Alu alu blister foil
Alu alu blister foil is a composite material specifically designed for high-barrier packaging of pharmaceuticals, food, and other sensitive products. Its core feature lies in the dual-layer aluminum foil structure, enhancing sealing and protective performance.
Alu alu blister foil, also known as cold forming foil, is a high-performance packaging material widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to protect sensitive medications such as tablets, capsules, and dietary supplements. Unlike traditional thermoformed blister packaging using plastic cavities, alu alu packaging utilizes aluminum foil for both the cavity and the lidding, offering superior environmental protection.
Alu alu blister foil is a specialized pharmaceutical packaging material designed to provide high-barrier protection for sensitive medications, especially those vulnerable to moisture, oxygen, or light.
Alu alu blister foil Structure and Composition
Alu alu blister foil is a multi-layer composite film, typically with the following structure:
- Outer layer: Nylon (OPA) or polyester film (25–30 microns), used to enhance mechanical strength, puncture resistance, and printability.
- Middle layer: Aluminum foil (45–75 microns, alloy 8011 or 8021), serving as the primary barrier against moisture, oxygen, and light, offering resistance to environmental influences.
- Inner layer: PVC (60 microns), used to improve rigidity and provide compatibility for sealing with the aluminum lidding foil.
This three-layer structure ensures 100% barrier against water vapor, gases, and ultraviolet radiation, making it ideal for packaging moisture-sensitive or light-sensitive drugs such as antibiotics, hormones, and biologics.
The specific structure may vary, with common configurations including:
- 25 µm OPA / 45–50 µm aluminum / 60–100 µm PVC
- 25 µm OPA / 45–50 µm aluminum / 6–8 GSM heat seal lacquer
This structure ensures deep draw forming capability and excellent barrier performance.
| Item | Description |
| Structure Type | Dual-layer aluminum foil composite structure |
| Outer Aluminum Foil | Alloy Type: 8021-O or 8079-O |
| Thickness Range: 0.04–0.075 mm | |
| Process: Cold forming | |
| Features: High ductility, good mechanical strength, formable into blister structure | |
| Inner Aluminum Foil | Alloy Type: 8011-H18 |
| Thickness Range: 0.02–0.025 mm | |
| Process: Heat sealing and direct contact with pharmaceuticals | |
| Features: High heat seal strength, good chemical stability | |
| Lamination Method | The outer aluminum foil forms the blister structure through vacuum thermoforming, and the inner aluminum foil serves as the lidding material, bonded via heat sealing technology |
| Sealing Treatment | Wider edge areas are reserved around the blister to ensure sealing integrity and barrier performance |
| Application Field | Pharmaceutical packaging, especially suitable for solid drugs (e.g., capsules, tablets) requiring high barrier, light protection, and puncture resistance |
Alu alu blister foil Specifications
- Thickness: typically from 140 µm to 160 µm
- Width: less than 700 mm
- Roll Diameter: 240 mm – 280 mm
- Core Inner Diameter: 76 mm or 152 mm
- Sealing: heat seal coating ensures firm sealing
- Heat Sealing Temperature: adjusted according to adhesive layer (e.g., VC coating), typically 120–180℃
- Barrier Performance: Water vapor transmission rate ≤0.1g/(m²·24h), oxygen transmission rate ≤0.5cm³/(m²·24h·0.1MPa)
Alu alu blister foil Advantages
| Features | Description |
| Excellent Barrier Performance | Alu alu blister foil provides excellent barrier performance, effectively isolating moisture, oxygen, light, and other gases. This high-level protection makes it especially important for pharmaceutical packaging, particularly for sensitive drugs such as vitamins, vaccines, and biologics. By preventing external factors from affecting the drug, Alu alu blister foil helps maintain the stability of the medicine, ensuring its efficacy throughout its shelf life. |
| Tamper-Evidence | Alu alu blister foil features a robust design that effectively prevents tampering, ensuring the integrity of the product. Its structure is resistant to tearing and damage, and consumers can easily recognize if the packaging has been opened or tampered with by examining the packaging's appearance. This tamper-evident feature is crucial for ensuring drug quality and safety, especially in preventing illegal theft and counterfeit products. |
| Extended Shelf Life | The excellent barrier performance of Alu alu blister foil helps extend the shelf life of medications. Its efficient isolation of moisture, oxygen, and light reduces chemical and physical changes in the drug due to external environmental fluctuations. Whether in ambient or refrigerated conditions, Alu alu blister foil provides continuous protection, ensuring the drug retains its efficacy during long-term storage. |
| Sterility Safety | Alu alu blister foil is produced under controlled conditions to ensure the packaging material meets strict medical standards and sterility requirements. Through advanced production technology, Alu alu blister foil prevents external contamination, ensuring the sterility of the medication during the packaging process. This makes it an indispensable packaging material in the medical and pharmaceutical industries, particularly when drugs come into contact with human health, where safety and sterility are paramount. |
| Child Safety | Alu alu blister foil is designed with child safety in mind, requiring a considerable amount of force to open. This design effectively reduces the risk of children accidentally ingesting medications, making it an ideal choice for household medication packaging. By increasing the difficulty of opening, Alu alu blister foil offers additional safety protection for family medications. |
| Heat Stability | Alu alu blister foil possesses excellent heat stability, capable of withstanding temperature fluctuations that may occur during storage and transportation. Whether in extreme cold or high-temperature environments, Alu alu blister foil maintains its barrier performance and integrity, ensuring that medications remain undamaged in various climatic conditions. This makes it particularly suitable for global transportation and long-term storage requirements. |
| Customizability | Alu alu blister foil offers highly customizable options, with a width of up to 970mm, and can be printed and designed with anti-counterfeiting features according to customer requirements. This makes it not only functional but also capable of meeting brand marketing and product security needs. Through customized packaging designs, Alu alu blister foil helps brands create a unique appearance while enhancing consumer trust in the product's safety. |
Alu alu blister foil Applications
Alu alu blister foil is highly suitable for packaging the following:
- Highly hygroscopic or light-sensitive drugs
- Nutritional supplements containing active ingredients like vitamins and minerals
- Medical devices requiring sterile packaging
It is widely used in packaging for biologics, vaccines, and other drugs requiring a high level of protection.
- Pharmaceuticals: inner packaging for tablets, capsules, and hygroscopic drugs (e.g., vaccines, probiotics).
- High-speed production: can be used with automated blister packaging machines for large-scale production.
Advantages Over Alu-PVC Packaging
| Aspect | Alu-Alu Foil | Alu-PVC Foil |
| Barrier Performance | 100% protection against moisture/O₂ | Moderate barrier, prone to degradation |
| Visibility | Opaque (no visual inspection) | Transparent PVC allows product viewing |
| Cost | Higher due to aluminum content | Lower, using PVC as base material |
| Environmental Impact | Limited recyclability (multi-layer) | PVC is non-biodegradable but recyclable |
Composition of Alu Alu Blister Foil
- Layer Structure: Typically composed of two layers of aluminum foil (alu alu), which block moisture, light, and oxygen.
- Thickness: Common thickness range for each layer is 20µm to 50µm, depending on specific applications and requirements.
Physical Properties of Alu Alu Blister Foil
- Tensile Strength: High tensile strength to withstand stress during packaging and handling.
- Sealing Temperature: Requires specific temperature settings for effective sealing, typically around 130°C to 180°C.
- Oxygen and Moisture Barrier: Excellent barrier properties to prevent moisture and oxygen ingress, extending product shelf life.
Chemical Properties of Alu Alu Blister Foil
- Compatibility: Chemically inert, suitable for various pharmaceuticals and food products.
- Resilience: Resistant to a variety of substances, including acids and bases.
Performance Characteristics of Alu Alu Blister Foil
- Formability: Easily shaped into various forms, suitable for different types of products.
- Seal Integrity: Provides a strong seal, minimizing the risk of contamination and product degradation.
Alu alu blister foil Manufacturing Process
Alu alu foil is produced using a cold forming process, which is a room temperature process that presses laminated materials into molds without the need for heating. The key steps include:
- Lamination: Using adhesives to bond the OPA, aluminum, and PVC layers together.
- Printing: Printing optional branding or security information on the OPA layer.
- Curing and Cutting: Ensuring dimensional stability and preparing the roll stock.
Unlike thermoforming (used for Alu-PVC packaging), cold forming prevents material stress and maintains barrier integrity.
Alu alu blister foil Limitations
- Higher production cost: The use of aluminum and specialized cold forming equipment increases the cost.
- Recycling challenges: The multi-layer structure makes recycling more complex compared to single-material aluminum foil.
- Limited flexibility: Compared to thermoformed PVC, it has less adaptability to irregularly shaped products.
Alu alu blister foil is an indispensable material for highly sensitive drugs, offering unparalleled protection and meeting global safety standards. While Alu alu blister foil is more expensive than Alu-PVC blister foil, its barrier and tamper-evident features make it more suitable for critical healthcare applications.
Alu Alu Cold Forming Foil
Alu alu cold forming foil is a special aluminum foil used in blister packaging production, specifically designed to form seals that protect sensitive products (such as pharmaceuticals) from environmental factors.
Alu alu cold forming foil is specifically designed for cold-formed blisters. It is not heat-formed; instead, it is shaped under pressure, making it an ideal choice for sensitive medications. The aluminum foil provides robust protection without the need for high temperatures, making it particularly suitable for temperature-sensitive drugs.
Features:
- Cold Forming Process: Unlike traditional blister packaging that typically uses PVC or PET, cold forming foil is entirely made of aluminum, allowing for deeper and more complex shapes.
- No Plastic Layer: This foil does not require a plastic layer, enhancing its barrier performance.
- Outstanding Barrier Performance: Provides comprehensive protection against all environmental factors.
- Non-Reactive: Safe for direct contact with pharmaceuticals.
- Design Versatility: Customizable according to different blister designs and cavity depths.
Applications:
Mainly used for packaging solid dosage pharmaceuticals (tablets, capsules) that are sensitive to moisture and oxygen.
HC Aluminum Blister Packaging
HC Aluminum's aluminum blister packaging is widely used for pharmaceuticals, food, and consumer products. It provides a protective barrier to extend the product's shelf life.
Components:
Blister: Pre-formed cavities made from aluminum foil, typically used to hold products.
Seal Foil: A layer that seals the blister, providing an airtight and moisture barrier.
Advantages:
- Tamper-Evident: Aluminum foil offers visible tamper-proof features.
- Product Protection: Protects products from environmental factors such as light, moisture, and oxygen.
- Convenience: Easy to use and provides portion control for consumers.
