Mylar Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Mylar® is a trade name of DuPont Teijin Films of
Hopewell, VA for biaxially-oriented
polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET)
polyester film used for its high
tensile strength,
chemical and
dimensional stability,
transparency, and
electrical insulation. A variety of
companies manufacture BOPET and other polyester films under different
trade names, but Mylar is often employed as a generic designation for these, as in "Mylar capacitor" or "Mylar balloon."
History and manufacture
Mylar was developed by DuPont in the mid-1950s. In 1960, NASA launched the Echo satellite, a 100-foot diameter balloon of metallized 0.005-inch thick Mylar® film.
Common uses for BOPET films include:
- An overlay over a map, on which additional data, or copied data, can be drawn without damaging the map
- Performance sails for sailboats
- An electrical insulating material
- As base material for magnetic tapes (audio/video tape etc.)
In manufacture, a film of molten PET is cast on a roll and subsequently stretched in and orthogonal to the direction of travel. One of its sides is microscopically smooth, while the other side contains microscopic asperities which promote adhesion of coatings and printing media.
Mylar can be aluminized, allowing reflection of up to 99% of light and heat. Like aluminium foil, aluminized Mylar has a shiny reflective side and a dull side. Mylar does not tear easily, like tin foil and aluminum foil.
Uses for Mylar
- Insulation for houses and tents in a cold environment. A sheet of mylar covers the inner wall of the house or tent, with the shiny surface facing inward. This reflects body heat back into the house or tent, warming the interior more efficiently.
- Insulation for houses and tents in a hot environment. A sheet of mylar covers the outside wall of the house or tent, with the shiny surface facing outward. This reflects the sun's heat away from the house or tent, cooling the interior more efficiently.
- Mylar emergency blankets are used to reflect a shock victim's body heat back to the patient.
- Mylar solar curtains reflect sunlight and heat away from windows.
- NASA uses five layers of mylar in spacesuits to keep astronauts warm and radiation resistant.
- Mylar balloons are used for floral arrangements and parties.
- Mylar foil is used as a mirror-like decorative surface on some book covers, T-shirts, and other flexible cloths.
- Mylar foil is, along with other plastic films, used as a dielectric in foil capacitors.
- Very thin Mylar is often used as the diaphragm material in electrostatic loudspeakers.
This is an Article on Mylar. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Mylar
