What is the difference between poly and polyester strapping

It is how they are manufactured that makes the difference. Polypropylene strapping is considered a light to medium duty strap. This economical option is best for light duty palletizing, unitizing, carton closing and bundling.

It is used in all semi-automatic strappers and nearly all standalone arch machines It is manufactured in various thicknesses, widths and polymer variations. Often it is embossed or printed. Polypropylene strapping is most commonly used. It is light and easy to apply and recycle. It has high elongation and elongation recovery, but low retained tension. If the bundle is something that can take up the slack, then this is not such a huge issue. If however the bundle is a solid brick such as a block of concrete, the slack will be problematic.

Additionally, the sun and its UV rays are an enemy to polypropylene strapping. UV degradation can occur is the bundle is left outside in the sun. If the polypropylene strapping has been treated with UV inhibitors, then the strapping will fare better in the sun. Polypropylene strapping can be printed which has marketing advantages for companies. The printing can also offer security. It is available in manual and machine grade.

It can be sealed with buckles, seals, heat seals or friction welds. Polypropylene can be used for loads up to pounds, has moderate settling, is light weight.

Specific strength is defined as a material's strength force per unit area at failure divided by its density. The wax is used to better transmit the tension around the bundle and for use with certain types of tensioners.

While it is still the preferred alternative in some industries, the market is declining largely because it is dangerous to work with presenting sharp edges and difficult to recycle. But, common applications still include steel coils, bundles of metal, baling wire, bricks and pavers, and roll end-binding.

Polypropylene is an economical material designed for light to medium duty unitizing, palletizing, and bundling. It is available in various widths, thicknesses, and polymer variations e. This product offers higher elongation but tends to have an irrecoverable dead stretch with constant stress.

What is not generally known to end users is that poly strapping will lose about 50 percent of the applied tension within one hour.

This tension loss is accelerated with increases in ambient temperature. Poly strapping can be printed, offering security and marketing advantages to the strapped product. Polyester strapping is the most rigid option, offering the strongest hold of any plastic strapping, and is used as a viable alternative to steel in many industries.

Polyester provides excellent retained tension on rigid loads and its excellent recovery properties help a load absorb impact without strap breakage. It also retains tension over a longer period of time. Eye protection is required even though plastic strapping may not be perceived to be as sharp as steel strapping, it still can cause serious cuts or even blindness.

Place one hand on one side of the poly strapping to be cut. With solid footing, also place your body in front of your hand holding down the strap and away from the free side of the strapping material. When the poly strapping is cut, the free side will fall away from you. AAR stands for the Association of American Railroads, an organization that independently test strapping for rail car packaging.

There are two types of polyester strapping approved for seal-less friction weld or heat seal closure only. Several of our brick polyester straps are AAR approved for closed rail car shipping and several of our polyester lumber straps are AAR approved for open rail car shipping.

We also have a strap AAR approved for tomato paste bins. AAR approved strapping can easily be identified by the required printing at a maximum of every five feet. Since all brink and lumber are not transported by rail car, AAR strapping may not be required in all instances. Are Material Safety Data Sheets available for plastic strapping?

What are the general plastic strapping specifications to remember? One can often easily identify and cross reference plastic strapping by the manufacturer's product code. If the product code is not available then as much of the following information as possible needs to be collected: - Physical attributes of the coil such as coil face and core inside diameter - Product's width, finish, footage, thickness, color, and break strength are other physical references needed for proper identification.

What is the joint strength of plastic strap with a heat seal verses a friction weld? Is strap thickness a reliable indication of the strap strength? Not always, as some straps are heavily embossed which increases thickness but reduces strength. Strength depends on a number of factors so be sure to read the product specifications provided by the manufacturer. Can the same hand tools that use polypropylene strapping be used for polyester strapping?

No, not always, some tools will handle both products efficiently while others will not. It is always best to read and understand the manufacturer's manual or specifications.

Will hand grade straps work in automatic strapping machines?