Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap
Bubble wrap

Bubble wrap is a pliable transparent plastic material commonly used for packing fragile items. Regularly spaced, protruding air-filled hemispheres (bubbles) provide cushioning for fragile items.

The term is also a brand of Sealed Air Corporation (US). In 1957 two inventors named Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes were attempting to create a plastic wallpaper. Although the idea was a failure, they found that it did make for great packing material. Sealed Air Corp. was co-founded by Alfred Fielding in 1960.[1]

Some people use the name generically for similar products, often termed air bubble packing or bubble wrapping; Sealed Air denotes its product as a brand of "cushioning material".[2]

Design

The bubbles that provide the cushioning for fragile or sensitive objects are generally available in different sizes, depending on the size of the object being packed, as well as the level of cushioning protection that is needed. Multiple layers might be needed to provide shock and vibration isolation. A single layer might be used as a surface protective layer.

They can be as small as 6 millimeters (1/4 inch) in diameter, to as large as 26 millimeters (1 inch) or more, to provide added levels of shock absorption during transit. In addition to the degree of protection available from the size of the air bubbles in the plastic, the plastic material itself can offer some forms of protection for the object in question. For example, when shipping sensitive electronic parts and components, a type of bubble wrap is used that employs an anti-static plastic that dissipates static charge, thereby protecting the sensitive electronic chips from static which can damage them.

Amusement

A child playing with bubble wrap

Because bubble wrap makes a recognizable popping sound when compressed and ruptured, it can be used as a source of amusement and to alleviate stress. Acknowledging this alternative use, some websites provide a virtual bubble wrap program which displays a sheet of bubble wrap that users may pop by clicking on the bubbles[3], while the Mugen Puchipuchi is a compact electronic toy simulating bubble wrap popping.

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day is celebrated[4] on the last Monday of January.[5]

See also

References

External references

  • Brody, Aaron L.; Marsh, Kenneth S. (1997). Encyclopedia of Packaging Technology. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-06397-5. 

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Bubble Wrap — ˈBubble Wrap noun [uncountable] trademark TRANSPORT plastic with bubbles of air in it, used for protecting goods that are easily broken * * * bubble wrap UK US (also Bubble Wrap) noun [U] (also bubble pac …   Financial and business terms

  • Bubble Wrap™ — ˈbubble wrap 7 [bubble wrap] (BrE) (NAmE ˈBubble Wrap™) noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • bubble wrap — also bubble pack n [U] a sheet of plastic covered with bubbles of air, used for wrapping and protecting things …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • bubble wrap — bubble ,wrap noun uncount a sheet of plastic containing BUBBLES of air that is used for protecting things while they are being moved or mailed …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Bubble Wrap — trademark for a packaging material made of clear plastic sheets with small bubbles of air to absorb shock n. [b w ] any packaging material like this …   English World dictionary

  • Bubble Wrap — Infobox Brand logo= name=Bubble Wrap Brand type= currentowner=Sealed Air Corporation origin=flagcountry|USA discontinued= related= markets= world previousowners= trademarkregistrations= website=http://www.bubblewrap.com/Bubble Wrap is a pliable… …   Wikipedia

  • bubble wrap — a clear, bubble filled plastic material used esp. for cushioning breakable objects during shipment. * * * …   Universalium

  • bubble wrap — a clear, bubble filled plastic material used esp. for cushioning breakable objects during shipment …   Useful english dictionary

  • bubble wrap — noun A registered trademark of (US) which is used in connection with air cellular cushioning material, consisting of small spheres of air trapped in plastic, sold on long rolls for tearing off, and used as packaging for fragile items …   Wiktionary

  • bubble wrap — noun (trademark in the US) plastic packaging in sheets containing numerous small air cushions …   English new terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”