Types Of Food Grade Plastic Buckets
February 28, 2012 at 1:33 PM
There are a number of different types of plastics used in the production of plastic buckets in general, but very specific ones that can be used to product food grade plastic buckets and containers. Below is an overview of the most widely used plastics for food grade packaging in general.
Polyethylene terephthalate is a tough, yet clear, polymer that possesses exceptional gas and moisture barrier properties. The fact that it’s able to hold carbon dioxide (carbonation) makes it perfect for using in soft drink bottles and detergent bottles.
High density polyethylene is commonly used to make milk, juice and water containers, capitalising on its excellent protective barrier properties. It also possesses excellent chemical resistance properties, which make it perfect for making containers for household chemicals and detergents. Most five gallon plastic food buckets are made from this compound.
Low density polyethylene offers a combination of clarity and flexibility and is often used to make bottles that require this inherent flexibility. It is also commonly used to produce shopping bags, bin liners, cling film, and coating for milk cartons as this takes advantage of its strength and toughness in film form.
Vinyl (polyvinyl chloride, or PVC) provides superb transparency, clarity, puncture resistance and ability to ‘cling’. If it is employed as a film, vinyl can breathe in exactly the right proportion, which makes it perfect for packaging certain fresh foods, such as meats, that need oxygen to ensure they maintain an acceptable shelf life, as well as the aesthetic look of a bright red surface. As well as plastic food wrap, this compound is commonly used for garden hoses and the soles of shoes.
Polypropylene possesses good high-tensile strength, making it perfect for use in caps and lids that need to grip tightly on to threaded openings. One of the most useful aspects of polypropylene is that it can be hot-filled with products, eg ketchup and syrup, that are designed to cool once inside the plastic containers. This is made possible because of its high melting point. This plastic is also widely used in containers and buckets for products that must to be incubated, such as yoghurt.
Polystyrene, in its crystalline form, is a colourless plastic that can be clear and hard, but It can also be foamed which gives it exceptional insulation properties. This foamed, or expanded, polystyrene is often used in the production of meat trays, egg cartons etc. Most will also know polystyrene from its most common use in packaging and protecting appliances, electronics and other sensitive products.
Polycarbonate is a clear shatter-resistant material that is ideally used in production of plastic buckets for restaurant food storage containers as well as home food storage containers.
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