In the realm of modern packaging techniques, few are aware that the widely utilized method of heat shrinkage was initially conceived to meet wartime needs. Shrink film, particularly the PVDC shrink film, made its debut during World War II in Germany. Employing the innovative concept of biaxial stretching and utilizing PVDC, Shrink Bag was designed to protect weapons from rusting and corrosion. Thus, from its industrial inception, shrink film found its first application in packaging industrial goods before transitioning to its role in food packaging.
After the conclusion of World War II, coinciding with the advancement of nuclear technology, scientists made remarkable progress in the preparation of shrink films. In the early 1950s, British scientist Arthur Charlesby achieved a breakthrough in the field. He discovered that polyethylene, a type of plastic, could be transformed into a unique heat shrink material with a distinctive "memory effect" through irradiation crosslinking technology. Charlesby's pioneering work, reflected in a series of papers on radiation crosslinking research, significantly accelerated the study and development of crosslinking technology within the field of radiation polymers.
Today, heat shrink films find widespread application in the packaging of various items such as food, pharmaceuticals, sterilized utensils, cosmetics, stationery, office supplies, decorative gifts, printed materials, mechanical components, electronic appliances, and construction materials. With its versatility, shrink film offers advantages in packaging irregularly shaped items and oversized products. It fulfills functions such as moisture and dust resistance, safeguarding against t