1. Silk and cotton tulle
This should be the first packaging material used when producing tea bags, but it is rarely used now. The main chemical composition of silk is protein fiber (consisting of amino acids), while cotton yarn is plant cellulose (macromolecular polysaccharides, the main component of plant cell walls). Generally, both are harmless to the human body, but their processing and packaging performance is poor. Therefore, it has not been widely promoted.
2. Filter paper fiber composite tea bag
Because filter paper or natural plant fiber has poor packaging performance, it can be combined with some synthetic polymer fibers to make packaging bags, such as heat-sealable filter paper combined with polyvinyl acetate and polyvinyl chloride copolymer fibers. For example, it is compounded with some resins to improve the resistance of the filter paper to boiling water. This type of fiber may have a relatively high health risk to the human body.
3. PET tea bags
PET is the abbreviation of polyethylene terephthalate, which is a kind of polyester fiber. PET spunbond non-woven fabric has excellent bag making and moldability as tea bag packaging. Generally, there is no leaching when soaking. PET material contains benzene ring and has relatively poor resistance to pH at high temperatures. Therefore, the brewing of certain tea leaves may not be very good, and there are certain hidden dangers. In addition, PET is derived from petroleum and is non-degradable, and random disposal will pollute the environment.
4. PA polyamide mesh
PA polyamide mesh is nylon fiber. The mesh is colorless, odorless, and has high strength. Through its transparent, high-quality heat-resistant mesh, the true material of the tea can be seen, and the food-grade nylon fiber meets food packaging hygiene standards. In terms of performance, it surpasses traditional filter paper tea bags or PET tea bags. It is a new type of tea packaging filter material. But the disadvantages are also obvious, the price is relatively high, and it cannot be degraded after being discarded, and it is not environmentally friendly.
5. PLA polylactic acid degradable mesh
PLA polylactic acid mesh made from corn starch, commonly known as "corn fiber", is a degradable material that can be decomposed into carbon dioxide and water in the soil of the natural environment. It is recognized as the most promising new generation of Continuous green environmental protection filter material. PLA fiber is biocompatible. Its monomer is lactic acid, which can participate in human metabolism and can be safely implanted into the human body, so it has no toxic side effects. At the same time, the pH value of PLA mesh cloth is weakly acidic, which has certain antibacterial and mildew resistance.
