• What is "Standard Low Density"?
• What is "Clarity" resin?
• What is "Linear Low Density"?
• How do "Hexene" and "Octene" LLDPE differ?
• What does "Gauge Equivalent" mean?
• What does "Anti-Static" mean?
• What are "Pink", "PureStat" and "Non Mil-Spec"?
• What is "EVA"?
• What is "Anti-Block"?
• What does "Non-Scratch" mean?
• What is "Slip"?
• What's the difference between "Transparent" and "Opaque"?
• How do you size a bag to a square or rectangular container?
• How do you size a bag to a round or circular container?
• How should I inspect the bag gauge?
• Are your bags recyclable?

What is "standard low density"?
Low density polyethylene (LDPE) is the most versatile choice for a wide range of packaging needs, and for that reason, it is the material from which most of our stock poly bags and film are made. Low density is has excellent clarity and strength, and has adequate substance to protect most items it covers.

What is "clarity" resin?
Clarity is the degree to which a film is transparent and clear of clouding. Resins are manufactured to match a profile, and that profile predicts its extrusion performance across a range of behaviors. One of the elements in a profile is haze, and when high clarity is critical to the display of a product, we can manufacturer your film from resin with a low haze.

What is "linear low density"?
Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) film has a molecular configuration that lends it to applications where strength, and puncture strength in particular, is more important than clarity. LLDPE films tend to stretch more than low density films before breaking, though they are typically lighter and provide less barrier protection.

How do "hexene", and "octene" LLDPE differ?
We offer standard LLDPE film from a blend of high-grade resins. However, bags and film can also be manufactured from pure hexene or octene resin. Hexene is a very strong LLDPE material, and will stand up to more rigorous demands than a standard blend. Octene is the preeminent LLDPE resin, and delivers the highest performance at a given weight of any LLDPE material.

What is does gauge "equivalent" mean?
There are many kinds of plastic from which bags and film can be made, and they each have their own characteristics regarding tear strength, tensile strength, puncture resistance, clarity, weight, shielding, and so on. Low density polyethylene is generally considered the most versatile and reliable material across the full range of film properties. In an effort to lower costs, however, claims are sometimes made that alternate materials can act as a good "equivalent" to a low density resin. It may be said, for instance, that a .0015 gauge linear density bag is an "equivalent" to a .002 gauge low density bag in terms of strength. We are happy to manufacture bags in either low density or linear low density. However, it is generally better to match a user's needs to a material, understanding all of its properties and behaviors, and avoid seeking equivalents. Different plastics are only equivalent in a very narrow sense of the word.

What does "anti-static" mean?
Anti-static bags and film are intended to reduce the risk of shock to static-sensitive products and components.

What are "pink", "Purestat" and "non mil spec" anti-static?
Pink has traditionally been used in bags and tubing as a visual cue that a film has anti-static properties. The static protection in this film is provided by amines, which create a kind of film on the inside of a bag or tubing. Purestat is typically clear, and provides its anti-static protection without the use of amines.

Mil-specs correspond to military standards for film behavior. When extruded in .004 mil, for instance, pink anti-static film meets the static decay rate of MILB81705 Type II, whereas .006 mil Purestat meets the electrical requirements of the same mil-spec. Only pink anti-static bags and film of .006 mil meet the full MILB81705 Type II specification.

Non-mil spec bags and film are not related to any military specification. The anti-static element is present primarily to make bags easier to open, and will not protect products from static charge.

What is EVA?
When EVA, or ethyl-vinyl acetate, is present as 2-3% additive to a polyethylene resin, it can make a bag considerably stronger. EVA is often used in applications where a bag or film will be frozen, and helps the film resist cracking.

What is "anti-block"?
Anti-block is an additive that may reside in polyethylene resin or be mixed with a resin to alter its performance. When polyethylene resin is extruded, anti-block bleeds to the inside of the bags and increases the ease with which bags open.

What does "non-scratch" mean?
Non-scratch bags and film contain little or no anti-block additive. This additive, when it bleeds to the inside of a bag, may appear as a fine powder capable of scratching very delicate products. Because anti-block also makes the inside of bags slippery, however, non-scratch bags and tubing will be very difficult to open.

What is "slip'?
Slip is an additive that may reside in polyethylene resin or be mixed with a resin to alter its performance. When polyethylene resin is extruded, slip bleeds to the outside of the bags and increases the degree to which they slip, or glide. Slip makes bags easy to handle and prevents them from sticking to one another. High slip bags call for extra slip additive which increases the degree to which bags glide in any given process or handling, whereas low slip bags inhibit movement and promote grip.

What is the difference between "transparent" and "opaque"?
Transparent bags are see-through, regardless of their color, whereas opaque bags cannot be seen through. In both cases, light can pass through the film.

How do you size a bag to a square or rectangular container?

1.  Add the width and length of the sides. Add 2 in. for a looser fit. This total equals the flat width of the bag needed.

2.  Add ½ of the shortest side to the height of the container. Add 5 in. to this value for overhang. This equals the length of the bag.

3.  If tying bag, rather than lining box, add ½ the length of the shortest side to the bag length in #2.

How do you size a bag to a round container?

1.  For the circumference of the bag, multiply the diameter of the container by 3.14. Divide by 2 to get the flat width. Add 1 in. for a looser fit.

2.  Add ½ of the diameter to the height of the container. Add 5 in. to this total for overhang. This is the total length of the bag needed.

3.  If tying bag, rather than lining container, add ½ the diameter to the bag length in #2.

How should I inspect bag gauge?
Keep in mind that polyethylene is a flexible material, and that gauge can only be measured with a poly micrometer. Machine micrometers, intended for less delicate materials, pinch and flatten bags or film. Ultimately, even poly micrometers offer only a rough measure, as gauge will naturally vary across the width of any bag or film. This is inherent to the extrusion process. The best way to see if you are getting what you expect from any manufacturer is to compare your case weights to a properly calculated yield. Our appropriate case weights are provided with each product listing. Case weights are the best indication of how much plastic your getting in a given bag count.

Are your bags recyclable?
All of our low density bags are recyclable. To find out whether your recycling plant accepts low density bags, look for the national recycling symbol encircling the number 4. Number 4 is the Society of Plastics Industry code for LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene).