My Forum About > Hobby > Models > Engineers models
Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
  #1
Andrew Mawson
 
Default What's the cling in cling film ???

What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?

I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap', and
with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then it
ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but had no
tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like 'you
know what on a blanket'.

AWEM



 
  #2
Peter Neill
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:09:11 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
<andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:

>What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
>
>I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap', and
>with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then it
>ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
>different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but had no
>tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like 'you
>know what on a blanket'.
>
>AWEM
>
>


Static.
It acquires a charge as you peel it off the roll, and in theory should
then stick to an "uncharged" object.

Peter
 
  #3
Andrew Mawson
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???


"Peter Neill" <panuno95-ukrec@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:rduu93p3k35u38nj9qkolc70kt7dot7chd@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:09:11 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
> <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
>
> >What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
> >
> >I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap', and
> >with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then it
> >ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
> >different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but had

no
> >tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like

'you
> >know what on a blanket'.
> >
> >AWEM
> >
> >

>
> Static.
> It acquires a charge as you peel it off the roll, and in theory

should
> then stick to an "uncharged" object.
>
> Peter


So how come it's properties changed so completely and suddenly ???

Puzzled of Bromley



 
  #4
Peter Neill
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:55:51 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
<andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:

>
>"Peter Neill" <panuno95-ukrec@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:rduu93p3k35u38nj9qkolc70kt7dot7chd@4ax.com.. .
>> On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:09:11 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
>> <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
>>
>> >What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
>> >
>> >I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap', and
>> >with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then it
>> >ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
>> >different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but had

>no
>> >tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like

>'you
>> >know what on a blanket'.
>> >
>> >AWEM
>> >
>> >

>>
>> Static.
>> It acquires a charge as you peel it off the roll, and in theory

>should
>> then stick to an "uncharged" object.
>>
>> Peter

>
>So how come it's properties changed so completely and suddenly ???
>
>Puzzled of Bromley
>
>


Because it lost the charge somehow? <G>
Other than that all-embracing-statement I can offer no other
suggestion.

Peter
 
  #5
Cliff Ray
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

Peter Neill wrote:
> On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:55:51 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
> <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
>
>> "Peter Neill" <panuno95-ukrec@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>> news:rduu93p3k35u38nj9qkolc70kt7dot7chd@4ax.com...
>>> On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:09:11 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
>>> <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>> What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
>>>>
>>>> I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap', and
>>>> with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then it
>>>> ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
>>>> different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but had

>> no
>>>> tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like

>> 'you
>>>> know what on a blanket'.
>>>>
>>>> AWEM
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Static.
>>> It acquires a charge as you peel it off the roll, and in theory

>> should
>>> then stick to an "uncharged" object.
>>>
>>> Peter

>> So how come it's properties changed so completely and suddenly ???
>>
>> Puzzled of Bromley
>>
>>

>
> Because it lost the charge somehow? <G>
> Other than that all-embracing-statement I can offer no other
> suggestion.
>
> Peter

Did the weather change? High humidity will allow a charge to dissipate
very quickly.
 
  #6
John Stevenson
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:55:51 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
<andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:

>
>"Peter Neill" <panuno95-ukrec@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:rduu93p3k35u38nj9qkolc70kt7dot7chd@4ax.com.. .
>> On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:09:11 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
>> <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
>>
>> >What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
>> >
>> >I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap', and
>> >with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then it
>> >ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
>> >different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but had

>no
>> >tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like

>'you
>> >know what on a blanket'.
>> >
>> >AWEM
>> >
>> >

>>
>> Static.
>> It acquires a charge as you peel it off the roll, and in theory

>should
>> then stick to an "uncharged" object.
>>
>> Peter

>
>So how come it's properties changed so completely and suddenly ???
>
>Puzzled of Bromley
>
>

Have you ever worked on the busses ?

Perhaps you are a bad conductor..................OK I'll get me
coat..........
 
  #7
Andrew Mawson
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???


"Cliff Ray" <cliffrayS@PsurfanytimeA.coM.uk> wrote in message
news:GemdnUc5C7CpHALbnZ2dnUVZ8tSdnZ2d@pipex.net...
> Peter Neill wrote:
> > On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:55:51 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
> > <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
> >
> >> "Peter Neill" <panuno95-ukrec@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> >> news:rduu93p3k35u38nj9qkolc70kt7dot7chd@4ax.com...
> >>> On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:09:11 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
> >>> <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
> >>>>
> >>>> I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap',

and
> >>>> with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then

it
> >>>> ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
> >>>> different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but

had
> >> no
> >>>> tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped

like
> >> 'you
> >>>> know what on a blanket'.
> >>>>
> >>>> AWEM
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>> Static.
> >>> It acquires a charge as you peel it off the roll, and in theory
> >> should
> >>> then stick to an "uncharged" object.
> >>>
> >>> Peter
> >> So how come it's properties changed so completely and suddenly

???
> >>
> >> Puzzled of Bromley
> >>
> >>

> >
> > Because it lost the charge somehow? <G>
> > Other than that all-embracing-statement I can offer no other
> > suggestion.
> >
> > Peter

> Did the weather change? High humidity will allow a charge to

dissipate
> very quickly.


No, it was literally as wrapping a pallet, half way round one
circumnavigation (and getting dizzy <G>) it stopped sticking, and the
roll can be unwrapped without clinging. Other rolls continue to work
as they should

AWEM


 
  #8
Andrew Mawson
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???


"John Stevenson" <john@stevenson-engineers.co.uk> wrote in message
news:aa1v935hmllfjabbc3r8voohuo32sngnkr@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:55:51 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
> <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
>
> >
> >"Peter Neill" <panuno95-ukrec@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> >news:rduu93p3k35u38nj9qkolc70kt7dot7chd@4ax.com.. .
> >> On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:09:11 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
> >> <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
> >>
> >> >What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
> >> >
> >> >I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap',

and
> >> >with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then

it
> >> >ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
> >> >different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but

had
> >no
> >> >tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like

> >'you
> >> >know what on a blanket'.
> >> >
> >> >AWEM
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >> Static.
> >> It acquires a charge as you peel it off the roll, and in theory

> >should
> >> then stick to an "uncharged" object.
> >>
> >> Peter

> >
> >So how come it's properties changed so completely and suddenly ???
> >
> >Puzzled of Bromley
> >
> >

> Have you ever worked on the busses ?
>
> Perhaps you are a bad conductor..................OK I'll get me
> coat..........



.... ah but I'd need to be a GOOD conductor to leak the static away
!!!!!

AWEM


 
  #9
Tony Jeffree
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:09:11 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
<andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:

>The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but had no
>tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like 'you
>know what on a blanket'.


Maybe they ran out of 'you know what'...

Regards,
Tony
 
  #10
max@hotmail.com
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

Someone's reversed the polarity....

;-)
 
  #11
David Littlewood
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

In article <E6KdnU8VLcXq5gLbnZ2dnUVZ8surnZ2d@bt.com>, Andrew Mawson
<andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> writes
>
>"Peter Neill" <panuno95-ukrec@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:rduu93p3k35u38nj9qkolc70kt7dot7chd@4ax.com.. .
>> On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:09:11 +0100, "Andrew Mawson"
>> <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
>>
>> >What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
>> >
>> >I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap', and
>> >with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then it
>> >ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
>> >different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but had

>no
>> >tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like

>'you
>> >know what on a blanket'.
>> >
>> >AWEM
>> >
>> >

>>
>> Static.
>> It acquires a charge as you peel it off the roll, and in theory

>should
>> then stick to an "uncharged" object.
>>
>> Peter

>
>So how come it's properties changed so completely and suddenly ???
>
>Puzzled of Bromley
>

The make-up of the film is quite complex, with plasticisers and other
additives. The initial "stiction" comes from a static charge created as
the film is peeled off the roll; I would imagine if the part of the roll
in question got too much of X or not enough of Y it may be that the
charge does not form properly, or leaks away too quickly.

I'm sure there is more to it than just static though; that would explain
why the film tends to fly towards anything in its vicinity, but it also
tends to stick to itself for long after the static charge has
dissipated. A quick look on Google suggests they put additional polymers
in some types of film to improve the stickiness. Maybe your pallet wrap
was not one of these types, or maybe the pallet wrap relies totally on
this (not on static) and this additive ran out half way through this
roll.

Does the (normal) film attract the hairs on your hand/face as you pull
it off? If it does, and the defective roll doesn't, the first
explanation is probably the one. If not, it does not rely on static and
the second thought is more likely.

David
--
David Littlewood
 
  #12
Nick Mueller
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

Peter Neill wrote:

> Static.


To my knowledge (and I know *very* little about glues) it simply is a glue.
Some types of glues are considered as being liquids (like the one on the
back of the PostIts) with a high viscosity. In the case of that cling film
it is cohesion (for example mercury has a high cohesion) that clings the
two (same material) parts together.

And it failed because they made something wrong. :-)

Nick
 
  #13
Peter Neill
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:38:31 +0100, David Littlewood
<david@nospam.demon.co.uk> wrote:

>>

>The make-up of the film is quite complex, with plasticisers and other
>additives. The initial "stiction" comes from a static charge created as
>the film is peeled off the roll; I would imagine if the part of the roll
>in question got too much of X or not enough of Y it may be that the
>charge does not form properly, or leaks away too quickly.
>
>I'm sure there is more to it than just static though; that would explain
>why the film tends to fly towards anything in its vicinity, but it also
>tends to stick to itself for long after the static charge has
>dissipated. A quick look on Google suggests they put additional polymers
>in some types of film to improve the stickiness. Maybe your pallet wrap
>was not one of these types, or maybe the pallet wrap relies totally on
>this (not on static) and this additive ran out half way through this
>roll.
>
>Does the (normal) film attract the hairs on your hand/face as you pull
>it off? If it does, and the defective roll doesn't, the first
>explanation is probably the one. If not, it does not rely on static and
>the second thought is more likely.
>
>David


It's not actually that complex David, it's a pretty straightforward
mix as polymers go.
The additives - with the plasticizer usually being the greatest , are
as much to aid the initial processing as the end properties. The
greater the plasticizer content the softer then end product, but more
importantly the greater the 'open' time under heat it will have. This
is important as PVC degrades with temperature quite easily, and the
extruders generate an enormous amount of shear heat in the material.

The best plasticizers for PVC are DOP's, but there was the huge public
scare about phthalates, so these are reasonably fazed out.

The extruders have a length/diameter ratio on the screws of 25 or
30:1, and the decreasing flight depth ensures these get an incredibly
thorough mix, and give a very homogenous melt from the end of the
nozzle.

The soya bean oil in food-grade cling film replaces the straight
mineral oil as a process lubricant, and the stabiliser is again to
reduce chemical reactions during processing, but also acts as a
tackifier in the finished product.

As to how it sticks to itself?
Well the material is a hot, liquid gel when it comes out of the end of
the extruder into a annular blown film die, where it gets air gently
blown up the middle to expand it into a tube. This is hauled off
between pinch rollers which slit it on the way, and then coil it
tightly on itself whilst still warm. There is still an amount of
post-processing shrinkage going on whilst it's being coiled, and this
creates a small vacuum between the rolled layers which help it stick
to itself.
Of course the large rolls are then re-rolled into smaller lengths for
the consumers, but these are often done through heated rollers which
will warm and stretch it even more.

That's pretty much it for the PVC cling film.
Of course, it could be made from LLDPE (linear low-density
polyethylene) which will have slightly less stiction than PVC, in
which case it may be a co-extrusion with EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate)
to give high strength from LLDPE and a tackifier from the EVA.

Sorry <G>, that's probably everything you didn't want to know about
it, but I just couldn't help it.
I don't get to be a smartass very often .

Peter
 
  #14
dave sanderson
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

On 19 Jul, 15:09, "Andrew Mawson"
<andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
> What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
>
> I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap', and
> with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then it
> ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
> different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but had no
> tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like 'you
> know what on a blanket'.
>
> AWEM


from the Wiki:

Natural polymers of LDPE and PVdC are insufficiently clingy on their
own, and they do not adhere to themselves. To achieve the desired
clinginess, certain polymers with lower molecular weight have to be
added; the most common two are polyisobutene (PIB), and poly[ethylene-
vinylacetate] (EVA) copolymer. Their chains readily interact with each
other and their lower molecular weight makes them more mobile within
the host polymer matrix.[6]

I guess half of your roll missed out on the 'coating'. We used to use
non clingy clingfilm to wrap fiberglass boats which had cured
sufficiently to come out of the mould, but were still slightly green.

Dave

 
  #15
Andrew Mawson
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???


"dave sanderson" <david.sanderson@bem.fki-et.com> wrote in message
news:1184874749.990402.69080@22g2000hsm.googlegrou ps.com...
> On 19 Jul, 15:09, "Andrew Mawson"
> <andrew@no_spam_please_mawson.org.uk> wrote:
> > What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
> >
> > I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap', and
> > with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then it
> > ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
> > different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but

had no
> > tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like

'you
> > know what on a blanket'.
> >
> > AWEM

>
> from the Wiki:
>
> Natural polymers of LDPE and PVdC are insufficiently clingy on their
> own, and they do not adhere to themselves. To achieve the desired
> clinginess, certain polymers with lower molecular weight have to be
> added; the most common two are polyisobutene (PIB), and

poly[ethylene-
> vinylacetate] (EVA) copolymer. Their chains readily interact with

each
> other and their lower molecular weight makes them more mobile within
> the host polymer matrix.[6]
>
> I guess half of your roll missed out on the 'coating'. We used to

use
> non clingy clingfilm to wrap fiberglass boats which had cured
> sufficiently to come out of the mould, but were still slightly

green.
>
> Dave
>


I've popped an email off to the supplier to see if they have an
explanation.

AWEM

ps anyone building fiberglass boats want some EXTRA SPECIAL non clingy
black film in convenient half rolls <G>



 
  #16
Newshound
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

> Sorry <G>, that's probably everything you didn't want to know about
> it, but I just couldn't help it.
> I don't get to be a smartass very often .
>
> Peter


Fascinating, that's exactly the right amount of explanation for me!


 
  #17
Odie Ferrous
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

Andrew Mawson wrote:
>
>
> AWEM
>
> ps anyone building fiberglass boats want some EXTRA SPECIAL non clingy
> black film in convenient half rolls <G>



alt.lifestyles.kinky.couples ------->


OD
 
  #18
Geoff
 
Default Re: What's the cling in cling film ???

On Thu, 19 Jul 2007 15:09:11 +0100, Andrew Mawson wrote:

> What makes 'cling film' and 'pallet wrap' cling?
>
> I've just been wrapping up several pallets with 'pallet wrap', and
> with one roll it was fine until half way through the roll, then it
> ceased to cling - all one continuous length, but two distinctly
> different properties. The inner half of the roll wrapped ok but had no
> tendancy to grip itself, unlike the outer half that gripped like 'you
> know what on a blanket'.
>
> AWEM


Tack additive is added to the raw plastic granuales when they blow the
plastic film. That is they way we used to do it when I ran a plastics
factory in the distant past.
Geoff
 
Reply
Thread Tools


Powered by vBulletin

SEO by vBSEO 3.0.0 ©2007, Crawlability, Inc.