There are a number of reasons to get plastic film education and training. With the right education, you can become a fabricator of industrial plastic sheeting or a chemical engineer. In some cases, you may prefer to get a basic understanding of the process rather than an advanced education.

When you begin your search for educational opportunities, you want to consider your goal. Not everyone interested in plastic film needs to go to the expense of obtaining a college degree.

1. Find free online resources to help you determine the right type of plastic film to use in your business.

2. Work with plastic film manufacturers to obtain education in the field.

3. Complete the requirements to get a chemical engineering degree with a focus in plastics.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Start with the basics for industrial plastic film

Clear plastic film is just one type of sheeting that plastic film fabricators make. Different types of plastic film have different chemical properties, making certain types of sheeting more appropriate for specific tasks.

I recommend: Learn the basics of plastic film from GoldStork, which provides an in-depth article on the topic. The learning center hosted by the American Chemistry Council provides education information on the types of plastics used in plastic film sheeting.

Look to plastic film manufacturers for educational opportunities

While not many plastic film suppliers offer training, there are industry leaders that do. Some companies host educational programs at their facilities while others offer publications. The websites for plastic film manufacturers can also provide a variety of information.

I recommend: Marshall Plastic Film is incorporating training into the services it offers clients. It is planning to offer one-day courses on its plastic film. Plastics Distributors and Fabricator Magazine offers a training manual from CYRO Industries. The manual covers fabrication with ACRYLITE sheets.

Get a degree in plastic film education and training

A formal college degree gives you the experience you need to create plastic film from scratch. By knowing how to make your own plastics, you can experiment with the chemical properties of the formula. Most colleges and universities offer a chemical engineering program, which will include education on plastics.

I recommend: EdRef.com provides referrals for colleges and universities offering a chemical engineering degree. Read the detail description of the degree to determine whether or not this is the program you want to pursue. For more information, read the article on why you should become a chemical engineer at The Chemical Engineers' Resource Page.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  There are many chemical engineering associations that offer educational opportunities to members. Consider joining one to take advantage of these programs.
• •  Many global plastic companies participate in international conferences held at various locations throughout the world. Attending one can help you stay on the cutting edge of developments to the industry.

Even if one roll of clear plastic film or sheeting looks the same as another, they may have very different properties. For one, their thermal properties my differ. One plastic film may conduct heat more readily than another, or expand more extensively due to heat. Various types of plastic film sheeting also break and stretch differently, have different electric resistivity, and refract or transmit light differently. Plastic film is also manufactured with different filler products that may change its properties, and plastic film comes in a number of precise thicknesses.

Industrial plastic sheeting is used in many industries, including automotive, electronics, food handling, medical, aerospace, construction and many other applications. Since there are still even more features of plastic film additional to those mentioned above, the key is to get the right plastic for a given application.

Here are just a sampling of the wide variety of plastics used in the manufacture of sheeting:

1. Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS)

2. Liquid crystal polymers (LCP)

3. Polyesters and vinyl esters

4. Polyethylene terphthalate (PET)

5. Silicone plastic film

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy from a quality plastic film manufacturer at competitive plastic film prices

One obvious factor to pay attention to when buying industrial plastic film is the width, length and thickness of a roll or rigid sheet. The size factor clearly limits how and if a particular roll will work for your application. Compare like-sized rolls across plastic film manufacturers to get the best price.

I recommend: Grafix Plastics carries plastic film and rigid plastic sheeting composed of a nice range of materials, like PVC, polypropylene, and both Mylar and polyester. They also carry specialty products like drafting film, and even decorative film. Plastic Film Corporation covers the range of plastic film applications, including domestic projects and bookbinding. They offer films and sheeting in a wide range of colors.

Buy plastic film that has the specific qualities to fit your application

The general characteristics of films were mentioned earlier in this guide, but consider some specific qualities and features. Some plastic sheeting features static control, ESD control, EMI and RFI shielding, flame resistance and significant thermal insulation. Additionally, there is adhesive plastic film out there if you need it.

I recommend: Some sources of industrial plastic film list their products' specifications clearly on their websites. Blueridge Films, Inc. is an excellent example. Raven, Engineered Films Division, does not provide such precise information on their website, but you can get an extensive explanation of the qualities of each of their products by hitting the "Spec" buttons.

Consider the environment when buying or disposing of plastic film

Plastic is not biodegradable, so use and order only what you need and look for products that are just thick enough to fit your application. And when it comes time to throw out plastic film or plastic sheeting, please recycle.

I recommend: GAR Plastics, Inc. takes almost any type of plastic, and they help with the shipment process. You could also handle more of the recycling process yourself by having size-reducing equipment on site. In that case, Pallmann Pulverizers is a good choice for a wide range of needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't forget that plastic film keeps out water and works as a temporary weather barrier. In a pinch it even works as a temporary tarp, though it's not as easy to secure.

A plastic film refers to a plastic sheet, which has a thickness of less than 10 mm. You can make plastic films from polyethylene or other resins of various densities. Plastic film products have applications in the packaging industry. Plastic films are available in a wide array, depending on the product to be packed.

For buying plastic film products, you must be conversant with technical terms related to plastic film products. This guide aims to acquaint you with plastic film related terminology, such as LDPE films, HDPE films, polyester films and PCV films.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

LDPE/LLDPE films

LDPE (Low Density PolyEthylene) or LLDPE (Linear Low Density PolyEthylene) plastic films have high clarity and flexibility. These films also have high moisture and gas bearing capacity. These films are useful for manufacturing products, such as carton liners, envelopes, industrial liners, shipping sacks, textile bags and construction films.

I recommend: To learn more about LDPE and LLDPE resins, read through information at Blueridge Films, Inc., a manufacturer of plastic films.

HDPE films

HDPE (High Density PolyEthylene) films are useful for packing that must retain its shape, as these films are stiffer than other plastic films. T-shirt bags, trash bags and cereal bags are generally manufactured from HDPE films.

I recommend: For further information about HDPE films, you can read through information at HDPE Film.

PVC films

A PVC (PolyVinyl Chloride) film has excellent clarity. PVC films are used for packaging food items, as these films are semi-permeable and allow enough oxygen to pass through the packing.

I recommend: You can read through information about PVC films at Bikudo.com, an online directory of manufacturers of industrial products.

Polyester films (or PET films)

PET films are useful in non-packaging applications, such as photographic and X-ray films, magnetic audio and video recording films. PET films are stronger and tougher than other plastic films. These films can withstand higher processing temperatures.

I recommend: To learn more about PET films, read through the glossary at King Tint, a commercial and residential tinting services provider.

EVOH films

EVOH (Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol) films are high barrier films. However, their applications in the packaging industry are limited, as these films are highly hygroscopic.

I recommend: CeeT, a manufacturer of packaging films, provides information about EVOH packaging films.

PP films

PP (PolyPropylene) films have high melting points, making them useful in packages that require sterilization at high temperatures. A PP film has high gloss and tensile strength that makes it a good option for packaging snack foods, cigarettes and sanitary goods.

I recommend: The Composite Panel Association (CPA), an association for the composite panel industry, offers information about PP films.