High-barrier flexible film packaging offers one of the most sophisticated levels of protection against moisture and oxygen infiltration available. It keeps foods, pharmaceuticals, and other sensitive products safe and fresh for years, not just weeks or months.
For products that require an impenetrable barrier against contamination and the longest possible shelf life, foil lamination and metallized high-barrier films are a top choice. Why?
#1: Enhanced Product Purity
When product purity is critical, high-barrier foil liners offer important benefits over traditional films. Moisture and oxygen barrier liners keep environmentally sensitive or perishable products fresh for at least two years, which is significantly longer than flexible packaging without high-barrier protection.
Different flexible packaging resins and foil or metallized polyester are used in multi-layer combinations. Metallization was considered a foil replacement product in early flexible film packaging, according to the Multilayer Films 2005 International Conference proceedings. However, it grew into an important material on its own for its flexibility, availability, and performance as a barrier material.
The innermost layer in high-barrier films, which is closest to the product, is FDA-approved. Combined, these features make high-barrier metallized films especially suitable for foods such as dry breads, cereals, nuts, and pharmaceutical products.
Watch this video that explains how CDF Corporation manufactures high-barrier IBC liners.
#2: Increased Heat Tolerance and Strength
Flexible packaging for heat processed foods has a few more challenges to meet. Heat can weaken the integrity of manufactured seals and cause degradation in certain film packaging materials.
Poly lactic acid or PLA films, for example, can soften at approximately 140˚ Fahrenheit. Certain high-barrier films with increased heat tolerance can resist 220˚ and more without risking the integrity of the packaging or the purity of the product inside.
High-barrier films offer excellent resistance to cracks and leaks. Using precision sealing technology, seams are continually monitored for strength and consistency.
#3: Faster Machining Capabilities
With metallized resins, machining speed for high-barrier flexible films is greatly enhanced. Improved laminating technology and equipment reduces the likelihood of errors and improves the quality of the packaging at faster speeds as well.
Paired with superior quality raw materials, high-barrier flexible film packaging has reliable quality with impermeable protection. The first liner that comes off the production run has the same superior quality as the last. Because flexible films are flexible in theory as well as practice, they lend themselves easily to a wide range of custom designs.
Flexible film packaging is not one, but many, different types of lightweight, cost-effective materials with almost limitless configuration potential. Bag-in-box packaging, for example, offers a convenient way to store more in less space without risking product integrity. A choice of fitments and taps work with the fill equipment in your facility. Air-assist liners store large volumes of product and let you extract every drop, for less product waste.
For products that are more sensitive and need better protection against moisture and oxygen, IBC high-barrier foil liners set the bar. Contact us for a free sample and download our corporate brochure to learn more.
