What is heat shrink film? PVC, POF and PE compared
Heat shrink film contracts around the product under heat. PVC vs POF vs polyethylene, shrink temperature, and which one suits bottles, cartons or display packs.
By Alireza Ahmadi, Production line specialist
Heat shrink film contracts when it passes through a tunnel or hot air and takes the shape of the product. Three families are common: PVC, the clearest and glossiest, shrinking at a lower temperature and suited to display packing; POF, multilayer and more flexible, used for food and irregular shapes; and polyethylene (LDPE), tougher and more economical, used for multipacks and cartons.
The word "shrink" is used for several different things in this trade, and that is where wrong orders come from. One buyer wants a clear film that sits tight around a perfume box, another wants something that holds six bottles together, and a third is actually looking for a machine rather than film. This piece separates the family.
Why does shrink film shrink?
Shrink film is stretched during manufacture and its molecules are locked in that stretched state. When it is heated again the material tries to return to its original form and its dimensions reduce — which is what pulls it tight onto the product. Unlike stretch film, which clings cold by tension, shrink does nothing without heat.
Three families, three jobs
| PVC | POF | Polyethylene (LDPE) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarity and gloss | Highest | High | Medium |
| Shrink temperature | Lower | Medium | Higher |
| Flexibility after shrinking | Low — tight and stiff | More | Most |
| Impact resistance | Medium | Good | Highest |
| Typical use | Boxes, display goods, shelf packs | Food, irregular shapes | Multipacks, cartons, bottles |
PVC shrink — when appearance matters
PVC shrink is clear and glossy and shrinks at a lower temperature than polyethylene shrink, so it is gentler on heat-sensitive products and the tunnel draws less energy. It is the first choice for boxes, cosmetics, stationery and anything that has to look untouched and bright on a shelf. It stays stiff after shrinking, so it is not the right answer for loads that need to flex.
POF shrink — when the shape is irregular
POF is a multilayer film combining good clarity with more flexibility after shrinking, so it splits less around sharp corners. It is common for food packing and is produced here as one of the orderable nylon-shrink types.
Polyethylene shrink — when the load is heavy
Nylon shrink is produced from LDPE: tougher, more economical, and suited to multipacks and cartons. It is what turns several bottles or several boxes into one pack and protects them from impact and dust. Its clarity does not reach PVC, and for this job it does not need to.
A warning about searching
Search "shrink pack" or "bottle shrink" and half the results are machines, not film. If you want the roll itself, search "shrink film" or "PVC shrink roll". The word is also sometimes confused with electrical heat-shrink tubing, which is an entirely different product.
Do I need a heat tunnel?
For polyethylene (nylon) shrink, yes: it needs a heat tunnel to shrink. PVC shrink also shrinks under a heat gun or a hair dryer, which is enough for single packs and small counts, but at volume a tunnel puts even heat on every surface and cuts the risk of wrinkles and local scorching. If you have a tunnel, tell us its working temperature and we will propose a matching material and gauge; that one number prevents most problems.
How to order
- 1Describe the product's size and shape — flat, cylindrical or irregular.
- 2Say whether the pack is for display or purely protective.
- 3State the tunnel temperature, or that you have no tunnel.
- 4Give the run size and the roll width you need.
- 5Take a sample and test it with your own product.
Navid Selfon produces PVC shrink and nylon shrink (including POF) in rolls of custom width, sold by the kilo factory-direct, with a sample before the bulk run.
Send your product type and tunnel temperature and we will propose the right material and width.
Request a shrink film quoteWhat is heat shrink film?
A film stretched during manufacture that contracts again when heated and takes the shape of the product. It is used for tight, multipack and display packing, and does nothing without heat.
What is the difference between PVC and polyethylene shrink?
PVC is clearer and glossier and shrinks at a lower temperature, suiting display packing. Polyethylene (LDPE) is tougher and more economical and is used for multipacks and cartons.
What is POF film?
A multilayer film with good clarity that stays more flexible after shrinking, better suited to irregular shapes and food packing. It is produced as one of the orderable nylon-shrink types.
