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A twist tie is a fastener made of one or more
metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...
wire file:Sample cross-section of high tension power (pylon) line.jpg, Overhead power cabling. The conductor consists of seven strands of steel (centre, high tensile strength), surrounded by four outer layers of aluminium (high conductivity). Sample d ...
s encased in a thin strip of
paper Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, Textile, rags, poaceae, grasses, Feces#Other uses, herbivore dung, or other vegetable sources in water. Once the water is dra ...
or
plastic Plastics are a wide range of synthetic polymers, synthetic or Semisynthesis, semisynthetic materials composed primarily of Polymer, polymers. Their defining characteristic, Plasticity (physics), plasticity, allows them to be Injection moulding ...
, in such a way that it can bend and retain its shape. Wireless polymeric twist ties have also been developed.


Use

It is used to tie the openings of containers including bags, such as
garbage bag A bin bag, rubbish bag (British English), garbage bag, bin liner, trash bag (American English) or refuse sack is a disposable receptable for solid waste. These bags are useful to line the insides of waste containers to prevent the insides of th ...
s or bread bags. It is also called garden twist wire. A twist tie is used by wrapping it around the item to be fastened, then twisting the ends together. They are often included with boxes of plastic food bags or
trash bag A bin bag, rubbish bag (British English), garbage bag, bin liner, trash bag (American English) or refuse sack is a disposable receptable for solid waste. These bags are useful to line the insides of waste containers to prevent the insides of th ...
s, and are commonly available individually in pre-cut lengths, on large spools, or in perforated sheets called gangs. The outer covering can be in a variety of colors with or without printing. Plain paper, metallic paper, plastic, poly, or custom coatings are popular for different applications. The plastic, poly, or metallic paper twist ties withstand water better than the uncoated paper versions. Different sizes and strengths are used for different applications, from a small closure for a bag of bread to a large, heavy tie to hold unwieldy
garden hose A garden hose, hosepipe, or simply hose is a flexible tube used to convey water. There are a number of common attachments available for the end of the hose, such as sprayers and sprinklers (which are used to concentrate water at one point or ...
s in place. A twist tie with a broad paper covering may also be used for labeling. The wire is often made of
stainless steel Stainless steel, also known as inox, corrosion-resistant steel (CRES), or rustless steel, is an iron-based alloy that contains chromium, making it resistant to rust and corrosion. Stainless steel's resistance to corrosion comes from its chromi ...
or
galvanized steel Galvanization ( also spelled galvanisation) is the process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel or iron, to prevent rusting. The most common method is hot-dip galvanizing, in which the parts are coated by submerging them in a bath of ...
with a diameter between 19 and 31 AWG (0.2 and 0.9 mm). They were invented by Charles E. Burford in 1961.


Application

Twist ties can be applied manually. They can be reapplied several times, facilitating
reusable packaging Reusable packaging is manufactured of durable materials and is specifically designed for multiple trips and extended life. A ''reusable package'' or container is "designed for reuse without impairment of its protective function." The term returnabl ...
. Twist ties are often found in grocery stores in the United States for customers to use to secure their purchases into bags. Banner/flag style twist ties have a large portion extended out from the twist tie that allows user to write and identify PLU/BIN numbers when purchasing things like trail mix, granola, hardware, and more. Automatic and semi-automatic twist-tying equipment is also available; The US Patent Office has listed several hundred patents for automation methods.


History

Before the invention of the twist-tie, small cuts of sheep or cow intestine were used as a rubber band. Before the use of the intestinal rubber band, thin pieces of metal would be hammered into a wire-like shape. These were called wire-twisties and were used by wrapping it around the item to be fastened, then twisting the ends together. According to the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, twist ties are not allowed to hold candies together. After 1938, all licorice factories began binding their candies together with small pieces of twine or thin pieces of other licorice.


See also

*
Zip tie A cable tie (also known as a hose tie, panduit, tie wrap, wire tie, zap-straps, or zip tie) is a type of fastener for holding items together, primarily electrical cables and wires. Because of their low cost, ease of use, and binding strength, ca ...
*
Pipe cleaner A pipe cleaner, otherwise referred to as a chenille stem or furry wire is a type of brush originally intended for removing moisture and residue from smoking pipes. They can also be used for any application that calls for cleaning out small bo ...


References

{{Reflist American inventions Fasteners Packaging