What are Antiblocking Agents?
Antiblocking agents are additives incorporated into plastics to prevent the adhesion of film layers, facilitating winding and allowing an easier and more comfortable separation of plastic film layers. Typically mineral silicate-based materials are used, these are effective antiblocking agents for plastic films.
Silicate particles create a microscopic roughness on the film surface, preventing the film layers from sticking together. Silicate-based antiblocking agents are chosen to minimize their impact on the optical and mechanical properties of the plastic film. They are often used for packaging purposes in the food, pharmaceutical, agricultural... industries.
Some common types of silicates used as antiblocking agents are talc, kaolin and mica. Silicon dioxide (SiO2), commonly known as silica, is often employed as reinforcing fillers, thickeners or as a component in certain masterbatches.
Slitting Issues Caused by Silicate Additives
Silicon dioxide (SiO2) minerals have a considerable hardness, that cause abrasive wear on the cutting blades. This results in multiple slitting issues.
Machine Downtime
Accelerated wear and tear on slitting blades results in the frequent razor blade replacement. This directly impacts production efficiency and running costs.
Dust Particle Formation in Plastic Film Slitting
Poor slitting can cause dust particles that stick to the plastic film. Since the film is often used in packaging and needs to be printed with a specific design, these dust particles can prevent the film from being printable.
Slit Quality: Jagged Edges, Winding Woes, Aesthetics
A dull razorblade can cause the edges of the film to become jagged or rough. This degradation in cut quality can affect the performance, sealing and aesthetics of the end product. On top of that, poor slit quality can lead to winding issues with raised reel edges.
Improving Razor Blade Slitting for Antiblocking Film
The susceptibility of cutting tools to abrasion from silicate filled films can vary based on the tool's material and hardness. Higher slitting speeds may accelerate wear. The choice of slitting tool material, coating, and design should be optimized for the specific characteristics of the material being slit.
Specialized Razor Blade Solutions
Engineered for optimal performance across various mineral additives and polymer types, film thicknesses, and operational speeds, we provide these blade categories to precisely align with your specific requirements.
- Improved razorblade lifetime
- Reduced dust particle formation
- Overall better slit quality
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