Shrink Wrap FAQs: Mil Thickness, Color, Type

WHAT THICKNESS DO I NEED?

Not sure what mil thickness means or what mil thickness is right for your application?

A mil is a unit of measurement used to determine thickness. 1mil is equal to .001 (1/1000) inch. All of Dr. Shrink’s shrink wrap material is made with 100% virgin resin, guaranteeing true mil thickness and consistency on each roll of shrink wrap.

6-mil—is our thinnest shrink wrap and is used on smaller items such as boats, shed frames, pallets, and machinery that will be stored rather than transported.

7-mil—is the standard thickness for shrink wrapping boats in snow load areas, for light construction jobs and for medium sized machinery that will be transported. Also available in one Flame Retardant size of 26′ x 160′.

8-mil/8.5-mil—is an excellent thickness for covering large boats, shrink wrapping large building frames, and for wrapping large equipment with sharp protrusions for transportation or storage.

9-mil—is perfect for wrapping machinery, is very durable and works well for making containments and wrapping scaffolding. Also available in two Flame Retardant sizes of 26′ x 62′ and 32′ x 70′.

10-mil—is a versatile thickness which is excellent for wrapping large sections of scaffolding, shrink wrapping large products for on deck ocean freight, and for covering odd shaped machinery for storage or transportation.

12-mil—is our thickest shrink wrap and is available with or without Flame Retardant additives. All of our premium FR Shrink Wrap meets, or exceeds, NFPA 701 specifications for extinguishing itself. Flame Retardant Shrink Wrap is required for some scaffolding jobs and always on government bids where people will be working under the material. Standard 12-mil shrink wrap is available in 20′ x 100′ or 40′ x 100′. Flame Retardant 12-mil sizes are 32′ x 70′ and 40′ x 60′.

All of our premium shrink wrap is made of 100% virgin resin materials with maximum UV inhibitors for long term outside usage. We offer several mil thicknesses for different types of applications.  All of our shrink wrap is recyclable. It is a #4 Low Density Polyethylene Film.

If you have a question that we haven’t answered, call us toll free at 800-968-5147 or email drshrink@dr-shrink.com for immediate assistance.

WHAT COLOR SHOULD I CHOOSE?

One of the most common questions asked at Dr. Shrink is, “What is the difference between the white material, the blue material and the clear material?”

WHITE SHRINK WRAP is the color that works best for most shrink wrapping applications. We have a large selection of mil thicknesses and widths to cover almost any item. White reflects heat and stays tight in all weather conditions which makes it an ideal transportation cover. In addition, as the white reflects heat it keeps whatever is underneath the shrink wrap more of a constant temperature, thereby minimizing condensation and moisture build up. White shrink wrap comes in 6, 7, 8, 8.5, 9, 10, and 12-mil thicknesses.

 
 

BLUE SHRINK WRAP is generally used in snow-load areas as it absorbs heat which helps any accumulated snow to slide off the shrink wrap covers. Its heat absorption capabilities make it a less than desirable product for warm climates where it can overheat the products under the covers. It will also “loosen up” in hot conditions which means it can move and chafe on itself and is not good for use as a transportation cover. Blue Shrink Wrap comes in 6 and 7-mil thicknesses.

 
 
 

CLEAR SHRINK WRAP is used to cover greenhouses, make boat covers for brokerage boats and live aboards, etc. The advantage of clear is that you can see through it, the disadvantage is that sun penetrating the covers can accentuate the buildup of moisture under the cover. Care must be taken to ventilate clear shrink wrap covers or put desiccants under the shrink wrap. Clear comes in 6 and 7-mil thicknesses.

 

All of our premium shrink wrap is made of 100% virgin resin materials with maximum UV inhibitors for long term outside usage. We offer several mil thicknesses for different types of applications. All of our shrink wrap is recyclable. It is a #4 Low Density Polyethylene Film.

If you have a question that we haven’t answered, call us toll free at 800-968-5147 or email drshrink@dr-shrink.com for immediate assistance.

WHAT MATERIAL IS BEST FOR ME?

We offer specialty shrink wrap including Flame Retardant and Volatile Corrosion Inhibiting (VCI) shrink wrap.

FLAME RETARDANT SHRINK WRAP contains specialized additives that will extinguish the wrap within 4 seconds of having the source of ignition removed from the material. This makes it an ideal shrink wrap for scaffolding, shipyards, factories, containments, etc. where people will be working under the material. All of our Flame Retardant Shrink Wrap meets, or exceeds, NFPA 701 Specification. Flame Retardant Shrink Wrap comes in 7, 9 and 12-mil thicknesses.

 
 
 

VCI SHRINK WRAP is a “Volatile Corrosion Inhibiting” shrink wrap. It contains additives that will prevent corrosion on both ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and electrical connections, for periods up to 2 years. VCI Shrink Wrap comes in 7-mil white.

 

 

 

All of our premium shrink wrap is made of 100% virgin resin materials with maximum UV inhibitors for long term outside usage. We offer several mil thicknesses for different types of applications. All of our shrink wrap is recyclable. It is a #4 Low Density Polyethylene Film.

If you have a question that we haven’t answered, call us toll free at 800-968-5147 or email drshrink@dr-shrink.com for immediate assistance.

Are you looking for material safety information or specifications?  Visit our page for SDS and Material Info.