PVC Shrink Film

Material and Properties

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) shrink film is a biaxially oriented thermoplastic film that shrinks uniformly in both the machine direction and transverse direction when exposed to heat. The biaxial orientation produces balanced shrink behavior, allowing the film to conform evenly around products of varying shapes. PVC film offers high optical clarity with a glossy surface finish, resulting in a polished, professional appearance on wrapped products.

Gauge Selection

• 60 gauge (0.6 mil) is a light-duty option for wrapping lightweight items such as small boxes, stationery, greeting cards, and thin retail products. Provides the longest roll footage per roll.
• 75 gauge (0.75 mil) is the standard thickness for most PVC shrink wrapping applications. Suitable for CD/DVD cases, software boxes, books, cosmetics, and general retail products up to approximately 25-30 lbs.
• 100 gauge (1.0 mil) is a heavy-duty option for larger or heavier items, irregularly shaped products, and applications requiring additional puncture resistance.
• 125-150 gauge (1.25-1.5 mil) provides maximum thickness for the heaviest retail products and industrial packaging applications where film strength is critical.

Shrink Temperature and Processing

PVC shrink film activates at 215 to 235F, which is lower than polyolefin film (255 to 275F). This lower shrink temperature means PVC can be processed with less energy and is compatible with a broader range of heat tunnel and heat gun equipment. Standard processing involves sealing the film around the product on an L-bar sealer or side-seal machine, then passing the sealed package through a heat tunnel where the film shrinks to conform tightly to the product shape.

Centerfold vs. Single Wound

• Centerfold film is folded in half lengthwise, creating a natural pouch when unrolled. The product is placed in the fold, and the open sides are sealed on an L-bar sealer. This is the most common format for manual and semi-automatic wrapping operations.
• Single wound film is a flat sheet on a roll, used primarily on high-speed automatic side-seal wrapping machines where the film is formed around the product by the machine.

PVC vs. Polyolefin Comparison

PVC film shrinks at a lower temperature than polyolefin, requires less energy to process, and typically costs less per roll. However, PVC is not approved for direct food contact and is not suitable for cold storage or freezer applications, as it becomes brittle at low temperatures. PVC also requires adequate ventilation during processing due to fume generation. Polyolefin is the preferred choice for food packaging, cold storage applications, and environments where fume-free processing is required.

Shrink Performance

PVC shrink film achieves shrink rates of up to 50% or more in the cross direction, with balanced biaxial shrinkage that produces tight, wrinkle-free results on regular and irregular shapes. The high shrink percentage allows PVC film to accommodate a wide range of product geometries, from flat boxes to cylindrical containers to irregularly shaped items.