Parafilm^® M Barrier Film

Flexible, Moldable, Self-sealing Barrier to Moisture Loss

Parafilm^® M and Dispenser

Parafilm^® M is a unique self-sealing, moldable and flexible film for numerous uses in the typical laboratory including the typical electron microscope laboratory. Parafilm^® M has unique permeability properties, impressive water vapor transport properties, and is resistant to many common reagents. With the use of the special Parafilm^® M dispenser, which are sized to take either the 2" (50.8 mm) or 4" (101.6 mm) wide rolls, one can conveniently cut off uniform sized strips or squares of 2" (50.8 mm) length. The thickness of all Parafilm products is 0.005" (127µm) and although we are often asked about the availability of some other thickness, there is, at this time, no possibility for the making of the product in any other thickness. Another novel characteristic of Parafilm is the ease with which one can make a "dead fold". And as if this is not enough, Parafilm can be stretched 3 to 4 times its original length before breaking.

Parafilm:
A whole family of products Parafilm M laboratory sealing film has become so successful worldwide that new products have been introduced for specific markets such as Parafilm Budding (Grafting) Tape, Parafilm^® Florist Stem Wrap, and Floratape^®. A comparison between these different Parafilm products can be understood in a very short time period.

Laboratory:
Parafilm^® is ideal for the scientific laboratory because it is a thermoplastic, self-sealing film. It holds moisture loss to a minimum. And it offers excellent protection for the contents of broth tubes, flasks, culture tubes and petri dishes. The unique properties of the film enable it to cling around even irregular shapes and convoluted surfaces. Even a flask falling off need not necessarily result in a terrible spill and clean-up. Assuming it has been sealed properly with Parafilm^® M, the liquid contents are protected against spillage and contamination and/or evaporation.

Microscopy Laboratory:
Protect the contents of tubes, flasks and petri dishes from moisture loss with flexible, moldable Parafilm^® M the self-sealing, odorless, colorless, semi-transparent thermoplastic film that molds easily around the top of lab containers. Permeable by oxygen and CO₂. Parafilm M^® is ideal for many lab applications. For electron microscopy, use for picking up floating grids and films from liquid surfaces.

Special unique to TEM application:
Parafilm^® M makes the perfectly hydrophobic surface for transferring small amounts of reagent to a TEM grid. Dispense a single drop of reagent onto the Parafilm surface, it will form a nice non-spreading "bead" against which a grid can be "touched" to the liquid, picking up a controlled amount of liquid by the grid. Especially useful where expensive reagents are involved.

Hospitals:
Parafilm^® M makes a superior bandage cover in drainage cases. It is useful in all hospital laboratories and medical stocking areas. It is ideal when used as a tray and shelf liner to prevent slippage and breakage of bottles, containers, and instruments. Parafilm M can also be sterilized using either radiation techniques or hydrogen peroxide. But no claims are made about Parafilm being a sterile product in its as received state.

Gardening and Horticulture:
Parafilm is a unique budding tape. It forms excellent seals to the wound and protects the scion bud from rain, dust, and fog. Perhaps of even greater importance it helps to prevent the loss of moisture and the bud from drying out. Note: Consider the newest version of Parafilm for use as a budding tape.

Masking applications:
Parafilm will confirm to any surface and fill in the tightest corners. It comes up easily and leaves no residue behind on the surface being protected. It is the preferred material by many for model masking. To use in this application, the as-received Parafilm^® M is a waxy-rubbery thin substance with a release paper backing. The recommended procedure is to cut out a thin strip from either the 2" or 4" rolls and slowly stretch to about four times is original length and let is set for about one minute. This permits it to stress relax resulting in the development of a nice "tackiness" to the stretched material. This is when the thin strip is applied to the surface requiring protection and masking. Use normal finger pressure to massage it into a good adhesive situation with regard to the substrate surface. After painting, it will come back up with the gentle lift of a toothpick. And unlike a number of other masking agents, it will absolutely not leave behind a residue on the protected surface.

House plants:
Many applications for innovative activities involving house and other indoor plants.

Horticulture and general agriculture:
There has been a recent increase in the use of Parafilm M to seal the stems of certain agricultural products such as for "organic" bananas after they are cut from the plant to protect it from fungus since fungicides can not be used on products being grown under the "organic" designation.

Availability of "bulk" Parafilm:
We are sometimes asked about purchasing the waxy resin, not on already processed rolls of material but in some kind of bulk form. And the answer is simply that the product is available in the below listed four formats of the product and the manufacturing operation is such that no other sizes can be considered. Another question has to do with what is a good solvent for Parafilm so that some quantity could be dissolved. And we recommend chloroform as the best solvent for Parafilm. Ethyl ether would also work but it is even more hazardous if not also explosive. However, even for the use of chloroform, strict precautions must be taken in order to prevent exposure to the vapors.

Government Approvals:
Parafilm has never been tested, to our knowledge, for use with food and it does not have any approval for such use from the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration). We are not aware of anything in the composition of Parafilm that would be a hazard for food use, but we want to make the point that no such approval has been given for such use. For Europe, the equivalent statement is a bit more complicated. There have been a few reports of evidence that low levels of certain phytotoxins can be released at low levels, specifically butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Now having said all of that, we are told by the manufacturer that all materials used in the formulation of Parafilm M have been approved for direct food contact and in some materials, can actually quality as food additives.

It is always nice to hear that there can be new markets we can reach by providing more information. Our problem is that the only protection we have from being duplicated are trade secrets surrounding Parafilm-M. To go down the road of laying out the nature of all the impurities chips away at this protection. In my opinion, the best way to approach the purity question is that all the materials in Parafilm-M have been approved for direct food contact and some cases qualify as additives for foods. There may be cases where information can be disclosed under an secrecy agreement, but this must be taken up on a case by case basis.

Dielectric properties:
We are unaware of any data on the dielectric permittivity of Parafilm^® M. But since we do get asked this question from time to time, we would say that based on its composition, we would expect it to be similar to that of polyethylene, which has a dielectric constant of about 2.2

Temperature vs. properties:
At temperatures above 38°C, Parafilm starts to degrade and may become difficult to unroll. Signs of degradation could be the film becoming too sticky and unable to be stretched to the desired amount without breaking. Storing Parafilm at up to 49°C for short periods can be tolerated but is not recommended. But we really can't cite a specific temperature where it just can not be used any longer. The particular temperature that would apply in a specific instance would be dependent on the area being sealed and the liquid being heated in the underlying vessel. If higher temperatures are required, we would suggest that DuraSeal™ Laboratory Sealing Film be considered.

The lower temperature range of use depends on the mechanical abuse the Parafilm must endure. It can be put into liquid nitrogen without any problems so long as the Parafilm is not flexed. Like most other plastic materials, we must deal with a brittle material under dry ice and liquid nitrogen conditions. After a liquid nitrogen exposure, Parafilm will recover to normal properties when it is returned to room temperature.

Optical properties:
Parafilm M is optically translucent in the visible range. For UV exposure, we can provide a UV transmittance curve.

Do not use near open flame!
Although Parafilm^® M is a unique "waxy" material, it is nevertheless, not too different from candle wax, and is therefore flammable. It should not be used near open flames such as a bunsen burner.

Shelf life:
Parafilm^® M is quite inert, but nothing of an organic nature lasts "forever". One can expect three years without deterioration of the unique properties of Parafilm provided it is stored between 7°C and 32°C and at 50% relative humidity.

Physical properties

Pre-cut rolls

Size	SPI #	Each	In Stock
2" (5.1 cm) x 250 ft (76.2 meters)	01851-AB	$ 20.80	Yes
2" (5.1 cm) x 250 ft (76.2 meters) case of 24 rolls Not eligible for flat rate shipping programs	01851-CA	474.09	Yes
4" (10.2 cm) x 250 ft (76.2 meters)	01852-AB	34.12	Yes
4" (10.2 cm) x 250 ft (76.2 meters) case of 12 rolls Not eligible for flat rate shipping programs	01852-BC	392.21	Yes
4" (10.2 cm) x 125 ft (38.1 meters)	01853-AB	21.79	Yes
4" (10.2 cm) x 125 ft (38.1 meters) case of 12 rolls Not eligible for flat rate shipping programs	01853-BC	249.02	Yes
Single large sheet
20" x 50' (50.8 x 1524 cm) rolled in tube	01854-AB	57.53	Yes
20" x 50' (50.8 x 1524 cm) rolled in tube case of 6 rolls Not eligible for flat rate shipping programs	01854-AG	249.91	Yes

Storage conditions: Room temperature
Non-hazardous from stand point of shipping

Dispensers:

Pre-cut rolls:

(25.4 mm) and 4" (100.8 mm) wide rolls fast , safe, and easy, make possible with the smooth downward lever action. The recessed blade ensures safe, dependable use and simplified replacement. The automatic lever holds the desired cut-off length in place adding stability while dispensing.

	SPI #	Each		In Stock
Cutter/Dispenser for above pre-cut rolls	01855-AB	42.84		Yes

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Parafilm® M Barrier Film

Parafilm® M and Dispenser

Parafilm^® M Barrier Film

Parafilm^® M and Dispenser