Pharmaceutical packaging is necessary for dosage form protection and transportation. In this article, we will discuss the basic difference between the Alu Alu and Alu PVC packaging, which is used for the packaging of tablets and capsules in pharmaceutical industries.
Meaning
- Alu Alu stands for Aluminium Aluminium.
- Alu PVC stands for Aluminium Polyvinyl chloride.
Structure
- As the name indicates, the Alu Alu means, it consists of two Aluminium foils. One Aluminium foil is used as cavity forming foil, and the other printed aluminium foil is used as lidding foil or covering foil.
- In Alu PVC, the printed aluminium foil is used as lidding foil and rigid PVC foil is used as cavity forming foil.
Protection
- Alu Alu packaging has a good barrier for moisture, light, UV and oxygen.
- Alu PVC has less protection than Alu Alu.
Appearance
- In Alu Alu blister packaging, the product is hidden and not visible.
- Alu PVC blister packaging is transparent, and the product is visible in the packaging.
Products
- The Alu Alu blister packaging is used for those products which are sensitive to moisture, heat and require more protection, like antibiotics.
- Alu PVC blister packaging is used for less sensitive products like painkillers.
Cost
- The Alu Alu packaging is costly.
- The Alu PVC blister packaging is less costly than Alu Alu.
Mechanism
- In Alu Alu blister packaging, the pockets or cavities are formed by using aluminium foil, so this aluminium foil is known as cavity-forming foil.
- In Alu PVC foil, the cavities are formed by using rigid PVC foil, and this PVC foil is known as cavity-forming foil.
- The cavities in Alu Alu blisters are formed without heat, so aluminium foil is also known as cold forming foil.
- The cavities in Alu PVC foil are formed by using heat, and so PVC foil is known as thermoforming foil.
- The cavities in Alu Alu blisters are formed by the pressure, and this pressure is exerted by Teflon punches.
- The cavities in the Alu PVC blister are formed from Heated PVC foil using air pressure.
Use Of Chilled Water
- For Alu Alu blister packaging, no chilled water circulation is required at the forming station as heat is not applied for cavity formation.
- For Alu PVC blister packaging, chilled water circulation is required at the forming station as heat is applied for cavity formation, and chilled water solidifies the cavities of hot PVC foil.
Foil Defects
- As Alu foil is used for cavity formation without heat, the Teflon punches may rupture pockets if high pressure is exerted.
- PVC is rigid, and pockets are formed by preheating the foil, so the foil may burn out if excessive heat is applied.
Environment Friendly
- Alu Alu is environmentally friendly as aluminium can be recycled.
- PVC is non-biodegradable and is not recycled, so there is a risk to the environment.
Pinhole detector
- Aluminium foil may develop tiny holes, difficult to detect with the naked eye, so pinhole detectors are used.
- As PVC is rigid and holes are rarely produced, pinhole detectors can be skipped.
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