Several Categories of Drug Packaging Testing (Part 1)

Pharmaceutical packaging testing agency focuses on Pharmaceutical Packaging Inspection , detection methods typically vary depending on the type of packaging. So, do you know Pharmaceutical Packaging Inspection What are the different forms available? In the pharmaceutical industry, common packaging formats include blister packs, strip packaging, bag packaging, double-aluminum packaging, plastic packaging for water-soluble injections, and soft-bottle packaging, among others.

Compiling relevant national and international standards and specifications for Pharmaceutical Packaging Inspection The key indicators for material testing and control include barrier performance, mechanical properties, smoothness, thickness, solvent residues, sealing performance, cap torque, headspace gas analysis, and print quality, among others. Pharmaceutical Packaging Inspection This primarily refers to performing barrier property tests on pharmaceutical packaging materials using testing instruments—such as gas permeability testing and water vapor transmission rate testing.

When taking medication, it’s common to gently peel off that "tin foil"-like material—and some people even find it surprisingly relaxing and comforting. But have you ever wondered what exactly this "tin foil" is made of, and why it’s used in the first place?

This type of pharmaceutical packaging is called blister packaging. The main materials used in blister packaging are medicinal PTP aluminum foil, rigid plastic sheets (polyvinyl chloride PVC), and adhesives. Today, Xiaomin will first walk you through an introduction to these components. Medicinal aluminum foil.

I. Appearance

Under bright natural light, visually inspect the sample for any damage, cracks, or other defects.

Xiaomin on Inspection: The aluminum foil surface should be clean, smooth, and have an even coating; the text and patterns printed on it must be accurate, clear, and firmly adhered.

2. Pinhole Degree

During the aluminum foil production process, rolling is used as a key manufacturing technique, and defects are inevitable—among them, pinholes are the most common.

Xiaomin on Testing: The size and number of pinholes in aluminum foil significantly influence its moisture resistance, gas barrier properties, and light-shielding performance—critical factors for aluminum foil and its composite materials. Aluminum foil should not have dense, continuous, or periodic pinholes. Specifically, no pinholes larger than 0.3mm in diameter are allowed per square meter, and there should be no more than one pinhole measuring between 0.1 and 0.3mm in diameter.

3. Barrier Performance

Measure the barrier performance of packaging materials by assessing their oxygen and water vapor transmission rates.

Xiaomin on Testing: The barrier performance of aluminum foil is a crucial factor to consider when selecting appropriate packaging materials for pharmaceuticals. Packaging containers with excellent barrier properties can effectively safeguard drug quality and extend the product’s shelf life.

4. Heat-Seal Strength of the Adhesive Layer

The strength of the heat-seal bond between blister packs and aluminum foil is directly influenced by heat-sealing parameters such as sealing temperature, sealing pressure, and sealing time.

Xiaomin on Inspection: The protective layer has poor adhesion, and if it peels off during heat sealing or other heating processes, the ink is less effectively shielded. As a result, the ink layer becomes prone to issues like abrasion and flaking.

5. Protective Layer Heat Resistance

The protective layer has poor heat resistance and is prone to peeling off during heat-related processes, such as the heat-sealing procedure.

Xiaomin on Testing: Layer the protective material over the aluminum foil substrate, then heat-seal at 200°C. After cooling, inspect the surface of the protective layer for any noticeable peeling or detachment.

6. Differences in Adhesive Coating Amount

Verification is conducted by adjusting the adhesive layer coating amount to prevent poor heat-sealing strength caused by significant variations in adhesive application.

Xiaomin on Testing: Given that the adhesive coating amount can vary within a certain range, combined with the inherent errors in leachables testing, it’s easy for the oxidizable substance values to exceed the standard limits. Accurately controlling the protective agent coating amount within a specific range is crucial for maintaining consistent quality of PTP aluminum foil products and effectively managing production costs.

7. Open-Book Performance

The test primarily aims to determine whether the adhesive layer and the protective layer stick together when the roll is unwound at a specific temperature.

Xiaomin on Testing: The adhesion between the adhesive layer and the protective layer of aluminum foil is verified using an open-coil performance test. If the adhesive layer sticks to the protective layer, it can slow down the unwinding speed, directly impacting production efficiency. Moreover, whether either layer is pulled off, it will inevitably affect the quality of the aluminum foil.

8. Fracture Strength Aluminum

Examining the ability of aluminum foil to withstand static, localized compression in real-world transportation environments.

Xiaomin on Testing: This test helps assess how well pharmaceutical packaging withstands damage caused by external pressure and impact forces during processes like manufacturing, transportation, storage, and sales.