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WEKSLER INSTRUMENTS CORP. F R E E P O R T , L . I . , NEW YORK INDICATING AND RECORDING INSTRUMENTS FOR TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE AND HUMIDITY
Tubular polyethylene film with improved optical properties is shown here as it comes from U.S.I.'s annealing chamber
sheet. Acetate is the base material in the many miles of recording tape used daily. As box "windows" it has multiple uses owing to its reduced static and absence of dust attraction. It is economical and readily cemented. Laminations of acetate enhance the good looks of book jackets, vitamin containers, and liquor cartons. It is tough, resists dimensional change, and is sparkling clear. The property of dimensional stability is of value in recording tape. Stretching introduces "wows." Celanese says the magnetic tape industry has had a 3 5 % annual growth rate each year due to its versatility and customer appeal. Tapes with a Mylar base are said to resist breaks due to very high strength characteristics. Further, it contains no plasticizer and reproduction is not affected by age. Du Pont says it is the toughest of all plastic films. It is also versatile. With polyethylene it makes possible "boil in the bag" foods. Combined with aluminum foil the polyester enters a 10-story "inflatable satellite" balloon. Technology in film manufacture and application has attained high levels and is still advancing. Space is available for discussing only a few. One of the most recent is the annealing chamber for tubular polyethylene by U. S. Industrial Chemicals which upgrades film's optical properties. "Skin packaging" is coming in for
Circle No. 72 on Readers' Service Card 42 A
INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
increased attention and Union Carbide has acquired a patent covering the process. It allows packaging of one or more items, fully visible, on a prepared paperboard, around which a heated plastic film is drawn tightly by vacuum to form the package. The advantages? Less breakage and pilferage are two of the more important. A number of companies are seeking a suitable answer to the breadwrap problem. Here is one of the largest of packaging markets. " I t is our feeling," says one polyethylene film manufactuer, "that the best material is yet to be developed." Industrial uses have become important in vinyl film. During the first half of 1959 sales of film-grade vinyl came to 40,445,000 pounds, which was a good increase over the 35,246,000 pounds sold during the same period of 1958. Vinyl sheet and film enter such industrial applications as protective covers, aprons, machine guards, tape, and lighting fixtures. In the home vinyl can be found in such familiar objects as draperies, shower curtains, rainwear, table covers, and toys. An old established plastic, polystyrene, is a newcomer in the film field. Its applications include "window boxes" for foods and nonfoods, and gift wrapping paper overwraps. Antifog treatment has enhanced its sale for packaging bacon. H.S. {Continued on page 44 A)
