What are the main raw materials of BOPP film and how does its chemical properties affect the performance of the film?

BOPP film, or biaxially oriented polypropylene film, is an indispensable and important material in many fields such as modern packaging, printing, electronics, and agriculture. Its excellent performance and wide application are largely due to the unique chemical properties of its main raw material, polypropylene (PP).

Polypropylene, as a thermoplastic, is made from propylene monomers through polymerization. This polymer material has a stable chemical structure and is mainly composed of long-chain propylene molecules. These molecular chains are arranged in a disordered state when untreated. However, during the production process of BOPP film, these molecular chains are oriented through a precise biaxial stretching process to form a more compact and orderly structure. This structural change gives BOPP film a series of excellent properties, such as high tensile strength, good impact toughness, excellent rigidity, and excellent transparency.

The chemical properties of polypropylene have a profound impact on the performance of BOPP film. First of all, polypropylene is a non-polar polymer material with extremely low water absorption. This property makes BOPP film have excellent moisture resistance, which can effectively protect packaged items from moisture erosion, thereby extending the shelf life of the product. Secondly, polypropylene has excellent chemical stability. It is insoluble in any organic solvent at room temperature and can withstand corrosion from acids, alkalis and various salts. This allows BOPP film to maintain stable performance in a variety of complex environments and is not prone to degradation or deterioration.

In addition, polypropylene has a high melting point, which gives BOPP film good heat resistance. During processing and use, even in the face of high temperatures, BOPP film can maintain a stable shape and is not easy to deform or melt. This feature makes BOPP film have a wide range of application prospects in fields that need to withstand high temperature environments, such as food packaging, electronic product packaging, etc.

Polypropylene has a low density, which makes BOPP film light and has good flexibility. This feature is not only easy to process and transport, but also makes BOPP film more cost-effective in the packaging field. At the same time, lower density also means that BOPP film can cover a larger area at the same weight, thereby improving packaging efficiency.

In the production process of BOPP film, the chemical properties of polypropylene also determine the tensile properties and heat sealing properties of the film. By precisely controlling the molecular weight distribution, stretching conditions, and heat-sealing temperature of polypropylene, BOPP films with different tensile strengths and heat-sealing properties can be produced. These films with different properties can meet the application requirements of different fields. For example, food packaging requires good heat-sealing and barrier properties, while electronic product packaging requires high tensile strength and tear resistance.

It is worth mentioning that with the advancement of science and technology and the development of the industry, the performance and application areas of BOPP films are constantly expanding and improving. For example, by adding specific additives or modifiers, the barrier properties, UV resistance, and biodegradability of BOPP films can be further improved. These innovative applications have enabled BOPP films to show great potential in more fields.