Silicone oil is commonly used as an additive in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) sheet production and has a variety of beneficial uses.
Purpose of using silicone oil in PET sheet production
Improved lubricity and anti-blocking:
Lubricity: Silicone oil acts as a lubricant, reducing the coefficient of friction on the surface of PET sheet. This makes the sheet easier to handle, stack and unwind during processing and end-use.
Anti-blocking: By reducing adhesion between sheets, silicone oil prevents them from sticking together, which is especially useful during winding and unwinding.
Enhanced release properties:
Silicone oil has excellent release properties, making thermoformed PET products easier to remove from the mold. This is especially beneficial in applications such as blister packaging and thermoforming, where the material needs to separate cleanly from the mold.
Surface modification:
It can improve the surface properties of PET sheet, making it more resistant to scratches and abrasions. This improves the durability and appearance of the final product.
Improve surface gloss: Silicone oil can make the surface of PET sheet smoother and brighter.
Enhance wear and scratch resistance: Silicone oil can make the surface of PET sheet more wear and scratch resistant.
Improve antistatic properties: Silicone oil can reduce static charge accumulation on the surface of PET sheet.
Silicone-coated PET sheet roll
Silicone-coated PET sheet roll is a plastic sheet with excellent performance, good lubricity, anti-stickiness, weather resistance and dimensional stability, and has a wide range of applications.
- Thickness: 0.18-1.8mm
- Width: 300-1400mm
- Advantages: High light transmittance, low haze, dimensional stability, few crystal points, no white folds in both directions, few flow lines, smooth surface without adhesion, good impact resistance.
- Delivery time: 7~15 days since receipt of PO and down payment.
- Payment Accepted: D/A, D/P, T/T, L/C, Westunion etc.
- Samples: Free samples supply
How to use silicone oil in PET sheet production?
Selection of silicone oil:
Choose the appropriate grade and viscosity of silicone oil according to your specific needs. Common types include polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) oil with different viscosities.
Concentration:
Determine the optimal concentration of silicone oil. Generally, it is used in low concentrations, usually 0.1% to 1% by weight of PET resin. The exact amount depends on the desired effect and specific application.
Mixing with PET resin:
Pre-mixing: The silicone oil is mixed with PET resin pellets before extrusion. This can be done using a high-intensity agitator to ensure uniform distribution of the silicone oil in the resin.
Masterbatch: Alternatively, a masterbatch containing a higher concentration of silicone oil can be prepared. This masterbatch is then diluted to the desired concentration during the extrusion process.
Extrusion process:
Feeding: PET resin mixed with silicone oil is fed into the extruder.
Extrusion: The mixture is melted and homogenized in the extruder. The presence of silicone oil reduces friction within the extruder, which has the potential to improve processing efficiency.
Sheet formation: The molten PET is extruded through a flat die to form a sheet. Silicone oil helps smooth flow and release during sheet formation.
Calendaring: The extruded sheet passes through the calendering roller, and the silicone oil helps reduce adhesion and improve surface finish.
Cooling and winding: The sheet is cooled and rolled into a roll. The anti-stick properties imparted by the silicone oil ensure that the roll is easy to wind and unwind.
How to use the coating method?
Silicone oil is usually applied to the surface of PET sheet in the following ways:
Roller coating: The silicone oil is applied to the roller, and the PET sheet is then pressed over the roller so that the silicone oil is evenly coated on the surface of the sheet.
Dry coating: The silicone oil is showered on the surface of the PET sheet, and then the silicone oil is evenly distributed by a scraper or other means.
Spraying: Use a spray gun to spray silicone oil on the surface of PET sheet.
Advantages of using silicone oil in PET sheet
Silicone oil has good heat resistance and chemical stability, and can be used in high temperature and harsh chemical environments.
Silicone oil is non-toxic, odorless, non-irritating, and safe for human body and environment.
Silicone oil has good lubricity and demoulding properties, which can improve the production efficiency of PET sheet.
Silicone oil can improve the surface gloss, wear resistance and scratch resistance of PET sheet.
Disadvantages of using silicone oil in PET sheet
Silicone oil will reduce the adhesion of PET sheet, so it should be used with caution in applications that require adhesion.
Silicone oil will affect the printing performance of PET sheet, so special inks should be used in printing applications.
