Many people don’t give thought to how shrink wrap works or how it wraps a package in the first place.
Shrink wrap requires the manipulation of molecules; polymers are long molecules found in plastic where they are usually tangled and random. When those polymers are made into plastic film for the purpose of shrink wrapping, the molecules are stretched out so they are almost straight.
The plastic film is then placed around whatever is to be wrapped and then heat is added. After the heat has been applied to the film, the film shrinks as the polymers return to their natural tangled state. A PVC film has the ability to shrink as much as 50% of its original size.
Benefits of shrink wrapping
The benefits of shrink wrapping come with making a package tamper-proof and keeps moisture out and light exposure. Shrink wrapping is a good packaging option for CDs and DVDs as you can still see the cover. The benefits for crafters are many: you can make your own gift baskets or crafts and dress them up with a coloured shrink wrap while protecting them and keeping them clean until they are given away.