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New Packaging Plastic That Protects As Good As Aluminium Foil
Tera-Barrier Films (TBF) Pte Ltd, a spin-off company from A*STAR’s Institute of
Materials Research and Engineering’s (IMRE), has invented a new plastic film
using a revolutionary nano-inspired process that makes the material thinner but
as effective as aluminium foil in keeping air and moisture at bay. The
stretchable plastic could be an alternative for prolonging shelf-life of
pharmaceuticals, food and electronics, bridging the gap of aluminium foil and
transparent oxide films.
The new plastic by TBF has one of the lowest moisture vapour transmission rates
(mvtr), preventing air and moisture from penetrating the layer. The plastic has
an air and moisture barrier that is about 10 times better than the transparent
oxide barriers which are currently being used to package food and medicines
owing to its uniquely encapsulated nanoparticle layer. The film has been
validated by a number of companies and potential commercialisation partners.
TBF’s 700nm encapsulated nanoparticle barrier films – which are thinner than a
strand of human hair – have high transparency and are also stretchable, features
not possible with aluminium-based packaging material. Inorganic barrier thin
films are highly transparent but have lower barrier property and are not
stretchable. TBF’s films will allow see-through packing and a longer shelf-life
for a wide range of products from high-end electronics to perishable goods.
Stretchability is another attractive feature in facilitating simple packaging
processes.
TBF’s new stretchable thin films are cost effective and transparent, with
barrier properties comparable to that of aluminium foil. “TBF’s strategy is to
bridge the gap between aluminium foil and transparent oxide films by creating
new packaging structures for the niche applications in the food, medical,
pharmaceuticals and electronics markets,” said Mr Senthil Ramadas, Director &
Chief Technology Officer of TBF. “The secret behind TBF’s film lies in our
patented encapsulated nanoparticle layer that consists of nanoparticles in
polymer shells”.
Conventional multilayer barrier plastics have successive layers of barrier
plastic films to enhance the impermeability to air and moisture but they have
not achieved higher barrier properties. TBF’s film uses minimal layers as its
encapsulated nanoparticles increase the packing density of nanoparticles, which
in turn makes it extremely difficult for water and oxygen molecules to pass
through the film. The encapsulated nanoparticles also actively adsorb and react
with water and oxygen molecules to trap them, thus further lowering the amount
of moisture and air passing through the film.
“The innovation creates a whole new generation of packaging materials that add
new and superior functions for use in high value products such as medicine”,
says Professor Andy Hor, Executive Director of A*STAR’s IMRE from where the
unique barrier film technology was initially developed, incubated and spun-off.
“We are glad to see our scientist-entrepreneurs advancing an IMRE-born
technology and are looking forward to seeing it make an impact in the market.”
http://www.mpponline.in/new-packaging-plastic-that-protects-as-good-as-aluminium-foil/#comments
3 Major Trends In Barcode Labeling For Medical Devices
Trend: the general direction in which something is developing or changing. In
the medical device industry - one of the fastest-growing and dynamic industries
- trends are growing at the same pace, despite significant headwinds. Major
trends take hold as rules and regulations are finalized, implementation dates
are set, and initiatives turn into standards.
Three major trends are flowing through the medical device industry, promoting
patient safety and implementing positive changes. How will these trends affect
your labeling processes? They will change the way you label product, help
minimize costs so the excess can be allotted for other sections of your
business, and increase efficiencies through your organization and the industry
supply chain.
1. Increased FDA Standards for Recalls and Patient Safety
In response to the growing emphasis on patient safety, more and more medical
device organizations are faced with new technology trends and regulations - for
example, medical device labeling. With the final rule announced on September 24,
2013, unique device identification (UDI) regulations should now be top of mind
for many medical device organizations. Per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), the labels of medical devices are now required to include a UDI through
distribution and use, except where the rule provides for an exception or
alternative placement. A UDI is a unique numeric or alphanumeric code that
consists of two parts: a device identifier (DI) and a production identifier
(PI). Each UDI must be presented in a human-readable format as well as in a form
that uses automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology.
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