These polymers are made up of long chains of monomers that form covalent bonds among themselves and with other molecules. The most common chemical systems or types of plastics used in the manufacturing of film include polyethylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polyoxymethylene among others. While the pervasiveness of plastic is readily recognized in everyday life, plastic film applications are often overlooked. Read More…
Leading Manufacturers
All Plastics and Fiberglass, Inc.
Mobile, AL | 800-226-1134All Plastics and Fiberglass performs fabrication for fiberglass and plastics. Among the standard products we produce are ducts, grating, structural shapes, pipe hangers and tanks. We do custom fabrication on tanks and pipe hangers. We also make prefabricated piping systems, handrails and more. We have built a reputation on high quality and superior service for more than two decades.

Cope Plastics, Inc.
Alton, IL | 800-851-5510Cope Plastics maintains one of the industry's largest inventories, stocking a wide variety of plastics to meet our customers’ needs for engineering materials, sheet plastics, specialty industrial products and tubing. We assist with design and we manufacture production parts in our ISO-certified facilities.

San Diego Plastics, Inc.
National City, CA | 619-477-4855San Diego Plastics, Inc has a huge selection of plastic materials. Call us today for plastic sheet, rod, tube, film, expanded foam sheet, corrugated sheet, boards, panels and structured sheet. An assortment of acrylic, polycarbonate, PVC, polypropylene & polyethylene in various colors, patterns, textures, thicknesses & grades.

Auburn Plastics & Rubber
Indianapolis, IN | 317-352-1565Since 1967, Auburn Plastics & Rubber has been a leading manufacturer of plastic and rubber products. We are a family-owned company built on creating relationships with our customers and manufacturing high-quality products. Auburn Plastics & Rubber is your one-stop shop for all your plastic needs.

CS Hyde Company
Lake Villa, IL | 800-461-4161CS Hyde has been providing high-end plastic materials since our founding in 1996, and has become a leading distributor and converter to a wide variety of markets. Materials we have available include Teflon Fluoroplastic, PTFE, Mylar®, Kevlar®, and more. We utilize the most high-tech converting equipment to provide superior products to our customers in a short time frame. It is our continuous mission to provide the highest quality products, innovate new solutions, and exceed expectations.

Professional Plastics
Fullerton, CA | 888-995-7767Supplier of engineering plastic materials—plastic sheets, plastic rods, plastic tubing & film. Products include Delrin®, Nylon, Teflon®, Vespel®, Torlon®, PEEK, Techtron®, PPS, Semitron®, Ultem®, PVDF, PVC, Acrylic, Polycarbonate, PCTFE, PFA, FEP and more.

Most often used for moisture and environmental resistance, film can be treated to provide anti-static control in order to prevent the build up of energy, protection against electrostatic discharge and electromagnetic interference, flame retardant and dampening. It is important to consider the capabilities of a specific plastic film with regards to its intended use. Plastic film manufacturers can also significantly alter the characteristics and usability of the film by using a variety of different fabrication techniques.
While casting, winding and sheet extrusion are commonly used to produce plastic film, blown film extrusion is the most popular for many applications. In this process the chosen polymer mix is compacted and heated to its flow point, at which time it becomes a viscous fluid. The molten polymer is extruded through a die producing a tube of plastic.
A hole in the center of the die forces air into the enclosed tube. Uniform pressure is applied allowing the air to inflate the plastic at a constant rate creating an even thickness. As the bubble expands upward, a cooling ring slowly lowers the temperature, returning the fluid to a plastic state. At the point of solidification, nip rollers collapse the bubble and flatten it.
The film may pass through a treatment center at this point if any of the aforementioned treatments are desired. While the film is then ready for handling, plastic film manufacturers will usually wind the film with uniform tension for easy transport. In addition to treatments, additives such as heat stabilizers, lubricants, fillers and plasticizers may be added to the raw materials utilized in fabrication in order to improve the physical and mechanical properties of the end product.
These can have a significant impact on the color, strength, density, working temperature range, structural integrity and corrosion and heat resistance of a polymer.