If you were asked to name something commonly
found in homes, offices, factories etc, plastic would be one of the first
things that comes to mind. Of the many forms of plastic available in the
market, clear polythene
sheeting is one of the most popular types of packaging materials for
domestic as well as commercial use. This is typically available in the form of
rolls of variable length and thickness.
Polythene sheets are categorised according to
their thickness. This may be expressed as microns or gauge with 1 gauge equal
to 4 microns and 1 micron equal to 0.0001mm. The micron or gauge value is
directly proportional to the thickness of the plastic sheet and its cost. The
micron value of a polythene sheet also determines how it can be used. Thin
plastic sheeting can be used for general packing and storage of goods while
thicker plastic may be used as a temporary roof, to create greenhouses or for
heavy duty packing of for products being transported. However, it is important
to note that the thickness of the plastic sheet is not related to the
durability and longevity of the plastic.
Another factor that influences the price of
clear polythene is its clarity. One of the biggest advantages of using clear
plastic over coloured plastic is that this allows you to see what is inside the
packing without having to open the package. Thus the clearer the plastic, the
better it is. Virgin polythene sheets are much clearer than recycled polythene
sheets but can be more expensive as well. Light duty virgin polythene may be
used to package food items and other groceries that need to be seen clearly
through the packaging while recycled polythene sheets may be used as drop
cloths or temporary walls.
If the polythene sheeting is going to be used
outdoors or exposed to considerable sunlight, look for sheeting that is UV
stabilised. This type of polythene sheet is treated so as to make it more
resistant to the sun’s UV rays. Non stabilised polythene can get discoloured or
turn brittle when exposed to UV radiation. Stabilised polythene will also
typically have a longer life as compared to non-stabilised polythene.