Plastic has been an essential material widely used across various industries for a long time. All plastic materials can be produced in various forms, from thin films to thick sheets. The keyword for Hida's March CMF (Color, Material, Finish) newsletter is 'Plastic Film.' This newsletter introduces the types, characteristics, and applicable designs of this material.

Definition and Characteristics of Plastic Film 

Plastic film is typically made of thin layers of polymer materials and usually has a thickness of around 0.25mm (250 micrometers). This is much thinner than plastic sheets, designed to be suitable for specific purposes. Plastic film is lightweight, cost-effective, and provides excellent chemical resistance and durability. It is easy to transport and install, waterproof, protecting products from moisture and other liquids. Additionally, its flexibility allows for various shapes and applications, and some plastics are recyclable, contributing to environmental protection.

Types of Plastic Film 

Printing Methods for Plastic Film 

Various design patterns and colors can be implemented on plastic films like PC or PET films to decorate the appearance of consumer products. Different printing methods are used on the top and bottom surfaces of the film, including silk screen printing, gravure printing, offset printing, and UV imprinting.

Silk screen printing uses a tight polyester mesh similar to silk to express designs using photosensitive material. Multiple plates are used depending on the printing frequency, providing excellent adhesion and coverage suitable for plastic films.

Printing Designs on Plastic Film

Designs that can be expressed on plastic film using various printing methods mentioned above are introduced here.

The first is the 'Iridescent' effect, resembling the rainbow effect seen on the wings of a Morpho butterfly or the feathers of a peacock. CMF utilizing light scattering effects has gained attention in various industries. Materials applied to LG laptops and Samsung's Galaxy A34 smartphones feature printed micro-patterns producing light scattering effects on plastic film. 

Hida has secured mass production technology to apply micro-patterned imprinted plastic films to various product appearances.

Secondly, the feel of real materials like wood, stone, leather, or metal can be implemented on the film. All methods including screen printing, gravure printing, offset printing, and digital printing can express designs (patterns and colors) identical to real materials and even texture on the film surface.

The mentioned product is a large display window close to 1m in length. When the display is off, the designed graphics are presented like interior objects, and when the display is on, the graphics disappear. Specially printed films inserted on the top of transparent plastic (PC) ensure proper display operation and enable implementation of various designs, including rounded side shapes, with excellent surface hardness and no discoloration, offering various design effects beyond wood.