Substrates
All sorts of materials are printed flexo from toothpick wrappers to huge bags for mattresses. Films, foils, tissues, enormous corrugated sheets, limp plastic films, glass and textiles are printed with flexo.
- These materials weren't chosen for their printing characteristics, but for their functionality. Thanks to the versatility of flexo, there is almost no material that can't be printed.
- Flexo is growing faster than other conventional processes because of this versatility.
- New polymer blends and plastic alloys will expand the number of plastic substrates that can be printed flexo.
- Coextrusion will increase as plastic materials are combined in multiple layers.
- Oriented polypropylene film can be obtained with a saran adhesive surface on one side and a heat seal on the other.
- Coating and laminating of films will continue. We briefly review some of the wide range of substrates printed with flexo.
Paper and Paperboard
- Includes a wide variety of applications. Paperback books , envelopes, and gift wrap (uncoated free sheet, coated, ground wood and unbleached Kraft) may be printed flexo.
- Liner board and folding cartons (bleached and unbleached Kraft, coated and uncoated), are printed with flexo.
- Paper cups, tubs and milk cartons (bleached) are printed flexo. Flexible packaging and multiwall bags (unbleached Kraft) are printed flexo.
Corrugated Board
- Corrugated board may be printed directly in sheetfed flexo presses.
- Corrugated containers are made from Kraft linerboard and semichemical or recycled pulp.
- Brown boxes are still the primary corrugated container, but some are employing coated white printed exteriors.
Polyethylene
- Most common film used in the US. Includes LDPE, LLDPE and HDPE.
Polyester Film
- Includes bioriented polyester (PET) films for tear resistance, temperature and humidity stability, sheet flatness and clarity.
Polypropylene
- Oriented (OPP) and non oriented polypropylenes. Used for snack packaging.
Polyvinyl Chloride
- Commonly called vinyl films. Odorless, tasteless chemically resistant and waterproof.
Polystyrene
- Transparent, odorless thermoplastic.
Cellophane
- Regenerated cellulose.
Pressure sensitive coated films
- Dynamic part of adhesive market. Paper
Pressure sensitive substrates
- Paper-based pressure sensitive laminates are second most popular substrate for flexo.
Glassine papers
- Highly dense and resistant to the passage of oil.
Metalized films and papers
- Metalized paper labels are used on beer and wine labels.
- Metalized films are based on Aluminum attached to a flexible plastic film.
Kimdura synthetic papers
- Biaxially oriented, spun-bound polypropylene film designed to handle like paper, but to be durable like vinyl.
Latex Saturated Papers
- Cellulose paper with rubbery latex emulsion.