Do you know that bread are often packed in nylon bags and not any other material? Why? It is because nylon is better than all other forms of plastics in keeping it safe from outer air and fermentation. There are very few materials that can match the quality and durability of nylon. Not only in food materials, but it has turned out to be a reliable packing material for packaging of a number of other products all over the globe. According to a Global procurement intelligence advisory organization, the expenditure made by various organizations all over the world is on the rise when it comes to nylon for various tasks like mechanical sealing and packaging.
Nylon films are primarily used for flexible packaging of food items that are sensitive to oxygen. Chemically known as polyamide (PA), it is a printable thermoplastic that is a clear texture with a pretty high melting point. Nylon is preferred for a lot many other qualities like its toughness, outstanding strength, and pretty good oxygen barrier characteristics. It is an excellent choice when you want something that is resistant to puncture, scratch, and flex-cracks. Nylon doesn’t absorb any kind of oil, acidic or greasy food which prove that it is quite suitable for microwave and conventional cooking applications.
Varieties
Usually, the manufacturers make use of two different types of polyamides — the Nylon 6 and the Nylon 6, 6. Both have similar ratios of nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon along with loads and loads of similar properties. But there are some underlying differences as well. For example, under same processing conditions, Nylon 6, is much more crystalline and ordered as compared to Nylon 6. This leads to a slight differentiation in physical properties like slower moisture absorption, permeability, higher modulus as well as the melting point. The Nylon 6, however, offers much better impact resistance and ductility.
Nylon is this considered as a perfect compound for cheese packaging for its oxygen resistance. But there is a catch, it is also permeable to carbon dioxide, so if carbon dioxide stays in during storage it would escape after packing leaving space for additional air. But that loophole can be covered during processing.
Nylon takes an edge over others for its easy processing and better performance across a complete range of temperature. It can be microwaved, recycled and would burn without releasing any harmful chemicals in the environment.
Applications
Biaxial Oriented Nylon which is also known as BOPA is used for a myriad of applications. The most usual application is in the areas involving high gas barrier characteristics. Because of the higher price of PP, PE, and PVC films, this one is considered as one of the specialty firms.
Hope all these pointers help in understanding how nylon is revolutionizing the packaging and mechanical sealing industry. As science is evolving with every passing day, it is expected to get better and better. In coming days we may see much better uses of this product in mainstream life.
