| Ticona Press Release |  |
Tekni-Plex Introduces First Blister Pack Films Combining Topas® COC and PCTFE Moisture Barriers
Figuring that two barrier layers are better than one, Tekni-Plex has introduced the first blister pack films that combine the moisture protection of Topas® cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) and polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE). The new films, Tekniflex® COC-PCTFE, are excellent candidates for packaging drug products in blister packs. Traditional blister films combine a relatively thick layer of a polymer like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) that has excellent thermoforming properties with a relatively thin layer of a barrier polymer like PCTFE or polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC). In a COC/PCTFE structure, the COC layer is both the thermoformable carrier and a moisture barrier. The combined barrier of the Topas® COC and PCTFE layers allows water vapor transmission to be reduced to levels that meet or exceed the best performing barrier films available.
In addition, pairing Topas® COC and PCTFE allows overall film gauge to be reduced with no loss in moisture barrier. It also lets packagers gain the benefits of Topas® COC, such as added stiffness, in films that satisfy the highest barrier requirements. Tekniflex® COC-PCTFE grades are available with PCTFE thicknesses of 10 to 100µ and COC thicknesses of 200, 250, 300 and 350µ. The film uses Topas® COC from Ticona, the technical polymers business of Celanese AG (FSE: CZZ). Tekni-Plex produces these grades by first coextruding Topas® COC with either polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) and then laminating PCTFE to the PE/COC/PE or PP/COC/PP structure.
"The use of Topas® COC and PCTFE in tandem makes an effective structure that thermoforms well on standard equipment," says Michiel van den Berg, Director of Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Development at Tekni-Plex. "The introduction of these COC-PCTFE grades provides a new generation of blister films able to provide maximum moisture barrier at an attractive cost-performance ratio."
"In one test series on formed blisters (at 40°C and 75% relative humidity), we found that a PP / 300µ COC / 23µ PCTFE film had a water vapor transmission rate of 0.098 mg/cavity/day. By comparison, the transmission rate for a 250µ PVC / 23µ PCTFE film was double this at 0.200 mg/cavity/day."
About Ticona and Celanese Celanese AG is a global chemicals company with leading positions in its key products and world class process technology. The Celanese portfolio consists of four main businesses: Chemical Products, Acetate Products, Technical Polymers Ticona, and Performance Products. The Performance Products business consists of Nutrinova sweeteners and food ingredients.
Celanese generated sales of around € 4.1 billion in 2003 and has about 9,500 employees. The company has 24 production plants and six research centers in 10 countries mainly in North America, Europe and Asia. Celanese AG shares are listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange (symbol CZZ) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol CZ).
Ticona, the technical polymers business of Celanese AG, Kronberg, Germany, produces and markets a broad range of engineering polymers and achieved sales of € 675 million in 2003. Ticona has approximately 2,000 employees at production, compounding and research facilities in the USA, Germany and Brazil. Ticona markets Celcon® and Hostaform® acetal copolymer (POM), Celanex® polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), Fortron® polyphenylene sulfide, Vectra® liquid crystal polymer (LCP), Impet® polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Vandar® thermoplastic polyester alloy, Riteflex® thermoplastic polyester elastomer, GUR® ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE), Topas® cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), and Celstran® and Compel® long-fiber reinforced thermoplastic (LFRT).
