Alu-PVC Blister Packaging

Alu-PVC blister packaging is a widely used packaging form in the pharmaceutical industry. It consists of a combination of transparent PVC film and aluminum foil. This design aims to provide optimal protection for the medication, ensuring its stability and effectiveness during storage, transportation, and use.

Alu-PVC blister packaging is a commonly used pharmaceutical packaging solution that combines aluminum (Alu) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials. It offers cost-effectiveness and moderate protective performance, making it suitable for products that do not require extremely high barrier protection.

Alu-plastic blister packaging is a sealed packaging form composed of aluminum foil and plastic materials, mainly used for the individual sealed packaging of solid products such as pharmaceuticals and food.

Alu-PVC blister packaging is a packaging method widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for solid oral dosage forms such as tablets and capsules.

Alu-PVC Blister Packaging Composition

• PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Base Film: This transparent plastic film is thermoformed to create cavities for containing the product. It ensures the structural integrity of the product and provides clear visibility of the contents.
• Aluminum Foil Lid: This layer acts as a barrier against moisture, light, and oxygen, protecting the product from environmental factors that may affect its stability and efficacy. (The cover foil is heat-sealed to the PVC base layer to provide moisture and oxygen resistance.)

Alu-PVC Blister Packaging Material Characteristics and Selection

• Aluminum Foil: Must have high purity (complying with pharmaceutical hygiene standards), ductility (O temper), and resistance to stress concentration.
• Plastic Base Material: Must meet requirements for transparency, mechanical strength (such as tear resistance), and barrier properties. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is most commonly used due to its low cost and ease of processing, while composite materials (such as PVC/PVDC) can enhance barrier properties.

Alu-PVC Blister Packaging Aluminum Foil Alloy Selection

The most commonly used aluminum foil alloys in Alu-PVC blister packaging are 8011, 8021, and 1235. These alloys provide good sealing and corrosion resistance, making them suitable for various types of drug packaging. Choosing the right aluminum foil alloy, along with its thickness and surface treatment, can effectively protect the drugs and ensure their quality and safety during transport and storage.

• 8011 Aluminum Alloy: Widely used in blister packaging for pharmaceuticals, food, and health products, especially suitable for packaging with higher strength requirements.
• 8021 Aluminum Alloy: Mainly used for packaging drugs that are particularly sensitive to moisture, oxygen, and light, such as some high-efficiency drugs, hormones, etc.

Alu-PVC Blister Packaging Aluminum Foil Thickness Selection

Alu-PVC Blister Packaging Aluminum Foil Layer Surface Treatment

Alu-PVC Blister Packaging Features

Toughness and Flexibility: The PVC film itself has good flexibility and strength, allowing the blister packaging to provide stable protection while being easy to handle and use. The addition of the aluminum foil layer further enhances the mechanical properties of the packaging.

Moisture and Oxidation Protection: The aluminum foil layer plays a critical protective role in the packaging. The aluminum foil has good barrier properties against water vapor, oxygen, and light, making blister packaging ideal for sensitive medications (such as drugs with active ingredients, vitamins, supplements, etc.).

Transparency and Visibility: The transparency of the PVC film allows consumers to easily see the appearance of the medication, its quantity, and whether the packaging is intact, making it convenient for drug identification and use.

Safety and Convenience: The aluminum foil seal can be easily torn open to access the medication, providing convenience to consumers. Additionally, the aluminum foil layer provides extra safety by preventing tampering or contamination of the drug.

Advantages of Alu-PVC Blister Packaging

• Safety: Individually sealed units reduce the risk of contamination and are only opened at the time of use.
• Convenience: Compact blister sizes (e.g., 35mm×10mm to 78mm×5mm) make them easy to carry and allow for precise dosage control.
• Versatility: Suitable for various solid dosage forms such as tablets, capsules, and suppositories, and supports customized arrangements (each blister can hold 1~3 units).
• Protection: The aluminum foil effectively blocks moisture, light, and oxygen, preserving product integrity.
• Visibility: The transparent PVC film allows consumers to view the product, aiding in identification and enhancing consumer confidence.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to other packaging methods, Alu-PVC blister packaging is relatively inexpensive and suitable for mass production.
• Customization: The packaging can be tailored in terms of size, shape, and design to meet specific product requirements.
• Flexibility: PVC can be molded into various shapes and sizes to accommodate different product geometries.
• Moderate Barrier: The aluminum lid provides reasonable moisture and light protection, though it is less robust than Alu-Alu packaging.

Applications of Alu-PVC Blister Packaging

Alu-PVC blister packaging is primarily used in the pharmaceutical industry:

• Pharmaceuticals: Used for packaging tablets and capsules, especially non-light-sensitive tablets (e.g., paracetamol) and capsules that do not require extremely high barrier protection.
• Consumer Goods: Due to its durability and transparency, also used for batteries, cosmetics, and small electronic products.
• Supplements: Non-light-sensitive vitamins and probiotics.

Key Production Steps of Alu-PVC Blister Packaging

The production of Alu-PVC blister packs involves several critical steps:

• Thermoforming: The PVC film is heated and formed into cavities that match the shape and size of the product.
• Filling: The product (such as tablets or capsules) is placed into the formed cavities.
• Sealing: The aluminum foil is placed over the filled cavities and sealed, typically using heat and pressure to ensure a secure seal.
• Cutting and Packaging: The sealed blister strips are cut into individual packages, ready for distribution.

Comparison with Alu-Alu Packaging

Limitations of Alu-PVC Blister Packaging

• Barrier Weakness: Compared to Alu-Alu packaging, PVC has lower moisture and oxygen barrier properties, making it unsuitable for highly sensitive medications such as effervescent tablets.
• Environmental Issues: PVC is non-biodegradable, and its composite structure with aluminum poses challenges for recycling.
• Heat Sensitivity: The permeability of PVC increases with temperature, which may affect product stability in hot climates.

Alu-PVC blister packaging is an ideal choice for cost-sensitive applications that require moderate protection and visual appeal. While it is not as impermeable as Alu-Alu blister packaging, its versatility and affordability make it a mainstream option in the pharmaceutical and consumer goods sectors.