plastlag

Plastlag is a term used in Scandinavian languages to describe a thin layer of plastic applied to a surface to provide protection, barrier properties, insulation, or a finished appearance. The word combines plast, meaning plastic, with lag, meaning layer. In practice, plastlag can refer to films, coatings, or laminates that are bonded to or deposited onto a substrate.

Plastlag materials span a wide range of polymers, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and polycarbonate, as well as specialty polymers such as polyimide for electronics. Some plastlag serve as barrier layers to reduce gas and moisture transmission (for example in packaging), while others impart UV resistance, chemical resistance, gloss, or abrasion protection. Multilayer plastlags may combine different polymers to balance properties such as strength, clarity, and barrier performance.

Common methods to produce plastlag include extrusion coating, lamination, dip or spray coating, and chemical or physical vapor deposition, depending on the substrate and desired properties. Applications are diverse: protective or decorative films on consumer products, food and pharmaceutical packaging films, laminates for furniture and flooring, protective window and glass films, and insulation or encapsulation layers in electronic devices.

Environmental considerations center on recyclability and end-of-life options. Multilayer plastlags can complicate recycling of composite materials, while single-material films or bio-based and compostable options are increasingly explored. The term plastlag is widely understood in Nordic technical literature but is not tied to a single standardized type, reflecting its use as a general descriptor for plastic surface layers.