Pharmaceutical PTP aluminum Foil
Pharmaceutical PTP aluminum foil (Press Through Packaging aluminum foil) is a composite material specifically used for pharmaceutical blister packaging. Its core function is to provide a packaging solution with independent sealing, high barrier properties, and convenient access for pharmaceuticals.
Pharmaceutical PTP (press-through packaging) aluminum foil is a specialized packaging material widely used in the pharmaceutical industry for blister packaging of tablets, capsules, and other solid dosage forms. This type of aluminum foil effectively blocks moisture, light, and oxygen to ensure the stability and integrity of the medication.
Pharmaceutical PTP (push-through packaging) aluminum foil is a key material in pharmaceutical packaging, featuring excellent protective and functional properties.
- Uses: blister packaging for drug capsules, tablets, etc.
- Features: Excellent gas resistance, moisture resistance, light resistance drug resistance, chemical stability, hygiene, Good heat sealing with PVC, PvDC, in the range of 130°C~200°C
| Item | Content |
| Structure | OP/Printing Ink/Aluminum/VC |
| Purpose | Usually sealed with cold aluminum or PVC, PVDC, used for food or pharmaceutical packaging. |
| Main Products | Printed aluminum foil, unprinted aluminum foil |
| Thickness | 0.024mm - 0.030mm |
| Width | 80mm - 1000mm |
| Roll Diameter | 275mm - 500mm |
What is PTP foil?
The common metal material used in pharmaceutical packaging is aluminum foil, usually referred to as pharmaceutical packaging aluminum foil or PTP aluminum foil. PTP aluminum foil originates from the English term "Press-Through Packaging, " which refers to packaging done through pressure. The formal name in the industry is pharmaceutical packaging aluminum foil, and it is also known as blister packaging aluminum foil.
PTP aluminum foil, also known as blister foil or push-through foil, is a rapidly developing soft packaging material widely used in the packaging of food, health products, and pharmaceuticals, particularly for blister packaging of capsules, tablets, and pills.
Pharmaceutical PTP Aluminum Foil Structure and Composition
PTP aluminum foil typically consists of the following layers:
- Layers: Generally includes a protective layer (OP), outer printing layer, aluminum base (bare foil), inner printing layer, and heat seal coating (VC).
- Protective Layer (OP): Used to protect the aluminum foil and provide a lacquer or primer layer for the printing surface.
- Aluminum Foil (AL): Core barrier layer that offers excellent environmental protection.
- Heat Seal Coating (VC): A coating that allows the aluminum foil to be heat-sealed to PVC, PVDC, or other substrates.
Alloy: Usually 8011-H18/O or 8021-O aluminum alloys are used, favored for their mechanical strength and barrier properties. 8011 (for tablets/capsules) typically has a thickness range of 0.016–0.04 mm, while 8021 (for high barrier applications) ranges from 0.04–0.065 mm.
| Layer | Material/Composition | Functional Description |
| Protective Layer | OP Coating | The outer layer is coated with a protective polymer to enhance scratch resistance and printing adaptability, prevent surface damage, and improve packaging quality. |
| Printing Layer (Optional) | Printing Ink | Single-color or multi-color printing for drug identification, anti-counterfeiting marks, etc., ensuring clear visibility of drug information and enhancing anti-counterfeiting functionality. |
| Aluminum Foil Base | AL Layer (Aluminum Foil) | Core barrier layer with a typical thickness of 0.016–0.04 mm, usually made of 8011-H18 or O temper aluminum foil, providing excellent barrier properties to prevent the effects of oxygen, moisture, and light on drug stability. |
| Adhesive | VC Layer (Heat Seal Coating) | Inner heat-sealing layer that bonds with PVC, PVDC, and other rigid films to ensure firm sealing and allow for single-dose packaging of medications. |
This structure ensures the packaging has tamper-evident features and enables patients to obtain a single dose of medication by pressing through the foil.
Pharmaceutical PTP Aluminum Foil Specifications
| Parameter | Typical Value |
| Alloy Material | 8011, 8021 |
| Temper | H18 (Hard Aluminum Foil) or O Temper Foil |
| Thickness Range | 20–30μm (0.02–0.03mm) |
| Width | ≤600mm |
| Heat Seal Coating Type | VC (Cold-formed packaging compatible type) |
| Density | 2.7g/cm³ |
| Roll Weight (20μm) | Approx. 20kg/roll (250mm outer diameter) |
Features of Pharmaceutical PTP Aluminum Foil
- Barrier Performance: PTP Aluminum Foil provides excellent protection against moisture, light, and oxygen, preserving the efficacy of the medication.
- Heat Sealing: Compatible with various base materials such as PVC, PVDC, PET, PP, and PE, offering a range of packaging options.
- Light Blocking: The dense structure of PTP Aluminum Foil effectively blocks light, preventing photodegradable drugs from exposure and ensuring medication stability.
- Moisture Resistance: PTP aluminum foil has excellent moisture resistance, preventing water ingress and protecting drugs from humid environments to maintain quality.
- Easy to Pierce: Surface treatment makes PTP Aluminum Foil easy to pierce during use, facilitating access by patients or medical personnel, enhancing usability.
- Printability: Suitable for high-quality printing, allowing clear labels and branding to be printed.
- User-Friendly: Designed for convenient single-dose access, improving patient compliance.
- Tamper Evidence: The structure of PTP Aluminum Foil clearly shows whether the packaging has been compromised.
- Customizability: Brand logos and dosage information can be printed.
- Convenient Drug Retrieval: Blister design allows easy extraction of each medication, reducing loss and enhancing user experience.
- Clean Surface: PTP aluminum foil is rigorously cleaned during production to ensure a contaminant-free surface that meets pharmaceutical hygiene requirements.
- Uniform Color: The manufacturing process ensures consistent coloration, maintaining the appearance and packaging quality of the medicine.
- Spot-Free: High-quality PTP aluminum foil has a smooth surface without spots, scratches, or other defects, ensuring attractive packaging.
- Flat and Pinhole-Free: The production process guarantees a flat, pinhole-free surface, further enhancing moisture and oxygen resistance.
Uses of PTP Aluminum Foil
Typically sealed with cold aluminum or PVC, PVDC, for food or pharmaceutical packaging. Below is a table showcasing the uses of PTP aluminum foil:
| Use | Description |
| Pharmaceutical Packaging | Airtightness and moisture barrier: Effectively prevents moisture, oxygen, and light from affecting the drugs. Chemical resistance: Resists various drug components to ensure safety. Easy tear design: Convenient for use and prevents cross-contamination. |
| Food Packaging | Single portion packaging: Suitable for small doses of medicine, candies, chocolates, coffee, etc., keeping them fresh. Multi-layer packaging: Composed with PVC or PVDC to enhance barrier properties and extend shelf life. |
| Sealing Materials | Cold aluminum sealing: Combined with PVC or PVDC, sealed using cold sealing technology to prevent contamination. Heat sealing: Suitable for products requiring high-temperature sealing. |
| Other Applications | Medical device packaging: Used for disposable medical devices to ensure sterility. Electronic product packaging: Serves as moisture-proof and anti-static protective material. |
Pharmaceutical PTP Aluminum Foil Manufacturing Process
The production process involves strict quality control:
Steps: Material inspection → Rolling → Intermediate annealing → Slitting → Final annealing → Packaging.
Quality Requirements: No pinholes, oil stains, or surface defects. Annealing parameters (time/temperature) are optimized to ensure cleanliness and mechanical properties.
PTP Blister Foil
PTP blister foil is primarily used for heat sealing with PVC, PVDC-coated PVC, PP, cold-formed foil, and high barrier mesh, widely applied in blister packaging for pharmaceuticals and food.
Advantages of PTP Blister Foil
- Excellent sealing strength: Outstanding sealing performance with PVC, PVC/PVDC, PET, PP, PE, and high barrier substrates.
- Strong print adaptability: Suitable for primer systems for online and offline printing, compatible with water-based and UV inks, achieving perfect printing results without fading after sealing.
- Flexible printing options: Available in single-sided or double-sided printing based on customer requirements.
- Low-temperature sealing capability: Meets the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry and high-speed processing.
- Strong barrier properties: Provides excellent barriers to moisture, oxygen, light, and ultraviolet rays, effectively protecting the contents of the packaging.
Applications of PTP Blister Foil
PTP blister foil can be used for blister packaging of tablets, pills, capsules, and candies. Its excellent oxygen, moisture, leakage, and contamination prevention properties help effectively protect the packaged products.
Characteristics of PTP Blister Foil
The excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of PTP aluminum foil make it suitable for high-speed pharmaceutical packaging production lines at both low and high temperatures. Its non-peeling heat seal coating ensures superior thermal sealing performance with plastic substrates such as PVC, PVDC/PVC, and PP.
PTP Blister Foil Printing Options
PTP aluminum foil is available in various printing forms, including:
Below is a table displaying the printing forms of PTP aluminum foil:
| Printing Form | Description |
| Plain Foil | No printing, retains the natural color of the aluminum foil. |
| Printed Foil | Available for single-sided or double-sided printing, including monochrome, two-color, and multi-color printing. |
| Colored Foil | Available in single-sided gold, double-sided gold, green background, and various colored backgrounds. |
| Anti-Counterfeiting | Includes invisible writing, patterns, and printing on both sides to enhance security and recognition. |
Pharmaceutical PTP aluminum alloys
| Application | Alloy | Temper | Thickness(mm) | Width(mm) | Typical Products |
| PTP Drug Packaging Aluminum Foil | 8011 aluminum foil | H18 | 0.016-0.5 | 200-1600 | Capsules cover plate, etc. |
| Blister Medicine Aluminum Foi | 8021 aluminum foil | O | 0.04-0.065 | 200-1600 | blister packaging, etc. |
| Pharmaceutical Packaging Aluminum Foil | 8021 aluminum foil, 8079 aluminum foil | O | 0.016-0.2 | 200-1600 | high-end medicine packaging |
| Drug Cover Aluminum Foil | 8011 aluminum foil | H14, H16 | 0.016-0.5 | 200-1600 | oral liquid aluminum plastic composite cap , infusion bottle aluminum plastic cap, etc. |
| Medicinal Aluminum Foil Gasket | 1060 aluminum foil | O, H18 | 0.014-0.2 | 200-1600 | drug packaging gasket |
Thickness tolerance of aluminum foil for PTP
| Thickness(t) /mm | Thickness tolerance /mm | |
| High precision grade | Standard grade | |
| 0.018-0.100 | ±4%t | ±6%t |
Width tolerance of aluminum foil for PTP
| Width /mm | Width tolerance /mm |
| ≤800.0 | ±1.0 |
| >800.0 | ±1.5 |
Mechanical properties of aluminum foil for PTP
| Grades | Temper | Thickness/mm | Tensile strength/Mpa | Elongation/% |
| 1235 | O | 0.018-0.025 | 40-100 | 1 |
| >0.025~0.040 | 50-110 | 4 | ||
| >0.040-0.100 | 55-110 | 8 | ||
| 1100, 1200, 1235 | H18 | 0.018-0.100 | ≥135 | - |
| 1100, 1200 | O | 0.018-0.025 | 40-100 | 1 |
| >0.025-0.040 | 50-110 | 3 | ||
| >0.040-0.100 | 55-110 | 6 | ||
| 3003 | O | 0.018-0.025 | 80-130 | 1 |
| >0.025-0.040 | 80-130 | 4 | ||
| >0.040-0.100 | 80-130 | 8 | ||
| 8006 | O | 0.018-0.025 | 80-140 | 1 |
| >0.025-0.040 | 85-140 | 2 | ||
| >0.040-0.100 | 90-145 | 6 | ||
| H18 | 0.018-0.100 | ≥180 | 1 | |
| 8011, 8011A, 8079 | O | 0.018-0.025 | 55-105 | 1 |
| >0.025-0.040 | 60-110 | 4 | ||
| >0.040-0.100 | 60-120 | 8 | ||
| H18 | 0.018-0.100 | ≥150 | 1 |