Cold Forming Foil
Cold Forming Foil is a high-performance packaging material used for pharmaceutical packaging, especially for blister packaging. It typically consists of three layers, offering excellent barrier properties that effectively protect the drugs from moisture, oxygen, and ultraviolet light, thus extending their shelf life and ensuring stability. The core layer of the cold forming foil is aluminum, while the outer layers are typically made of nylon (OPA) and PVC or PVC/PVDC films.
- Nylon (OPA): It has good puncture resistance and strength, enhancing the cold forming foil's tensile properties.
- PVC and PVC/PVDC: These materials offer excellent heat-sealing properties and moisture resistance, commonly used to improve the barrier effect and ensure the sealing integrity of the package.
Cold forming foil is widely used in pharmaceutical blister packaging. Its three-layer structure provides excellent barrier properties, ensuring that the drugs are protected from external factors during storage and transportation, thereby extending shelf life. The strong tensile properties and high mechanical strength of cold forming foil allow it to maintain integrity during stamping, preventing tearing and ensuring the safety and stability of the drugs.
Cold Forming Foil Structure and Composition
- Middle Layer (Aluminum Layer): The aluminum layer is the key component of the cold forming foil, responsible for blocking external factors such as moisture, oxygen, and ultraviolet light from damaging the drugs. The aluminum layer is typically very thin, but its excellent barrier properties allow even a thin layer to effectively protect the contents.
- Outer Layers: The outer layers are usually made of nylon (OPA) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or PVC/PVDC (polyvinyl chloride/polyvinylidene chloride) films. These outer layers protect the aluminum layer and enhance the tensile, tear resistance, and mechanical strength of the packaging. The PVC/PVDC layer is particularly effective at further blocking oxygen and moisture.
Cold Forming Foil Features
Cold forming foil, with its exceptional barrier properties, thermoformability, and mechanical properties, has become an ideal material for pharmaceutical packaging, especially for high-demand drug packaging (such as hormone drugs, vitamins, etc.), effectively protecting drugs from moisture, oxygen, light, and other environmental factors, and providing excellent sealing and anti-counterfeiting functions.
1. Superior Barrier Properties
Comprehensive barrier against moisture, gases, and ultraviolet light: The aluminum layer, as the core of the cold forming foil, provides 100% moisture, oxygen, and ultraviolet light barrier, protecting the drugs from external environmental effects.
Prevention of light degradation: The excellent shielding effect of aluminum effectively prevents drugs from degrading due to ultraviolet light exposure.
2. Excellent Thermoformability
Strong thermal stability: It has high thermal stability, making it suitable for various forming and packaging processes, ensuring stability and quality during the packaging process.
3. High Ductility
Suitable for deep-drawn blister cavities: It has high ductility, allowing it to maintain good shape and structure during the deep-drawing process, preventing rupture.
4. Excellent Sealing Properties
Can be sealed with ordinary aluminum foil: It can be sealed with standard aluminum foil, ensuring the integrity and closure of the package.
5. Anti-Counterfeiting Function
Effective anti-counterfeiting packaging: Its unique physical and chemical properties provide anti-counterfeiting features, enhancing the security of the packaging and preventing counterfeit products.
Cold Forming Foil Processing and Manufacturing
The manufacturing process of cold forming foil involves two main steps: stamping and lamination. Through precise stamping, the cold forming foil can adapt to complex pharmaceutical packaging shapes, while the lamination process firmly bonds the aluminum foil with the outer layers of film using high-performance adhesives, further enhancing its barrier properties and mechanical strength. These key processes ensure that cold forming foil meets the strict requirements for moisture resistance, oxygen resistance, light protection, and mechanical properties in pharmaceutical packaging, ensuring the safety and stability of drugs during storage and transportation.
- Stamping: The aluminum foil is first stamped using a specialized stamping machine to ensure that it adapts to different shapes and sizes of pharmaceutical blister packaging. The foil's stretchability and elasticity are particularly important in this process, so cold forming foil is often specially treated to ensure sufficient ductility and strength.
- Lamination: After forming, the aluminum foil is laminated with the outer layers (such as nylon and PVC) using an adhesive. The adhesive plays a crucial role in this process, and high-quality adhesives are typically used, often imported high-performance adhesives, to ensure that no delamination or cracking occurs during the cold forming process.
Cold Forming Foil Applications
The application of cold forming foil is not limited to pharmaceutical packaging but also plays a significant role in the packaging of food and nutritional products. Its excellent barrier properties, ductility, and sealing properties allow it to protect contents under extreme conditions, extend the shelf life of products, and maintain their potency and quality. For drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and other products with strict environmental requirements, cold forming foil is the ideal packaging choice, ensuring product stability and safety.
Cold Forming Foil for Pharmaceutical Packaging
Cold forming foil is widely used in pharmaceutical packaging, especially for drugs with high environmental sensitivity. Its excellent moisture, oxygen, and light-blocking properties make it the ideal material for packaging solid drugs such as tablets, capsules, and ointments. The aluminum layer of cold forming foil provides 100% moisture and oxygen barrier, effectively preventing moisture and oxygen from degrading the drugs, maintaining their stability and efficacy. In addition, the aluminum layer effectively blocks ultraviolet light, preventing the degradation of photosensitive drugs due to light exposure. Cold forming foil ensures that drugs are not affected by external environmental changes during storage and transportation, extending their shelf life and safeguarding their quality.
The ductility and thermoformability of cold forming foil make it suitable for complex pharmaceutical packaging shapes, such as blister packs and drug pouches. Solid drugs like tablets and capsules are effectively protected through the close fit of the cold forming foil with the packaging mold, preventing moisture and external contamination from entering. Cold forming foil not only provides physical protection for the drugs but also offers excellent anti-counterfeiting functions, enhancing the security of the packaging and preventing the circulation of counterfeit products. Therefore, cold forming foil is widely used in pharmaceutical packaging, especially for drugs with extremely strict environmental requirements, such as vitamins and hormone drugs.
Cold Forming Foil for Food Packaging
Cold forming foil is also widely used in the packaging of food and nutritional products, especially for those products that have strict requirements for shelf life and stability. It effectively isolates moisture, oxygen, and ultraviolet light from the air, extending the shelf life of food and nutritional products, ensuring the freshness of the contents and the stability of active ingredients. For example, vitamins, dietary supplements, and other oxygen- and light-sensitive nutritional products are protected from oxidation or decomposition by the cold forming foil's superior barrier properties, maintaining their nutritional value and quality. Its moisture and oxygen resistance ensures that the packaging contents remain in an ideal storage environment for a long time, reducing the negative impact of external factors on the food's quality.
Cold forming foil also possesses good mechanical properties and ductility, allowing it to be flexibly formed according to the product shape, ensuring tight and complete packaging. This feature is particularly suitable for packaging single-dose or portable food and nutritional products, meeting consumers' needs for convenience and long-term preservation. For ready-to-eat foods, special health foods, and other products requiring high packaging standards, cold forming foil provides an ideal solution. Its excellent sealing properties effectively prevent contaminants from entering, ensuring the hygiene and safety of the food. As a result, the use of cold forming foil in the food and nutritional products industry is becoming increasingly widespread.
Cold Forming Foil Advantages
| Advantages | Detailed Description |
| Strong Protection | One of the major advantages of cold forming foil is its excellent protective properties, especially in terms of barrier performance. The aluminum layer, as the core layer, provides a very high barrier effect, effectively preventing the intrusion of water vapor, oxygen, and ultraviolet (UV) rays. The foil can block the penetration of moisture and oxygen, which is crucial for protecting the active ingredients in medicines, food, and nutritional products, particularly for products sensitive to air, light, and humidity, such as vitamins and hormonal drugs. Through this strong barrier performance, cold forming foil ensures the long-term stability of the contents, reduces the impact of external environmental factors on product quality, and extends the shelf life of medicines or food. Additionally, the aluminum layer can block UV rays, preventing light-sensitive ingredients from degrading due to exposure to light. Therefore, cold forming foil is commonly used for packaging products with extremely stringent environmental requirements, such as antibiotics and certain vitamins, ensuring their safety and efficacy during the packaging process. |
| High Mechanical Strength | Cold forming foil undergoes special treatment during the manufacturing process to impart high mechanical strength. This property ensures that the foil maintains its integrity during stamping and molding, making it less prone to tearing or damage. This is particularly important for pharmaceutical blister packaging, where the foil needs to withstand stretching and pressure during the production process. The high mechanical strength of the foil ensures the stability and sealing of the packaging after forming, preventing breakage or leakage during transportation and storage, effectively protecting the contents from external contamination or damage. This strength also makes cold forming foil adaptable to various packaging forms and complex molding requirements, enabling its flexible application in packaging for medicines, food, and nutritional products. |
| Aesthetic Appeal | In addition to its excellent functionality, cold forming foil also has a high level of aesthetic appeal due to its glossy finish. The gloss on the surface of the aluminum layer gives the packaging a shiny, modern appearance, which not only enhances the attractiveness of the packaging but also positively contributes to brand image and market competitiveness. In the pharmaceutical packaging sector, particularly when consumers are concerned with product appearance, the aesthetic appeal of cold forming foil makes it an ideal choice for high-end, professional brands. The surface of the aluminum layer can undergo various treatments, such as printing, coating, or hot stamping, to further enhance the visual effect of the packaging. The high-gloss appearance not only boosts the market appeal of medicines but can also improve product recognition through transparency or design variations. Therefore, cold forming foil not only provides practical protection in pharmaceutical packaging but also adds beauty and appeal to the product. |
Technical Data of Cold Forming Foil
| Test Item | Requirement | Result |
| Opa layer thickness | 23.0-27.0 /μm | 25 |
| Opa layer GSM | 25.99-30.51 | 28.8 |
| Adhesive GSM | 3.8-4.8 | 4.0 |
| Al-foil thickness | 46.0-54.0 | 50 |
| Aluminum foil GSM | 124.2-145.8 | 133 |
| Adhesive GSM | 3.8-4.8 | 4.0 |
| PVC thickness PVC | 56.0-63.6 | 60 |
| PVC GSM | 76.17-86.5 | 81 |
| Total-thickness | 125.0-144.6 | 143 |
| Total GSM | 233.96-272.41 | 251 |
| Width (mm) | ± 1.0 | 0 |
| Pin Hole | Max 0 no./ SQM | 0 |
| Toxicity | Non Toxic | No found |
| WVTR | >=0.005 Gm/ m2.day | 0.06 |
| OTR | >=0.005 cc/ m2.day | 0.09 |
| Bonding Strength | PA / AL ≥ 8.0 N/15mm | Horizontal: No Peel-off |
| Vertical: No Peel-off | ||
| AL / PVC ≥ 7.0 N/15mm | Horizontal:11.6 N | |
| Vertical:12.3 N | ||
| No. of Joints | Max. 2 Per roll | <=2< td=""> |
| Core ID | 76+-1mm | 76mm |
HC Aluminum is a professional manufacturer of pharmaceutical soft packaging. We specialize in developing and providing packaging materials based on your product characteristics and packaging requirements, such as laminates, metallized films, blister packaging materials, and more.
Popular Specifications of Cold Form Foil
- Cold Form Foil (25 µm OPA/ 45 µm Alu foil/ 60 µm PVC)
- Cold Form Foil (25 µm OPA/ 47 µm Alu foil/ 60 µm PVC)
- Cold Form Foil (25 µm OPA/ 50 µm Alu foil/ 60 µm PVC)
- Cold Form Foil (25 µm OPA/ 45 µm Alu foil/ 100 µm PVC)
- Cold Form Foil(60 µm PVC/ 25 µm OPA/ 45 µm Alu foil/ 6-8 GSM Universal HSL)
- Cold Form Foil(60 µm PVC/ 25 µm OPA/ 50 µm Alu foil/ 6-8 GSM Universal HSL)
Differences Between Thermoforming and Cold Forming Blister Packaging
Thermoforming and cold forming differ significantly in terms of materials, processing techniques, costs, and applicability.
Cold forming is typically used for products that require higher environmental protection.
Thermoforming has advantages in cost and transparency.
Thermoforming Blister Packaging
Thermoforming blister packaging uses transparent PVC material, which is softened and stretched into molds by heating. It is suitable for packaging general pharmaceuticals and has lower production costs but is not suitable for photosensitive drugs, as PVC offers poor UV protection.
Cold Forming Blister Packaging
Cold forming blister packaging uses aluminum-based films, which are not heated but are stretched into shape using mechanical pressure. This method provides superior barrier properties, effectively preventing moisture, oxygen, and UV rays, making it ideal for packaging light-sensitive drugs and products requiring higher environmental protection, although it comes at a higher cost.
- Material Usage: Thermoforming blister packaging typically uses transparent PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) material, while cold forming blister packaging uses aluminum-based films. The barrier properties of aluminum foil make cold forming particularly suitable for environmentally sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements.
- Molding Process: Thermoforming requires heat to soften the material, which is then stretched into a mold to form the blister; cold forming, however, does not use heat, relying on mechanical pressure to stretch aluminum foil directly into shape, creating a sealed package. This gives cold forming blister packaging higher sealing and protective performance.
- Cost: Since cold forming requires aluminum foil and a more complex process, cold forming blister packaging is generally more expensive. In contrast, thermoforming packaging is more cost-effective and suitable for products that do not require high protection.
- Applicability: Thermoforming blister packaging uses transparent PVC material, making the contents visible, and is suitable for most pharmaceutical packaging. However, thermoforming packaging is not suitable for light-sensitive drugs, as PVC offers poor UV protection. Cold-forming aluminum foil, however, effectively blocks UV rays, protecting photosensitive drugs from degradation, making it more suitable for such products.
| Feature | Thermoforming Blister Packaging | Cold Forming Blister Packaging |
| Material | Typically uses transparent PVC material | Uses aluminum-based films |
| Molding Process | Requires heat to complete the forming process | Forming does not require heating |
| Cost | Typically lower cost | Higher cost due to materials and process differences |
| Applicability | Not suitable for photosensitive drugs | Suitable for photosensitive drugs |
| Barrier Properties | Poor barrier properties | Excellent barrier properties |
| Category | Advantage |
| Cold Forming Blister Packaging | High barrier properties, preventing interactions between different drugs |
| Thermoforming Blister Packaging | Lower barrier properties than cold forming foil, but more cost-effective |
Why Choose HC Aluminum for Cold-Form Aluminum Foil?
HC Aluminum is a professional manufacturer of pharmaceutical flexible packaging, specializing in the development and provision of packaging materials based on product characteristics and packaging requirements, such as blister packaging materials and composites.
Cold-form aluminum foil, as a high-quality pharmaceutical packaging material, provides comprehensive protection for medications. Here are the qualities of our cold-form aluminum materials:
- 1. Excellent adhesion between layers, effectively preventing delamination.
- 2. Cold-form aluminum foil has strong weather resistance and high-temperature resistance.
- 3. Fully meets hygiene requirements in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
- 4. Easy to form and seal.
- 5. The external PA material can be easily printed, with clear and attractive printing results.
The unique multi-layer structure of cold-formed aluminum blisters provides comprehensive protection for medications, ensuring their safety during transportation and storage, and greatly extending their shelf life.