In general, plastic packaging is divided into 2 (two) namely, rigid palstik packaging and flexible plastic packaging. Rigid packaging is a plastic packaging that is usually used for packaging of products, below is explained about the rigid packaging that is distinguished in terms of the manufacturing process, namely:
– Blow Molding
Blow Molding: Processed by extrusion of hollow plastic pipe blown into bottle shape according to the mold. For example: a bottle of mineral water.
– Injection Molding
Injection Molding: Processed with high pressure extrusion and fixed resin portion sufficiently into the mold that is covered in the shape of the made, eg cup, plastic cup
– Thermoforming
Thermoforming: Processed by starting the making of plastic sheets first, then newly printed with heated to the desired shape. Eg tray, cup etc.
Plastics comes from the Greek word “plastikos” which means it is an elastic material that can be made, processed and produced into various forms for industrial use. Examples are plastic plates, plastic tubes, plastic bags, plastic bottles, film cliches, plastic fibers, etc. The term thermoplastic is a plastic material which, when heated with a certain degree of heat, will melt and can be molded into various plastic bags and auto parts.
The term thermoset is a plastic material which, when it has been made in the form of a solid material, can not be melted back so it must be burned to the end. Examples are melamine, tableware and circuit boards. Along with the development of human civilization, packaging technology is also growing rapidly. Although natural packaging is still used, lately more advanced packaging (modern) has been widely used.
Everyday, found various products, especially food products using a variety of packaging materials, shapes, colors and basic functions. Plastic packaging, atmospheric modification and “tetra pak” is a type of modern packaging that is in the manufacturing process using plastic packaging materials. In addition to plastic, packaging materials are widely used for food products and other agricultural products such as paper, aluminum foil, glass, metal and wood.
Among the packaging materials, plastic is the most plastic packaging material and very widely used. Plastics are not only used for food packaging, but also widely applied as protective and electronic products, electronic parts / spare parts and chemicals for plastics. This packaging material has various advantages that is, flexible (can follow the form of product), transparent (invisibility), not easily broken, the form of laminate (can be combined with other packaging materials), not corrosive and cheap plastic.
Besides having many advantages that other packaging materials do not have, plastics also have a disadvantage that is, is not heat resistant, can contaminate the product (migration of monomer components), thus containing consumer safety and health risks, and plastics including materials that can not be destroyed quickly and Natural (non-biodegradable).
Plastics are made by means of polymerization, ie, arrange and form connecting connecting plastic base materials called monomers. Besides the basic ingredients of monomer, in plastic there are also non-plastic materials called additives that are needed to improve the properties of the plastic itself. These additives are low molecular weight substances, which can act as dyes, antioxidants, ultraviolet light absorbers, anti-adhesives, and more.