Medical Aluminum Foil Bags – Selection of Pharmaceutical Packaging Materials

Medical aluminum foil pouches are a widely used packaging format in everyday life. Today, taking pharmaceutical packaging as an example, we will examine the stringent material‑selection requirements for drug packaging. Common pharmaceutical packaging types on the market include granules, powders, tablets, and liquid formulations. Next, we will discuss the material‑selection criteria for packaging granules, powders, and tablets.

Pharmaceutical packaging for granules and powders. Among the medications commonly used by consumers, bagged granules and easily soluble, convenient-to-administer powders are two prevalent forms. From the perspective of packaging materials and formats, advances in packaging technology and equipment have made multi-layer aluminum‑plastic composite film—specifically, medical aluminum foil bags—the preferred choice for these products, thanks to their superior barrier properties and outstanding moisture‑proof performance. Let us examine this from a process and equipment standpoint. According to the national standard “Aluminum Foil for Pharmaceutical Packaging,” strict requirements are imposed on the surface quality of printed text on pharmaceutical aluminum foil, along with defined physicochemical specifications for the protective and adhesive layers. These measures ensure that pharmaceutical PTP aluminum foil exhibits excellent barrier performance, hygienic safety, reliable heat‑sealing characteristics, and robust physical‑mechanical properties. To achieve these performance criteria during the printing and coating processes of PTP aluminum foil, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of the properties of the raw materials employed. Key considerations for manufacturers include how to optimize the heat‑sealing temperature for granule and powder packaging, how to precisely control the fill weight, and how to rigorously assess the seal integrity of the pouches—issues that demand close attention. First and foremost, effective control and resolution of heat‑sealing challenges must take into account the thermal shrinkage ratio of the packaging material, as well as the number of layers and the specific composition of the composite film.

If the heat-sealing temperature is too high, resulting in an excessive shrinkage ratio, the sealed edges may wrinkle. Conversely, if the heat-sealing temperature is too low and the composite film is relatively thick, the seal may be loose. Therefore, to achieve a reliable and efficient seal quickly, it is essential to consider the packaging material specifications provided by the supplier, along with relevant parameters such as the shrinkage ratio, and to optimize sealing based on both technical requirements and equipment characteristics.