PET WHITE

PET WHITE Films for a Wide Range of Applications

PET WHITE is a general term for white or white-opaque polyester films. The PET WHITE films in the Bleher product range are biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate films. During the production process, the films are colored white by adding titanium dioxide.

The fields of application range from the packaging and printing industries to technical applications. One example of PET WHITE film is synthetic paper. This film, which can be used like paper, is laser-printable and offers the typical advantages of BO-PET films, such as dimensional stability, good barrier properties, high strength, and chemical stability.

The white color ensures excellent visibility of printed content, which is also weather-resistant. For this reason, synthetic paper is used in many outdoor applications.

In the packaging sector, the white coloration of PET WHITE films provides a protective function against light exposure and, where desired, also serves as visual shielding.

Properties of PET WHITE Films

PET WHITE films combine the excellent mechanical and chemical properties of BO-PET film with the optical, application-related (printability), and physical (light protection) advantages of a white film.

• The base material of PET WHITE, polyethylene terephthalate, achieves extremely high tear resistance through biaxial stretching and withstands mechanical stress, including abrasion, very well.
• PET WHITE films can withstand both high and low temperatures ranging from –70 °C to +150 °C without losing shape or functionality.
• The white and white-opaque PET WHITE films are non-transparent and protect packaged materials from view, unwanted light exposure, and UV radiation.
• PET WHITE films are resistant to oils and fats and are not affected by many chemicals, solvents, or water.
• PET WHITE films provide very good barrier properties against gases, moisture, and aromas. This is especially important for use as packaging in the food sector.
• Printable PET WHITE films offer excellent contrast, enabling high-quality printing results.
• PET WHITE films can be used for laminations, can be cut to size, and thicker films are also bendable, opening up a wide range of possible applications.

PET WHITE Films for the Packaging Sector

Packaging for light-sensitive goods and food products is often made from PET WHITE films. In addition to food, pharmaceuticals are also packaged in these white films. PET WHITE film is likewise the preferred packaging material for light-sensitive cosmetics.

The white coloration reflects incoming light. With white-opaque films, the light is scattered, which provides sufficient protection for certain products.

If PET WHITE film is equipped with a printable surface, the white base color creates excellent contrast during printing. This results in high readability of printed information and accurate color reproduction.

PET WHITE Films in the Printing Sector

In the printing sector, PET WHITE films enable color-accurate, high-contrast, and easily readable prints. They also serve as carrier films in flexographic printing.

In logistics and in many types of packaging, label printing is a major field of application for PET WHITE films. For example, bottle labels are often produced from PET WHITE films.

In logistics, labels made from PET WHITE film are mainly used for goods, pallets, or containers that are stored outdoors. Such labels withstand weather conditions, extreme temperatures, and UV radiation for long periods of time.

In the field of graphic printing, advertising banners or posters are produced on PET WHITE film because its color accuracy and strong contrast effect allow for high print quality. The weather resistance of these prints makes PET WHITE films ideal for outdoor applications such as promotional signs, table displays, outdoor menus, ski passes, identity cards, and much more.

Prints on PET WHITE films are also suitable for long-term postings in factory halls, workshops, or other demanding environments.

PET WHITE Films as Technical Films

In industrial applications, PET WHITE films are used as protective films in electrical components and as release films in the production of casting or injection molds.

These films have good electrical properties and serve as insulation for cables and electronic and electrical components such as motors, generators, control systems, and circuits. Die-cut parts can also be manufactured from this material.

The technical PET WHITE film OPTIMONT® MF-WO is certified for such purposes according to UL 94 in the fire protection class VTM-2.

PET WHITE Films for Lamination

For packaging, and especially in decorative applications, PET WHITE films are used for lamination. Both white and white-opaque films are applied to protect surfaces or to enhance their appearance.

With the differently equipped films, a wide range of design possibilities can be achieved. The white PET WHITE films, with their high contrast, as well as their printable surfaces, allow for the creation of many visually appealing effects.

In addition to the optical advantages, protecting surfaces against wear is an important reason for using PET WHITE films in laminations.

Overview of Application Areas for PET WHITE Films

• PET WHITE film is used for packaging applications in the food sector as well as in non-food packaging.
• For graphic applications, PET WHITE film serves as a printing material for posters, prints, artworks, or informational signs.
• White and white-opaque PET WHITE films are used for weather-resistant and UV-resistant adhesive labels.
• Used for roll-ups, and in thicker versions also as rigid display panels, white or white-opaque PET WHITE films provide visual shielding or, when printed, can serve as an advertising surface.
• In electronics, white-opaque PET WHITE films are mainly used, for example as insulating material, in the construction of displays, or as reflective layers in LED devices.
• With appropriate surface treatment, white and white-opaque PET WHITE films can also be used in the production of adhesive tapes.

Environmental Aspects and Recycling of PET WHITE Films

Sustainability has become an important consideration in many industries today. This also applies to areas in which PET WHITE films are used. Most polyethylene terephthalates on the market are still largely based on fossil raw materials. Therefore, these films are not sustainable products made from renewable resources.

The main sustainability strength of PET materials lies in the well-established recycling system for PET. The high recycling rate ensures that sufficient material is available on the market to manufacture PET products from recycled content. This process, which can at least partially be seen as a circular system, saves petrochemical raw materials and reduces the energy and water consumption required for production.

PET WHITE films can also be recycled within the PET recycling process. However, recycling becomes problematic when PET WHITE films are used as laminations or when they are coated. Such composite materials cannot currently be integrated into the PET recycling process.

In addition to research aimed at improving recycling methods, efforts are also being made to produce PET from bio-based raw materials. If it becomes possible to manufacture PET products partially or completely from renewable resources, this would represent a major step toward a more sustainable future for this material.

The Durability of PET WHITE Films

What is an environmental problem is, for many applications of PET WHITE films, actually a positive aspect: like all PET films, PET WHITE films are very durable. This becomes problematic if PET WHITE films enter the environment. They are not biodegradable and therefore remain in nature for a very long time.

The well-established recycling system helps here, because the better PET waste is collected, the less material can end up in the environment.

For many outdoor applications, however, this property is considered beneficial. PET WHITE films withstand environmental and weather influences and retain their functionality over long periods of time.

Innovative approaches in sorting post-consumer plastics also help to achieve the desired circular economy in the film sector. Improved collection rates, intelligent sorting of household plastic waste, and innovative methods for processing plastic waste will reduce the environmental impact of PET WHITE films in the future.