Eastar Copolyester Provides Blister Packaging with Barrier Protection and Clarity

KINGSPORT, Tenn., April 20, 2005 – Developing a new range of high moisture- and oxygen-barrier rigid films for the medical packaging industry, Tekni-Films selected Eastar copolyester from Eastman Chemical Company for its clarity and high barrier qualities. “Whereas we have a multitude of barrier polymers in our portfolio, we wanted to opt for the best possible result at the start of this development program,” said Michiel van den Berg, responsible for global pharmaceutical and medical packaging development at Tekni-Plex.

Tekniflex PGA and PGOA films are based on multi-layer lamination constructions and used in blister packaging applications for medical devices or drug product/device combinations.

“Eastar copolyester offers excellent thermoforming properties for often complex medical trays and is unaffected by irradiation (Gamma or e-beam)," says Thijs Jaarsma, global market development manager for medical packaging and tubing at Eastman Chemical Company. The final package also offers good physical protection due to the material's stiffness and resilience. "Additionally, Eastar copolyester offers an easy method of package seal integrity inspection as the seal is easily visible through the blue tint of the sheet," says Jaarsma.

A division of Tekni-Plex, Inc., Tekni-Films is a leading supplier of blister films for the pharmaceutical, medical, OTC and nutritional markets. “We have 30 years of experience in high barrier pharmaceutical blister packaging, where the same high temperature and humidity testing requirements apply surrounding drug product stability,” said van den Berg. In addition to Mono PVC, the company’s product line includes PVdC, Tekniflex COC films, Tekniflex PCTFE (usually referred to as either Aclar or VapoShield), plus a wide range of other film products for specialized applications, e.g. Barex and PETG films and laminates.