Mylar

Description

[DuPont Teijin Films, Hopewell, VA] A registered trademark for a series of optically clear, colorless, thermoplastic polyester films. First introduced in the early 1950s, Mylar® is composed of polyethylene terephthalate. It is a biaxially oriented film that is chemically inert and dimensionally stable. Mylar is an effective barrier to moisture, oil and grease. It has been used for lamination, coating, embossing, printing, and dyeing. Mylar has been also used for heat seal packaging. Mylar® type D sheets are uncoated and have been used for enclosing photographs and coins as well as for making photocorners.

Note: Mylar® type D sheets were discontinued September 2001 by DuPont.

Synonyms and Related Terms

PET; Mylar [Du Pont]; Hostaphan [Mitsubishi]; Claryl [Toray]; 3M Polyester [3M]; Questar {Filmquest]; polyesterr; polyethylene terephthalate; tereftalato de polietileno (Esp.)

Similar products: Melinex type 516

Personal Risks

Difficult to ignite. Burns with a shiny, yellow-orange, sooty flame. Self-extinguishing.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Resistant to cold acids, weak alkalis, bleach and most organic solvents. Degrades in strong alkalis, strong hot acids, cresol.

For a 1 mil film: Oxygen transmission = 19-32 ml/m2d; Water vapor transmission = 45-60 g/m2d;

Melting Point	250-260
Density	1.38
Refractive Index	1.54, 1.72

Rolls of Mylar film

Additional Information

DuPont Teijin: [Films Database]

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• Rachael Perkins Arenstein, Lisa Goldberg, and Eugenie Milroy, ‘Support and Rehousing for Collection Storage’ In ‘Preventive Conservation: Collection Storage’ Lisa Elkin and Christopher A. Norris (eds.), Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, New York. 2019.

• G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 625

• Marjorie Shelley, The Care and Handling of Art Objects, The Metropolitan Museum, New York, 1987

• Caring for your Collections, Arthur W Schulz (ed.), Harry N. Abrams, Inc. , New York, 1992

• Pam Hatchfield, Pollutants in the Museum Environment, Archetype Press, London, 2002

• Marjory L. Joseph, Introductory Textile Science, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Fort Worth, TX, 1986

• Identification of Textile Materials, The Textile Institute, Manchester, England, 1985

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mylar (Accessed Sept. 10, 2005)

• Teri Hensick, contributed information, 1998MWG