Posts Tagged ‘boating’
Boat Shrink Wrap
Saturday, September 17th, 2011
Safe Packaging With Shrink Wrap
People across the globe today are always on the move. This requires them to pack up their belongings effectively. In your attempt at such packaging of items you might come across a term “shrink wrap’.
Shrink wrap is nothing but is made up of the polymer plastic films. The formulae for using it are to apply heat to the polymer so that it shrinks and fixes tightly over whatever it is covering.
Common uses of shrink wrap
Most common uses of shrink wrap are as packaging materials. Most of the packages containing CDs, DVDs, books and reading materials, house hold appliances, pallet loads, and cartons use shrink wrap to pack and seal them. Sometimes the wrap is also used as the primary coverage for food stuff. Two of the food stuff that is most often wrapped with this material is meat and cheese.
These are not the only uses of shrink wrap. They are also used in boat covers after such covers are manufactured, and for winter storage purposes of many other materials. One of the most important use of heat shrink wrap is for sealing the electrical wirings. Labels are often protected from tampering in transit using shrink wrap bands on them.
A less common use of shrink wrap is for combining two different packages or parts.
Shrink wrap types
There are multiple types of shrink wraps. However, the most popular form is the polyolefin. You will find different types of polyolefin varying in their thickness, transparency, strength and shrink ratio. A couple of primary films are either cross linked or non cross linked. PVC and a few other compositions are also used to produce shrink wraps.
In the competitive commercial world to day, there is constant effort for improving the film properties. The objectives are source reduction and cost and energy economy. Shrink films could be mono-directional or bidirectional.
Shrink wraps are brought over to their usable forms by heating them so that the molecules form initial random patterns. When the hot material is cooled, the properties of the film are set. However, the film can be taken back very near to its original dimension by heating once again.
Shrink wrap equipments for packaging
Ordinarily, there are two types of shrink wrap equipments used for packaging purposes. Such equipments could be automated or used manually. With the help of the equipments Shrink wrap is flat roll stock, center folded
The first type is normally used for only the lower and medium packaging. It is also known as I-bar sealer. The sealer stretches a single cut on the polyolefin film and then the film is shrunk down with the help of heat gun or heat tunnel.
For higher volume packaging you will use the L-bar sealer. The cutting bar has an L shaped design. It cuts the film round the target product. You can also use the L-bar sealers in combination with the heat gun or heat tunnel. Cutting element in both types of shrink wrap equipments, that is, the I-bar and L-bar is a heated wire or impulse wire. The former uses heat to cut the film while the later uses electricity for the purpose.
Do not underestimate shrink wrap. You can even wrap buildings and roofs with them after incidence of natural calamites like cyclone, tornado, and such others.
About the Author
The author is part of a scientific team that is conducting research on Shrink Wrap use and misuses. She has recently been awarded with the prestigious Times award for her contribution towards development of harmless shrink wrap.
Shrink Wrapping a Boat
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Polyken 824 Shrink Wrap Tape (Polyethylene Film): 4 in. x 60 yds. (White) $19.63 Polyken 824 Shrink Wrap Tape is also known as hull preservation tape and is used for taping edges of shrink wrap to a boat’s hull. Also used by auto salvage and reclamation yards. It has a polyethylene film and rubber based adhesive. UV protected for prolonged expose to sunlight. Polyken 824’s specially-designed adhesive eliminates residue even after extended periods of exposure. It is also confor… |
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Dr. Shrink DS-RS70 Rapid Shrink 70 Propane Heat Tool $371.89 Shrinkwrap Heat Tools allows users to heat shrinkwrap safely and quickly and puts out up to 70,000 BTUs. Adjustable regulator. Training DVD. Carrying case…. |
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Dr. Shrink DS-126175B 12′ X 175′ 6MIL Blue Shrink Film $126.40 12′ wide by 175′ long blue 6mil 100% virgin resin shrink wrap. 12 month UV protection. 2,100 square feet…. |
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Shrink Wrap Access Door Clear $19.99 Shrink Wrap Access Door. Easy access into your winterized boat! Convenient! Tape Access Door to shrink wrap, cutting an opening behind it. Instant access to the inside of your shrink wrapped boat. 30 x 36″, 30 x 48″ or 30 x 72″. State Size. Order Now! Shrink Wrap Access Door, Clear… |
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Dr. Shrink DS-50015 1/2 X 1500′ Woven Strapping $30.33 DR SHRINK INC. DS-50015 WOVEN STRAPPING 1/2″X 1500′… |
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Dr. Shrink DS-706B Blue 6 x 180′ Shrink Tape $31.95 Dr. Shrink Heat Shrink Tape Size 6″ X 180′ Color Blue. Heat Shrink Tapes are Designed for Repairing Holes in the Shrinkwrap, for Taping Pleats and also for Attaching Zipper Access Doors. Heat Shrink Tapes are not designed to be stuck to the hull or other parts of the boats, as they will leave an adhesive resi… |
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Ancor 301506 Marine Grade Electrical Adhesive Lined Heat Shrink Tubing Kit (3/16 to 3/4-Inch Diameter, 6-Inches Long, Black, 8-Pack) $14.99 Ancor part # 301506 Heatshrink 3/16-3/4In X 6In 8/… |
