Author: Dave Marinac
Polystyrene compounds are a thermoplastic polymer made from the aromatic monomer styrene, a hydrocarbon that is commercially manufactured from petroleum. Polystyrene is one of the most widely used plastics and is the base for foam plastic as well as PVC. Polystyrene compounds are used in the production of various packaging materials. One of the most important features of this type of material in the context of packaging is that it has moderate to good barrier properties to liquids, making it suitable for holding beverages and warm foot products (like fast foods). Polystyrene is a rigid, brittle, inexpensive plastic that has been used to make plastic model kits and similar knickknacks. It is also be the basis for one of the most popular 'foamed' plastics called 'styrene foam' or 'Styrofoam'. Below is a description of some of the common polystyrene polymers used in various forms for packaging. General Purpose Polystyrene - Styrofoam - (GPPS) The material is brittle and very rigid, transparent, has low shrinkage, is easy and cheap to produce, has excellent X-ray resistance and is free from any odor or taste. Polystyrene has low barrier properties and is therefore not useful for long term packaging.
This material is widely used in disposable party glasses/ fast food boxes (like McDonalds or Burger King) and is a recyclable material. The foam can be formed into all shapes through heat-stamping or injection molding processes. Expanded Polystyrene & Extruded Polystyrene (EPS & XPS) - Expanded Polystyrene (EPS - 'bead foam') EPS is usually white and made of expanded polystyrene beads. This is a foam type material; it is brittle and not suitable for use at high temperatures. It is commonly produced and packaged as rigid panels (size 4' by 8' or 2' by 8' square feet in the United States) also known as 'bead-boards'. This material is generally used to contain fresh meat or fast foods (short term storage) as it has poor barrier properties. Other uses include packing 'peanuts' (common loose-fill packing material for fragile objects) and molded packing material for cushioning fragile items inside boxes. - Extruded Polystyrene (XPS - 'Foamcore') XPS has air inclusions in its structure which give it moderate flexibility, low density, and good insulation. Foamed between two sheets of paper, it makes a more uniform substitute for corrugated cardboard and is used as such to make shock absorbent packaging containers. High Impact Polystyrene / Toughened Polystyrene - Bextrene (HIPS / TPS) Pure polystyrene is brittle, but hard enough that a fairly high-performance product can be made by combining it with polybutadiene rubber during polymerization. The resulting compound is a copolymer (also known as high-impact plastic) which is hard, rigid, translucent, has good impact strength (7 times greater than GPPS), low shrinkage, is cheap and easy to process, X-ray resistant, free of odor or taste, has very good resistance to dilute acids and alkalis, alcohols, oils and greases. HIPS is used in product casings and thermoformed trays and is unsuitable for use at high temperatures (i.e. microwave heating / ovens). It's a material widely used to store fresh produce (e.g. mushrooms, strawberries etc.). It has poor barrier properties and is recyclable. Polypropylene / Orientated Polypropylene/ Expanded Polypropylene (PP, OPP & EPP) These are thermoplastic polymers and are a semi-rigid, translucent, have good chemical and fatigue resistance, are tough, steam sterilizable and recyclable, possesses good heat resistance, and are resistant to dilute acids, alkalis and alcohols with moderate resistance to oils and greases. If biaxialy orientated (OPP), they have moderate barrier properties to gasses and are a good barrier to water vapor. PP and OPP are moderately expensive to produce. When thermoformed it is suitable for use at temperatures up to 110° C, therefore it is suitable for use in microwave ovens, in this instance it is widely used to store bakery/confectionery products. It is durable, dirt resistant and is highly colorfast, meaning it can be colored in variety of ways and colors and is thus ideal of retail packaging. - PP is also used to make closures (a very versatile packaging material). - OPP is generally used for a wide variety of products and parts, including storage and packaging boxes (from sheet form), bottles and bottle caps. - EPP has good impact characteristics due to low stiffness and rigidity, allowing it to resume shape after impact. It is used as a shock absorbent in packaging.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/corporate-articles/polystyrene-in-packaging-818744.html
About the Author:
ABC Packaging Direct works with you to understand your packaging needs and develop specialty packaging solutions including food packaging , thermoformed plastic trays, stand up pouches, low melt bags, autoclave bags, plastic valve bags and VCI bags.
Jumat, 07 Agustus 2009
Polystyrene In Packaging
Reusable, Eco-friendly Bags – Alternative to a Safer Environment
Author: Ronn Jones
Plastic, paper and cotton bags are probably the easiest and cheapest options when it comes to containing and transporting foods, powders, ice, chemicals and even wastes. Billions of single-use plastic bags are distributed free of cost every day. These free single-use bags might seem to be of great advantage apparently, but as the old adage goes, nothing in this world comes for free. We pay heavily for using each of these bags with our environment and future.
If we take into account the "cradle to grave" multiple impacts and the effects of each phase of these bags’ life we will be able to illustrate the actual costs paid by our environment and society for the fleeting convenience of unlimited, free, single-use plastic bags.
Firstly, the production of these plastic bags requires a large amount of petroleum and natural gas. These production materials are non-renewable resources and there’s always a risk that unnecessary use of these resources might lead to scarcity. Moreover, the process to acquire these resources immensely contributes to the destruction of the fragile habitats and ecosystems around the world. The production of plastic bags also requires a lot of toxic substances to be used. These toxic substances in turn produce pollution and harm the environment. Energy consumption required for the production of these bags is also huge. This contributes effectively towards global warming.
These bags might be distributed for free to the consumers but definitely does not come free to the retailers. The U.S. retailers alone incur an annual cost of approximately four billion U.S. dollars. When these bags are distributed, the costs are generally passed on to the consumers in the form of higher prices for the goods that they purchase. So, though the concept of these bags might seem to be free, in fact they also have some financial issues involved which ultimately are borne by the end-users.
The disposal and littering of these bags also threatens the environment and the future of mankind and all living forms. These plastic bags are often disposed off into water or littered on land. Thousands of marine lives are put into danger due to this. Sea turtles, whales and other such marine mammals often mistakes these plastics for food and end up dead. When swallowed these plastics choke them or block their intestine resulting in a painful death. Same is the fate of several cows, goats and other such lad animals that often end up eating pieces of plastic while foraging for food. Moreover, it takes almost thousands of years for these pieces of plastic to completely degrade on land. They break down into tiny bits and contaminate soil and water.
So we see that in-spite of the plastic beings ‘free’ of cost, there’s actually a major cost that needs to be paid indirectly and it threatens the mere existence of all living forms on the face of the earth. Mass movements are taking place all over the world in order to reduce the consumption of these plastic and paper bags due to their ill-effects on the environment. Luckily, though, we have seen the introduction of reusable, eco-friendly and environment safe bags on the market to substitute them. These bags are generally made of Polypropylene. They are simple to produce, strong and can be made of different weight or thickness depending on the intended use. Bags made of this durable material are water repellent and avoids bacteria and odor. They are not affected by chemicals or solvents and comply with FDA regulations.
The reusable, eco-friendly bags proves to be a perfect alternative to the toxic plastic or paper bags and should be adopted for a better, healthier and safer environment.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/reusable-ecofriendly-bags-alternative-to-a-safer-environment-358365.html
About the Author:
This article is written by Ronn Jones, a marketing expert with years of experience in branding and internet marketing. Check out more information on reusable, eco-friendly bags .
Antibiotic-free quality shrimp and prawn farming aquaculture seafood producer
Author: Yawar Nawaz
As a result of research and development that began more than two decades ago, National Prawn Company has completed phase one of a $350 million "modified extensive" shrimp farm on the Red Sea, 150 kilometers south of Jeddah. The $200 million first phase resulted in eleven farms and 2,800 hectares of ponds with projected production of 13,500 metric tons of whole shrimp a year. Phase two will add fifteen more farms and 3,500 more hectares of ponds capable of producing 17,500 tons a year.
National Prawn Company follows the codes of conduct and methods of production outlined under the United Nation's definition of "Sustainable Development". It produces antibiotic-free shrimp with no hormones and no preservatives using eco-friendly, sustainable shrimp farming methods. It uses low stocking densities and settling ponds to protect the local aquatic ecosystem.
NPC's product line is currently marketed locally and internationally under the brand name "Al-Watania" and other brand names.
Work Force: More than 2,000 employees from 25 countries.
Broodstock: Specific pathogen-free, specific pathogen-resistant Penaeus indicus in its twenty-fourth generation.
Nauplii Production: 60 million a day.
Postlarvae Production: 180 million a cycle.
Processing Plant: Capable of handling 80 metric tons of head-on shrimp a day. M/S Marel/Carnitech (Denmark) supplied and installed most of the processing equipment. M/S Jonsson (USA) supplied the peeling machines and Mycon (Japan) supplied the refrigeration system. The plant is designed to process a wide variety of products from simple block frozen products to high-value ready to eat individually quick frozen and cooked products.
The shrimp reach the plant in less than an hour after harvest and are processed and packed in less than six hours after harvest. The plant has a large, fully automated chill room that can hold up to 25 tons of whole shrimp as it comes in from the farms.
There are three major processing lines, a head-on line with the capacity to handle two tons an hour, a headless line with the capacity to handle 1.2 tons an hour, and a peeling line with the capacity to handle one ton of raw shrimp an hour. Three plate freezers can freeze 20 tons of shrimp a day, and two spiral freezers can freeze three tons per hour. There are two flow pack machines from Sandiacre. As part of the worldwide marketing strategy, great importance has been given to the implementation of HACCP and ISO quality control systems.
Feed Mill: Capacity ten tons per hour. BUHLER (Switzerland) installed the machinery and technology.
Intake Pumping Station: The intake pump station was designed to create a flow of 90 cu/m/sec at a static head of 2.5 meters. It is equipped with twelve Amacan submersible, vertical pumps. The length of the intake canal is 35 kilometers!
Drain Pumping Station: The return water pump station is designed for a flow rate of 90 cu/m/sec at a static head of 1.1 meters. It is equipped with seventeen Amaline submersible, horizontal pumps. The total length of the return water canal is 38.2 kilometers.
Shrimp Head Powder: The offal plant processes fresh shrimp heads into shrimp head powder, which NPC sells as a feed ingredient in laminated, polypropylene bags weighing either 25 or 50 kilograms.
Miles of Roads on the Farm: 157 kilometers, 57 of them asphalted.
Employee Community: Furnished bachelor accommodations are provided with dining halls, relaxation facilities, indoor sports facilities, supermarkets and a mosque. Essential utilities like power, water and sanitation are available around the clock.
Distribution: NPC has entered into exclusive agreements with distributors in U.S.A, Canada, Spain, Cyprus, Italy, Australia, Japan, China, UAE, Korea, Egypt, Bahrain, and Jordan. It is looking for distributors in Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Lebanon, and Tunisia.
Employment: NPC is on course to implement its second phase and will be hiring people at all levels.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/business-opportunities-articles/antibioticfree-quality-shrimp-and-prawn-farming-aquaculture-seafood-producer-33039.html
About the Author:
Information:
National Prawn Company
P.O. Box 20, Al-Lith 21961, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(phone 00-966-7-7420742, extensions 582, fax 00 966-7-7420743)
email sales@robian.com.sa ,
webpage http://www.robian.com.sa
