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Storage and conditioning of plastic materials bear significant impact in maintaining quality and keeping material performance at optimum levels.
Unfortunately, this is often overlooked when adverse effects are not immediately visible or obvious. Yet once material is finally processed and proves to be less than workable, there is no denying that poor storage and conditioning is detrimental. Material can warp, block or have limited printability.
This is a very general description of a few of the issues that can occur. The cost of course, can be daunting. In delays, work stoppage and sourcing material replacement.
At our facility, we design all our processes from handling our materials to production, to storage and finally to packaging so we can ultimately eliminate or minimize potential problems. Since temperature during transport can’t always be predicted or controlled, we advise awareness on how to help material recover from the rigors of travel as well as how to maintain quality while in storage.
General Recommendations for Storage and Conditioning: ALL MATERIALS
Storage and Conditioning: STATIC CLING FILMS
Static Cling films are worth a special mention when it comes to storage and conditioning. Highly plasticized with superb adhesion to glossy surfaces, Static Cling has approximately 35 – 38% plasticizer content.
This composition makes it normal to expect plasticizer migration over time and hence, this film is sensitive to aging.
Aside from following the above general recommendations, there are additional guidelines worth noting in preserving the workability of your Static Cling film:
For a more in depth review on temperatures concerning Static Cling, download our Static Cling Product Summary here.
Box Grade films used for packaging and printing can also suffer unique problems when improperly stored. Exposure to extreme heat and humidity can cause blocking where sheets over-adhere to each other forming a “block”. While extreme cold can cause the substrate to shatter or crack.
Regardless of the film, correct storage and conditioning practices will yield the best quality for your packaging and/or print job.
Protect your material investment all the way through by informing your production and handling staff of these guidelines. For future reference, you can download a pdf copy below.
 Click here to Download
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