Aluminum foil is a key material in pharmaceutical packaging, providing a secure barrier for the transportation and storage of medications. Its unique properties make it an ideal choice for protecting sensitive drugs from light, moisture, gases, and bacteria, ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of the medication.
The excellent barrier properties of aluminum foil, along with its ability to be sterilized and form various types of packaging, make it an indispensable material in the pharmaceutical industry. Its use in packaging ensures that medications are effectively protected, maintaining their quality and extending their shelf life.
One of the significant advantages of using aluminum foil in pharmaceutical packaging is its ability to protect contents from external factors. The excellent light-blocking capability of aluminum foil ensures that light-sensitive drugs remain stable over extended periods. Additionally, its dense structure prevents the ingress of oxygen, water vapor, and other gases, which could compromise the quality of the medications.
Pharmaceutical Aluminum Foil Specifications
| Type | Pharmaceutical Packing Foil |
| Application | To be lacquered, Used for PTP packaging |
| Grade | PharmaceuticaGrade |
| Alloy | 8011 8079 8021 |
| Temper | H18 O |
| Thickness | 0.02MM-0.03MM |
| Width | 200MM-1100MM |
| Surface | One side bright, One side matt |
| Packaging | Free Fumigated wooden box |
Advantages of Pharmaceutical Aluminum Foil
- 1. Clean Surface and Uniform Color: Pharmaceutical aluminum foil has a smooth and clean surface without any spots or defects. Its uniform color ensures an attractive appearance of the packaging, enhancing the product's market appeal.
- 2. Safety and Hygiene: Pharmaceutical aluminum foil undergoes a strict manufacturing process to ensure it is non-toxic and odorless, meeting the hygiene requirements for pharmaceutical packaging. It effectively prevents contamination, ensuring the safety of the medication.
- 3. Excellent Mechanical Properties: Pharmaceutical aluminum foil has superior mechanical strength, capable of withstanding high pressure without breaking. Its burst resistance, puncture resistance, and tear resistance are all very strong, effectively protecting the integrity of the medication during transportation and storage.
- 4. Moisture Resistance and Anti-Oxidation: During transportation, moisture-proof measures must be taken to maintain the performance of pharmaceutical aluminum foil and prevent surface oxidation. These protective measures can extend the service life of pharmaceutical aluminum foil, ensuring it consistently provides good packaging performance.
Pharmaceutical Aluminum Foil Thickness
The thickness of pharmaceutical-grade aluminum foil is usually between 45 and 50 microns. This thickness is ideal for maintaining a watertight barrier while being cost-effective and efficient in production. The high barrier properties of the foil prevent the packaged medication from oxidation, moisture absorption, and degradation, making it a preferred choice for various pharmaceutical applications such as blister packs, strip packs, and pouches.
Pharmaceutical Aluminum Foil Applications
Blister Pharmaceutical Aluminum Foil 8011 8079
Blister foil is the ideal choice for rigid packaging of various medical and pharmaceutical products like pills, capsules, and tablets. The thickness of this foil is usually between 25 and 28 microns. The bright side of the foil is coated with a heat-sealing layer, while the matte side is coated for printing.
- Alloy Types: 8011, 8079
- Temper: H18 (Hard)
- Thickness and Tolerance: 0.02-0.03mm (Tolerance: +/-5%)
- Width and Tolerance: 200mm-2100mm (Tolerance: +/-1mm)
- Typical Core Diameter: 76mm and 150mm
- Core Material: Steel/Aluminum Core
Blister packs are easy to handle, compact, and convenient for transportation. Due to the use of aluminum foil, each product in a blister pack is individually sealed, protecting it from external influences before consumption.
Cold Forming Pharmaceutical Laminated Aluminum Foil 8021
Cold-formed aluminum foil is used in the healthcare sector, especially for cold-formed blister packs, commonly known as alu-alu packaging.
- Alloy Type: 8021
- Temper: O
- Thickness and Tolerance: 0.045-0.06mm (Tolerance: +/-5%)
- Width and Tolerance: 200-2100mm (Tolerance: +/-1mm)
- Typical Core Diameter: 76mm, 152mm
- Pinhole: No pinholes
- Surface Quality: No scratches, rolling stripes, or wrinkles
- Wettability Test: Softness Grade A
PTP Pharmaceutical Aluminum Foil 8011
PTP pharmaceutical aluminum foil, also known as blister foil or capsule foil, is usually made from 8011-H18 or 8011-O aluminum foil. This type of foil is used for tablet packaging, with a thickness range of 0.016 to 0.04 mm.
Tropical Pharmaceutical Aluminum Foil 8021 8079
Tropical aluminum foil, also known as aluminum-plastic-aluminum foil, is a high-end packaging material used in the pharmaceutical industry. This packaging consists of a layer of cold-formed aluminum foil, a layer of thermoformed plastic blister, and PTP aluminum foil. It is usually made from 8021-O or 8079-O aluminum foil.
Aluminum Foil for Drug Bottle Caps 8011
Aluminum foil for drug bottle caps, also known as cap material, is usually made from 8011-H14 or 8011-H16 aluminum foil. It is widely used for sealing bottles containing oral liquids, antibiotics, and intravenous fluids.
Strip Aluminum Foil 8011 8079 for Pharmaceutical Packaging
Strip packaging can be entirely made of aluminum or combined with paper or plastic for pharmaceutical packaging. A key requirement is the ease of tearing the packaging. The ductility and foldability of aluminum foil are critical in these applications, allowing the metal to conform closely to the shape of the tablet. Strip packaging offers cost-effective, high-barrier protection suitable for high-speed aseptic filling lines.
- Alloy Types: 8011, 8079
- Temper: O (Soft)
- Thickness and Tolerance: 0.02-0.05mm (Tolerance: +/-5%)
- Width and Tolerance: 200-2100mm (Tolerance: +/-1mm)
- Typical Core Diameter: 76mm, 152mm
- Pinhole: No pinholes
- Surface Quality: No scratches, rolling stripes, or wrinkles
- Wettability Test: Softness Grade A
What Are the Products of Aluminum Foil for Pharmaceutical Packaging?
1. Hard Aluminum Foil
Hard aluminum foil is one of the main materials for press-through packaging of pharmaceuticals. This aluminum foil has low tensile strength, with the main advantage of being easy to break, allowing the drug to be released with relatively little force.
Features of Hard Aluminum Foil:
Low tensile strength, easy to break.
Suitable for packaging that requires rapid and low-force drug release.
Hard Aluminum Foil Applications:
Commonly used as a lid material for blister packaging.
Typically with a thickness of about 25 micrometers (μm).
Suitable for push-through opening methods, facilitating easy access to medication.
Hard Aluminum Foil Processing:
The outer side is usually printed with patterns or text, while the inner side may be coated with a heat seal primer and heat seal lacquer.
The heat seal primer helps the heat seal lacquer adhere to the aluminum foil. The primer can be colored, mainly for marketing purposes.
2. Soft Aluminum Foil
The difference between soft and hard aluminum foil lies in its greater flexibility and elongation, making it more difficult for tablets to be pushed through.
Soft Aluminum Foil Features:
Greater elongation and flexibility.
Enhanced safety to prevent child tampering.
Soft Aluminum Foil Applications:
Used in medication packaging that needs to prevent child access.
The packaging seams usually have additional perforations to increase safety, making it difficult to completely peel off the foil.
Soft Aluminum Foil Processing:
Suitable for packaging capsules or tablets, especially in blister packaging.
3. Composite Aluminum Paper/PET Blister Film
Features:
Composed of paper and aluminum foil, with a surface that can be directly printed.
Increases packaging strength and durability.
Applications:
Mainly used as a cover film in blister packaging.
4. Heat Seal Lacquer
Heat seal lacquer is a critical material used to securely seal aluminum foil lids onto blister films. In this process, the plastic push-through blister is perfectly sealed with aluminum foil to ensure effective protection of tablets within the packaging.
Features:
Used for sealing between aluminum foil and blister film.
Ensures firm adhesion of aluminum foil to the blister film through appropriate pressure, temperature, and time.
Applications:
Ensures effective protection of tablets within blister packaging.
Commonly used for sealing plastic push-through blisters, providing stable sealing to prevent exposure of medications to external environments.
Pharmaceutical Aluminum Foil 8011 8021 8079 Chemical Composition
| Ingredient | Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Cr | Zn | Ti | Other | Al |
| Content | 0.5-0.9 | 0.6-1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.08 | 0.15 | Margin |
| 8011 Aluminum Foil | ||||||||||
| Alloy No. | Si | Fe | Cu | Zn | Others | Al |
| 8079 | 0.050 – 0.30 | 0.70 – 1.3 | ≤ 0.050 | ≤ 0.10 | ≤ 0.15 | REMAIN |
| 8079 Aluminum Foil | ||||||
| Alloy No. | Si | Fe | Cu | Mn | Mg | Zn | Others | Al |
| 8021 | ≦0.15 | ≦1.7 | ≦0.05 | ≦0.05 | ≦0.05 | ≦0.05 | ≦0.05 | Remain |
| 8021 Aluminum Foil | ||||||||
Pharmaceutical Aluminum Foil Frequently Asked Questions
What are the uses of aluminum foil in medicine?
Aluminum foil is used in pharmaceutical packaging, particularly in blister packs and cold forming packs, to ensure the quality and safety of medications.
What is blister foil for pharmaceuticals?
Blister foil for pharmaceuticals is an aluminum foil packaging material used to seal medications, providing high barrier properties to extend the shelf life of the drugs.
Why are medicines kept in aluminum foil?
Medicines are stored in aluminum foil due to its excellent barrier properties, which protect the drugs from oxygen, moisture, and light.