BOPP Cigarette Shrink Pack Film

BOPP Cigarette Shrink Pack Film

BOPP Cigarette Shrink Pack Film is a biaxially oriented polypropylene film developed for shrink wrapping cigarette packs and cartons. The film is engineered to provide controlled thermal shrinkage, stable film feeding, heat-sealing performance and a tight finished package after exposure to controlled heat.

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Product Introduction

 

 

Product Definition

BOPP stands for Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene. The film is stretched in both the machine direction (MD) and transverse direction (TD), creating an oriented polypropylene structure with controlled mechanical and thermal properties.

A cigarette shrink-pack film generally consists of a BOPP base structure combined with a surface or sealing layer designed for the specific packaging process.

The basic packaging sequence is:

Film unwinding → film feeding → pack wrapping → folding → heat sealing → thermal shrinkage → cooling → finished pack

The objective is to produce a film-wrapped cigarette pack with controlled folding, stable seals and a relatively tight external appearance.

Key Features of BOPP Cigarette Shrink Pack Film

Controlled Thermal Shrinkage

The film is engineered to shrink when exposed to a specified temperature range. Controlled shrinkage helps compensate for film slack after wrapping and allows the film to conform more closely to the cigarette pack.

The required shrinkage depends on:

  • Packaging machine
  • Pack dimensions
  • Heating temperature
  • Heating time
  • Film thickness
  • Film orientation
  • Sealing method

Both MD and TD shrinkage should be considered when selecting the film.

Heat-Sealable Structure

For shrink-pack applications, the film may incorporate a heat-sealable layer that allows the package to be sealed during the wrapping process.

Important parameters include:

  • Seal initiation temperature
  • Heat-seal strength
  • Hot tack
  • Sealing window
  • Sealing pressure
  • Dwell time

A film with a suitable sealing window can help maintain consistent seals when machine speed or operating temperature changes within the permitted range.

Controlled COF

The coefficient of friction (COF) influences film movement through the packaging machine.

The film must move smoothly across:

  • Guide rollers
  • Folding units
  • Sealing components
  • Conveyors
  • Film-contact surfaces

An excessively high COF may increase feeding resistance, while an excessively low COF may reduce film control during folding. For this reason, cigarette shrink-pack film should be specified according to the actual packaging equipment rather than selected solely by thickness.

High Optical Clarity

Transparent BOPP shrink film allows the printed cigarette package underneath to remain visible.

Important optical properties include:

Haze

Gloss

Transparency

Surface uniformity

For transparent applications, low haze and consistent gloss can help maintain a clear appearance after shrinking.

BOPP Cigarette Shrink Pack Film

Typical Technical Specifications

The following values are typical reference ranges, not universal specifications. The final specification should be confirmed according to the actual film grade and packaging machine.

Parameter Typical Specification
Material Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene
Film Type Cigarette Shrink Pack Film
Thickness 18–25 μm
Common Thickness 20–23 μm
Film Width Customized
Roll Length Customized
Core Diameter Commonly 3" or 6"
Shrinkage Grade-dependent
Heat Sealing Available
Surface Glossy / Matte / Customized
Haze Grade-dependent
Gloss Grade-dependent
COF Controlled according to application
Corona Treatment Available
Tensile Strength MD/TD specified by grade
Elongation MD/TD specified by grade
Packaging Roll / palletized packaging

Important: Shrinkage should be specified with the test temperature, test time and MD/TD direction, because a shrinkage percentage without test conditions is not sufficient for technical comparison.

BOPP Cigarette Shrink Film Thickness

Film thickness is one of the most important parameters in procurement. Common thickness options include:

18 μm 20 μm 21 μm 22 μm 23 μm 25 μm

A thinner film may reduce material consumption, but reducing thickness can also change:

  • Film stiffness
  • Tensile strength
  • Tear resistance
  • Heat transfer
  • Sealing behavior
  • Shrinkage response
  • Machine handling

Therefore, buyers should not select the film only according to price per kilogram.

A better purchasing calculation is:
Cost per finished pack = film consumption per pack × film unit price + packaging losses

Machine trials should also be considered because a lower-priced film can create additional waste if its feeding, sealing or shrinking characteristics are incompatible with the equipment.

Heat-Sealing Performance

During cigarette packaging, the film must form a stable seal before or during the shrinking stage. The main technical parameters are:

Seal Initiation Temperature The minimum temperature at which the sealing layer begins to form a measurable seal.
Heat-Seal Strength The force required to separate the sealed film.
Hot Tack The ability of the seal to maintain strength while still hot. Hot-tack performance is particularly relevant to high-speed packaging because the package may be subjected to mechanical movement immediately after sealing.
Sealing Window The acceptable combination of: Temperature + Pressure + Dwell Time. A wider processing window can make machine adjustment less sensitive to small variations in operating conditions.

Film Feeding and Machine Compatibility

A cigarette shrink-pack film must run consistently through the packaging line. Before purchasing, the following parameters should be confirmed:

  • Packaging machine model
  • Maximum machine speed
  • Film width
  • Film thickness
  • Roll diameter
  • Core diameter
  • Film winding direction
  • Seal configuration
  • Heating system
  • Shrink tunnel or heating section
  • Required shrinkage
  • Film COF

For an existing production line, the safest approach is to compare the proposed BOPP film against the current film using an actual machine trial.

Corona Treatment

Polypropylene has relatively low surface energy, which can limit adhesion of printing inks and coatings. Corona treatment modifies the film surface to increase its surface energy.

For cigarette packaging applications, corona treatment may be required when the film is intended for:

  • Printing
  • Coating
  • Lamination
  • Metallization

The purchaser should specify: Treatment side + target surface tension + testing method (instead of simply requesting "corona treated film").

Surface treatment can also decrease over time, so storage conditions and the interval between film production and printing should be considered.

Transparent and Metallized Options

Transparent BOPP Cigarette Shrink Film

Transparent film is used when the printed cigarette pack needs to remain visible.

Typical requirements include:

  • Low haze
  • High transparency
  • Controlled gloss
  • Stable shrinkage
  • Heat sealing
  • Controlled COF

Metallized BOPP Cigarette Shrink Film

Metallized BOPP incorporates a thin aluminum layer onto the film surface. Depending on the construction, metallized film can provide:

  • Metallic appearance
  • Light barrier
  • Improved moisture barrier
  • Improved gas barrier
  • Reflective surface

For metallized structures, buyers should request quantitative barrier data such as OTR and WVTR rather than relying on general descriptions such as "high barrier."

BOPP Cigarette Shrink Pack Film Manufacturing Process

A typical manufacturing process includes the following stages:

01
Raw Material Preparation
Polypropylene resin and application-specific additives are prepared according to the target grade.
02
Extrusion
The polymer is melted and extruded through a flat-film die. Thickness control begins at this stage.
03
Casting
The molten polymer is rapidly cooled to form the base film.
04
Machine-Direction Stretching
The film is stretched in the MD direction under controlled temperature and speed.
05
Transverse-Direction Stretching
The film is stretched in the TD direction using a tenter-frame process. This creates the biaxially oriented structure.
06
Heat Setting
The film is heat-treated to stabilize its dimensional and thermal characteristics.
07
Surface Treatment
Corona treatment or other surface modification can be applied according to the intended application.
08
Slitting
Master rolls are slit into customer-specified widths.
09
Final Inspection
• Thickness • Width • Roll length • Shrinkage • COF • Haze • Gloss • Tensile strength • Seal strength • Surface treatment • Roll appearance

Applications

BOPP Cigarette Shrink Pack Film is primarily designed for:

  • Cigarette pack shrink wrapping
  • Cigarette carton overwrapping
  • Cigarette package outer wrapping
  • Tobacco product packaging
  • Heat-shrinkable cigarette packaging
  • High-speed cigarette packaging lines

Depending on the film construction, similar shrink BOPP structures may also be considered for other small-format consumer-product overwrap applications.

BOPP Shrink Film vs Standard BOPP Film

Feature BOPP Cigarette Shrink Pack Film Standard BOPP Packaging Film
Main application Cigarette shrink packaging General packaging
Shrinkage Controlled for shrink wrapping Depends on grade
Heat sealing Application-specific May or may not be sealable
COF Controlled for packaging equipment General application
Pack tightness Important Not always required
Machine compatibility Critical Application dependent
Film thickness Usually thin-gauge Broad range
Optical requirements Often high clarity Depends on product
Shrink conditions Specifically controlled Not necessarily optimized
Packaging speed Often high-speed Depends on application

Quality Control Requirements

For B2B purchasing, a Technical Data Sheet (TDS) should be requested before bulk ordering. Recommended quality-control items include:

Dimensional Properties
  • Thickness
  • Thickness tolerance
  • Width
  • Roll length
  • Core diameter
  • Roll diameter
Mechanical Properties
  • Tensile strength MD/TD
  • Elongation MD/TD
  • Tear resistance
Thermal Properties
  • Shrinkage MD/TD
  • Seal initiation temperature
  • Heat-seal strength
  • Hot tack
Surface Properties
  • COF
  • Corona treatment level
  • Surface uniformity
Optical Properties
  • Haze
  • Gloss
  • Transparency
Roll Quality
  • Telescoping
  • Wrinkles
  • Blocking
  • Edge damage
  • Gel particles
  • Contamination
  • Splices
  • Roll hardness

How to Select the Right Cigarette Shrink Pack Film

A procurement specification can be prepared using the following sequence:

1
Confirm the Machine Provide the packaging machine manufacturer and model.
2
Confirm Pack Dimensions Film behavior is affected by the dimensions and folding pattern of the package.
3
Select Film Thickness Start with the existing film thickness and adjust only after machine trials.
4
Define Shrinkage Specify MD and TD shrinkage together with the test conditions.
5
Define Sealing Requirements Confirm: Seal initiation temperature, Seal strength, Hot tack, and Sealing temperature range.
6
Confirm Roll Specifications Specify: Film width, Roll length, Core diameter, Maximum roll diameter, and Winding direction.
7
Conduct a Machine Trial Before mass production, test: Feeding → Folding → Sealing → Heating → Shrinking → Cooling → Final pack inspection. This provides more useful information than laboratory data alone.

FAQ

What is BOPP Cigarette Shrink Pack Film?

It is a biaxially oriented polypropylene film designed for cigarette pack or carton shrink wrapping. The film is engineered with controlled thermal shrinkage and may include a heat-sealable layer.

What thickness is commonly used?

Typical specifications are approximately 18–25 μm, with 20–23 μm being common starting points for cigarette overwrap applications. The correct thickness depends on the machine and packaging structure.

What makes cigarette shrink film different from ordinary BOPP film?

The cigarette shrink grade is specifically designed around thermal shrinkage, heat sealing, COF and machine feeding requirements. Standard BOPP does not necessarily provide the required combination of these properties.

How is shrinkage measured?

Shrinkage should be measured separately in MD and TD under defined temperature and time conditions.

Can the film be customized?

Yes. Typical customization includes:

• Thickness • Width • Roll length • Core diameter • Shrinkage • Heat sealing • COF • Corona treatment • Surface finish • Transparent or metallized construction

What information is required for a quotation?

A technical RFQ should preferably include: Film type + thickness + width + roll length + core diameter + machine model + pack dimensions + shrinkage requirement + estimated order quantity.

Can a sample be supplied?

For a new supplier or replacement material, a sample roll or trial quantity is recommended before bulk production. The film should be evaluated directly on the customer's packaging machine.

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