceutical packaging, where they are used.
2. Plasticizers
By enhancing the flexibility, workability, and durability of water-soluble films, plasticizers play a crucial role in these materials. To reduce the intrinsic brittleness of some polymers and improve the film's propensity to dissolve in water, these additives are added to the polymer matrix. In water-soluble films, plasticizers like glycerol, sorbitol, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are frequently employed. As a result of their interactions with the polymer chains, the intermolecular forces are decreased and the polymer matrix is made more mobile. Plasticizers increase the flexibility of the film by reducing the forces that hold polymer molecules together. This is done by allowing the film to bend and stretch more easily. For applications like packaging, where the film must adapt to various shapes, this flexibility is essential. Furthermore, plasticizers speed up the disintegration process by encouraging the dissociation of polymer chains, which makes it easier to dissolve the film in water. Water-soluble films perform better overall and offer a better user experience when plasticizers are properly chosen and added.
3. Additives
Water-soluble films may contain a variety of additives to improve certain characteristics and overall performance. Among the most commonly used additives are:
A) Surfactants
Surfactants are surface-active substances that are added to water-soluble films to enhance their spreading and wetting characteristics. Surfactants make it easier for the film to dissolve uniformly and effectively by lowering the surface tension between the film and water.
B) Colorants
Water-soluble dyes or pigments, often known as colorants, are frequently added to water-soluble films for aesthetic reasons or to distinguish between various film types. These colorants are usually non-toxic and have been carefully chosen to work with the film matrix.
C) Stabilizers
Stabilizers are essential for improving the film's resilience to external elements like heat, moisture, and UV radiation. These additives support the film's integrity during storage and use by extending its shelf life and maintaining its physical attributes.
Manufacturing process
Water-soluble films are produced via a multi-step process that includes combining the materials, creating the film, and hardening it. Casting and extrusion are the two main processes used to create water-soluble films.
I. Casting
During the casting process, the polymer base, plasticizers, additives, and any other needed components are first blended. To produce a uniform formulation, these materials are thoroughly combined. The combined materials are then turned into a solution by dissolving them in an appropriate solvent. The solvent must be compatible with the polymer matrix and capable of dissolving the components. The next step is to cast the solution onto a casting substrate, which can be either a moving belt or a flat surface. The speed of the casting process and the solution concentration determine the film's thickness. The solvent starts to evaporate as the solution is cast, leaving behind a thin coating. Heat application or the use of a controlled atmosphere can speed up the solvent evaporation process. The film solidifies until the solvent has entirely vanished, at which point it can either be treated further or wrapped into rolls for distribution and storage.
II. Extrusion process
The polymer base, plasticizers, additives, and other components are combined to make a homogenous mixture, much to the casting process. In an extruder, where it is heated and melted, the combined mixture is fed. After being pressed through a die, the molten polymer mixture gives the film the desired thickness and shape. To solidify the molten polymer, the extruded film next moves through a cooling section where it is quickly chilled. This can be done by employing chilled rollers, water baths, or air chilling. After it has been set, the film can be further processed to satisfy needs by cutting, slitting, or laminating. For increased functionality, it may also be treated with surface coatings or modifiers. To ensure conformity to specifications, quality control inspections are performed on the manufactured water-soluble films. They are then prepared for distribution and use in different sectors by being packaged, either in roll or sheet form.
Conclusion
Precisely chosen polymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), along with plasticizers, additives, and stabilizers are used to create water-soluble films. These elements combine to provide the films with the desired water solubility, mechanical strength, flexibility, and other qualities. Water-soluble films can be produced using both the casting and extrusion techniques, each of which has its advantages. The casting technique creates thinner films with exceptional transparency and allows for fine control of film thickness, making it appropriate for applications that demand consistency and clarity. However, the extrusion method provides faster production rates, the capacity to create thicker films, and more flexibility when it comes to film parameters. Depending on individual requirements, production volume, economic factors, and equipment accessibility, one may choose between the two procedures. Both approaches are still developing and getting better, resulting in the economical and effective manufacture of water-soluble films.
Guangdong Proudly New Material Technology Corp. ( Legal name: Jiangmen Proudly Water-soluble Plastic Co., Ltd.) is a National High & New Tech Enterprise unifying development, production and sales.
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