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Steam Sterilizable Packaging Films with Excellent Barrier Properties

Fraunhofer FEP, Applied Materials developed a process for depositing an ultra-thin aluminum oxide layer.

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By: DAVID SAVASTANO

Contributing Editor, Coatings World and Ink World, Coatings World and Ink World Magazine

The Fraunhofer Institute for Organic Electronics, Electron Beam and Plasma Technology FEP and Applied Materials, Inc. is exhibiting technologies for the production of transparent and hot steam sterilizable packaging films at AIMCAL 2016 in Dresden, Germany.
 
Packaging films are ubiquitous, yet their importance and sophistication are often overlooked by consumers. In order to ensure the quality of the purchased product inside, packaging films are optimized for the respective packaged goods, and often include coatings to preserve freshness and purity and to extend shelf-life. With packaging industry trends and consumer preferences constantly evolving, the opportunities for innovation in packaging films are tremendous.
 
For example, scientists at Fraunhofer FEP working with Applied Materials developed a process for depositing an ultra-thin aluminum oxide layer with a thickness of < 100 nanometers (typically 10 – 15 nm).
 
“In contrast to conventional production methods, we have extended the process by a further component: the alumina is vacuum deposited with the support of an intense plasma, so that a much more robust, significantly more dense, and way more solid layer is formed compared with using a low intensity plasma,” said Steffen Straach, group leader in the department Flat and Flexible Products at Fraunhofer FEP. “This is of particular relevance for further processing of the packaging materials.”
 
The ultra-thin aluminum oxide layers deliver reliable protection, for example in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or delicate foods against humidity, gases and other environmental influences. Furthermore, they provide maximum transparency. They have a very high barrier effect against oxygen and water vapor, so packaged goods survive even longer storage and transport times, and can withstand superheated steam sterilization.
 
The high deposition rate of the new process developed by Fraunhofer FEP for roll-to-roll coating systems enables the efficient production of competitive packaging films.
 
Fraunhofer FEP and Applied Materials jointly succeeded in integrating this process into a metallization system for industrial mass production. Several Applied TopMet CLEAR systems with coating widths up to 2.85 m have been delivered. 

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