New protective film for a variety of common glossy plastic surfaces

Special co-extruded protective film with polyolefin-based adhesive formulation ensures controlled, optimal adhesion to PMMA, PET, polycarbonate and polystyrene.

  • From now on, manufacturers of plastic sheets only need one protective film for any type of polymer.
  • The new protective film from POLIFILM PROTECTION increases productivity by making frequent reel changes and line stoppages unnecessary
  • The transparent film makes visual inspection easier and prevents mix-ups. After use, it can easily be removed without leaving any residue.

More and more manufacturers of plastic panels are adopting a strategy of diversification. They are using a range of different polymers in order to reduce their dependence on individual raw materials. The drawback, until now, was that each polymer required a specific type of protective film. Now POLIFILM PROTECTION can provide a single film solution that promises optimum adhesion to a wide variety of polar plastic surfaces.

The new addition to POLIFILM PROTECTION’s product portfolio offers manufacturers of plastic sheets significantly more flexibility as well increased efficiency in procurement, storage and production. There is no need for manufacturers to stock multiple film types to ensure reliable protection of different glossy plastic surfaces, one protective film from POLIFILM PROTECTION is all that is needed. The result, frequent roll changes and system downtimes are avoided, machine running times are optimized, production runs smoothly, and profitability increases.

Perfect protection along the process chain

The new solution from POLIFILM PROTECTION makes no compromises when it comes to surface protection. It provides reliable protection for glossy plastic sheets made of PMMA, PET, polycarbonate (PC) and polystyrene (PS) against damage and dirt during manufacturing and further processing. The optimally tailored adhesive properties and film characteristics ensure excellent performance during processing steps such as drilling, milling, line bending and flat thermoforming. As the film is transparent, it also facilitates visual inspection during production and helps avoid confusion. Furthermore, since this is a co-extruded film, the adhesive is not found as a layer on the film but, is actually integrated into the film during co-extrusion. This guarantees that the new protective film can be removed without leaving any residues, or requiring reworking.

Novel polyolefin-based adhesive formulation

Developing a film that combines these properties whilst at the same time being suitable for a wide range of common polymers was a challenge: PMMA, PC, PS and PET are some examples of high-energy, polar plastics. The molecular interactions between the adhesive and the surface mean that the base adhesive actually has to be individually matched to the respective polymer otherwise the adhesive strength can increase uncontrollably during the time the film is left on the surface or, if it is exposed to heat.

However, application specialists at POLIFILM PROTECTION have succeeded in overcoming this challenge and developed a unique, co-extrudable adhesive raw material which is based on polyolefins and saturated tackifiers. This prevents strong chemical reactions between the adhesive and polar surfaces. The adhesive force remains at a constant, optimal level and ensures the desired level of adhesion throughout.

“Our new protective film for polar plastic surfaces once again demonstrates the expertise of our group,” says Avi Niv, CEO of POLIFILM PROTECTION's Co-ex Cast development and production site. “Unlike many of our competitors, we have the technical capabilities and know-how to develop and produce application specific solutions. We can even produce the raw materials for our adhesive formulations in-house. This means we retain full control over quality and can guarantee that all components of the protective film work together perfectly.”

The new protective film is fully recyclable, available in film thicknesses of 30 to 110 µm and can be applied easily within your processes within a wide temperature window of 20 to 80 °C.