Home >> Products >> Industrial Specialized Testing >> Light Industry >> Thermal Shrinkage Tester, Film heat shrinkage tester
Thermal Shrinkage Tester, Film heat shrinkage tester

Thermal Shrinkage Tester, Film heat shrinkage tester

Model: UT2107B; ASTM D2732, ISO 11501, GB/T 13519

Film Heat Shrink Tester – Thermal Shrinkage Test Equipment for Plastic Packaging Materials

The professional film heat shrink tester is precision lab equipment engineered to evaluate thermal shrinkage characteristics and thermal dimensional stability of diverse raw materials, including plastic films, pharmaceutical PVC sheets, heat shrink tubing, and backing panels. Testing is performed inside liquid medium under adjustable temperature settings to replicate real-world high-temperature service conditions.

By simulating actual heated working environments, this shrink testing machine accurately measures critical indicators: thermal shrinkage ratio, thermal shrink force and cold shrink force for complete material performance assessment. Fully compliant with international testing standards ASTM D2732 and ISO 11501, this shrink tester serves quality control labs, packaging factories, printing manufacturers and material R&D institutions across industries.


Key words: Film heat shrink tester/ thermal shrinkage test equipment, plastic film dimensional stability tester, heat shrink tube shrinkage rate test, pharmaceutical PVC sheet testing, ASTM D2732 shrink test, ISO 11501 thermal shrinkage machine. 


General introduction

UT2107B Film Heat Shrink Tester – Thermal Shrinkage Test Equipment for Plastic Packaging Materials

The professional film heat shrink tester is precision lab equipment engineered to evaluate thermal shrinkage characteristics and thermal dimensional stability of diverse raw materials, including plastic films, pharmaceutical PVC sheets, heat shrink tubing, and backing panels. Testing is performed inside liquid medium under adjustable temperature settings to replicate real-world high-temperature service conditions.

By simulating actual heated working environments, this shrink testing machine accurately measures critical indicators: thermal shrinkage ratio, thermal shrink force and cold shrink force for complete material performance assessment. Fully compliant with international testing standards ASTM D2732 and ISO 11501, this shrink tester serves quality control labs, packaging factories, printing manufacturers and material R&D institutions across industries.


The device uses microcomputer control, with an LCD display, PVC operation panel, and menu-style interface. It features digital P.I.D temperature control and liquid medium heating, which quickly reaches the set temperature and effectively avoids temperature fluctuations, providing a stable testing environment. The system automatically times tests and comes with standard sample-holding film racks. The testing principle involves precisely controlling the temperature of the heat transfer oil in the heating tank, cutting the sample to a set size, immersing it in the tank for a certain time, then cooling it and measuring its size to calculate the shrinkage rate. Technical specs usually include sample size ≤140 mm×140 mm, temperature range from room temperature to 200℃, and temperature control accuracy of ±0.3℃. Standards followed include GB/T 13519, ASTM D2732, and ISO 11501.

Principle: 

Cut a 100×100mm standard specimen and mark the vertical MD and transverse TD reference lengths L₀;

The silicone oil/glycerin constant temperature chamber is precisely temperature-controlled, with samples placed on a double-layer metal grid to ensure free shrinkage without external force;

Immerse in the medium at the set temperature and hold for the specified time, remove and cool to room temperature, and measure the shrinkage length L₁;

Formula automatically calculates shrinkage rate:

S={(L0-L1)/L0}×100%

S = Heat shrinkage; L₀ = length of the marking before heating; L₁ = length after shrinkage and cooling


Advanced model UT2107E Force-Displacement Integrated Heat Shrink Performance Tester (High-End Version, Shrinkage Rate & Shrinkage Force) designed according to GB/T 34848 and ISO 14616, equipped with force/displacement sensors, it can record shrink tension and shrink curves in real time throughout the process, used for high-end POF and cross-linked film research and arbitration testing.


Key words: Film heat shrink tester/ thermal shrinkage test equipment, plastic film dimensional stability tester, heat shrink tube shrinkage rate test, pharmaceutical PVC sheet testing, ASTM D2732 shrink test, ISO 11501 thermal shrinkage machine. 

Key Features

  • Main features
  • Working Principle and Test Method
  • How it works
  • Application
  • Standard

The film shrinkage tester uses microcomputer control, equipped with an LCD screen and a PVC operation panel, providing a menu interface for easy and quick operation. It uses a liquid medium (such as an oil bath) heating method to provide a stable testing environment. Digital P.I.D temperature control technology is used to quickly reach the set temperature and effectively suppress temperature fluctuations, with high temperature accuracy (e.g., ±0.3℃). The system has an automatic timing function to ensure the accuracy of test data. It comes with a standard sample-holding net frame to ensure smooth testing.

Some models are equipped with high-precision force sensors and displacement sensors, allowing simultaneous quantitative measurement of shrinkage force, cold shrink force, and shrinkage rate. The instrument is compact and lightweight (commonly 14-24 kg), making it easy to move and place.


1. The digital P.I.D temperature control technology can not only quickly reach the set temperature but also effectively prevent temperature fluctuations.

2. Heating with liquid medium provides a stable testing environment.

3. The system automatically times tests, ensuring accurate test data.

4. Microcomputer control, LCD display, PVC control panel, and menu-style interface make operation quick and easy for users.

5. Equipped with standard sample-holding film nets to ensure smooth testing.

The working principle of the film shrinkage tester is to simulate the material's shrinkage process under heat by accurately controlling the temperature of the heat-transfer oil (or other liquid medium) in the heating tank. The cut samples are placed into the heating tank and heated under preset temperature and time conditions. As the samples shrink from the heat, they are removed after the set time, cooled to room temperature, and their dimensional changes are measured to calculate the thermal shrinkage rate.


There are mainly two standard methods for testing the heat-shrink performance of films. 

The first is the liquid immersion method, represented by ASTM D2732 "Standard Test Method for Free Linear Shrinkage of Plastic Film and Sheeting," where samples are immersed in a liquid bath (like an oil bath) at a set temperature to shrink freely. 

The second is the hot air oven method, represented by GB/T 13519 "Polyethylene Heat Shrinkable Film for Packaging," where samples are placed on a stainless steel plate in a forced-air oven for heating tests. The core difference between the two methods is the heating medium.

The general testing process usually includes the following steps: sample preparation, cutting samples to the specified dimensions along the longitudinal and transverse directions of the material (e.g., ≤140 mm×140 mm), and marking measurement reference lines on the sample surface. Equipment preheating, heating the instrument to the preset test temperature and maintaining stability. 

Sample clamping, placing the sample flat into the special sample-holding net frame, ensuring it can shrink freely in the liquid medium. 

Parameter setting, setting the test temperature (room temperature to 200℃) and heating time on the instrument. 

Heating test, quickly immersing the clamped sample into the constant-temperature liquid medium, with the system automatically starting the timing. 

Cooling measurement, taking out the sample after the set time, immersing it in room-temperature medium, or letting it cool naturally to room temperature. 

Calculate shrinkage, measuring the dimensions of the shrunk sample and calculating the longitudinal and transverse thermal shrinkage rates by comparing with the original dimensions.


Industry Application Scenarios:

1. Heat Shrink Film Manufacturers: Perform online spot checks on the film's longitudinal and transverse shrinkage rates and adjust the blown film process and degree of cross-linking.

2. Food and Beverage Packaging: Test PE shrink wrap on packs of bottled water or cans to prevent loose packaging or bursting film.

3. Personal Care, Electronics, Pharmaceuticals: Inspect incoming POF cross-linked film and PVC shrink wrap for medicine boxes.

4. Material R&D Labs: Develop low-temperature shrink films and high-shrink specialty films, and test shrinkage stress curves.

5. Quality Inspection Institutes & Third-Party Testing Agencies: Issue compliant test reports to meet national standards and foreign trade ASTM/ISO standards.


ASTM D2732 Standard Test Method for Unrestrained Linear Thermal Shrinkage of Plastic Film and Sheeting

GB/T 13519 Polyethylene heat-shrinkable film for packaging applications

ISO 11501 Plastics Film and sheeting Determination of dimensional change on heating

GB/T 12027 Plastics--Film and sheeting--Determination of dimensional change on heating

ES 4395 Plastics-Film and sheeting - determination of dimensional change on heating.


Main Technical Specification

Sample size≤140 mm × 140 mm
Temperature rangeRoom temperature to 200°C
Temperature control accuracy±0.3°C
Overall dimension(mm)440 mm (L) × 370 mm (W) × 310 mm (H)
Net Weight24kg


Accessories

Thermal Shrinkage Tester, Film heat shrinkage tester

Standard

ISO 13636 Non-oriented PET Films sheeting test requirement (APET)

ISO 13636 specifies requirements anf test methods for non-oriented PET (APET) sheets — made from virgin, recycled, or combined PET, thickness < 2.0 mm. It explicitly excludes foamed sheets and shrinkable films (those are covered elsewhere, e.g. biaxially oriented PET in ISO 15988). The mandatory performance tests including Tensile stress at yield, Heat shrinkage, Oxygen transmission rate (OTR), haze value, Intrinsic viscosity (IV).

ISO 15988 Biaxial stretch PET films test methods details

ISO 15988 specifies requirements for biaxially oriented transparent PET (BOPET) films, mainly used for packaging, either alone or as a laminated layer with other films. The main test stipualted in this standard include tensile strength and strain, Dimensional change on heating, Oxygen transmission coefficient, Water vapour transmission coefficient, Haze, Wetting tension, thickness etc., 

ISO 15987 Biaxially oriented nylon films tensile expansion testing methods

ISO 15987 specifies classification, mandatory visual, dimensional, mechanical, barrier, optical, surface energy, and food contact safety requirements for transparent BOPA film, supplied in roll form, either used standalone or laminated with PE, CPP, PET, aluminium foil for multi-layer packaging structures. The test stipulated in ISO 15987 mainly include, tensile strength & tensile strain at break, Oxygen transmission coefficient, Dimensional change on heating, Haze, Wetting tension etc., 

ISO 17555 BOPP films biaxial stretch testing methods

ISO 17555 applies to packaging-grade BOPP films containing ≥95% polypropylene resin; usable as single-layer film or laminates paired with other plastic substrates. The test stipulated in ISO 17555 mainly include, tensile strength & strain at break, Dimensional change on heating (thermal shrinkage), Coefficient of water vapour transmission, Haze, Wetting tension etc., 

Require More Customized Solutions?

We offer customization to meet your specific needs. Our expert team will collaborate with you to develop the perfect product for you
Customize Now

Beijing United Test Co., Ltd.