What are the effects of different thicknesses of aluminum foil on pharmaceutical packaging?

In terms of machining performance
Thin aluminum foil (e.g. 0.01-0.02mm)
This thickness of aluminum foil is softer and easier to shape and process on pharmaceutical packaging machinery. For example, in the high-speed blister packaging machine, the thinner aluminum foil can be more smoothly through the various rollers and molds, heat sealing, stamping and other operations, which is conducive to improving the production efficiency of the packaging. It can better fit the plastic hard sheet of the blister packaging, form a tight sealing structure, and reduce the rate of defective products in the packaging process.
However, the mechanical strength of thin aluminum foil is relatively low, and it is prone to tensile deformation or damage during the packaging process. Especially in the packaging of drugs with sharp edges (such as shaped tablets or capsules with hard corners), the thinner aluminum foil may be scratched, thus affecting the integrity and sealing of the package.
Thick aluminum foil (e.g. 0.03-0.05mm)
Thick aluminum foil has high mechanical strength and can withstand greater pressure and friction. When packaging drugs, it can effectively prevent deformation or damage caused by external forces during the packaging process. For example, for some drugs that require pressure packaging (such as compacted packaging for powdered drugs), thick aluminum foil can better maintain the shape and structural integrity of the package.
However, the flexibility of thick aluminum foil is poor, and the processing difficulty in packaging machinery is relatively large. It may not easily pass smoothly through some narrow channels or around smaller rollers, resulting in reduced packaging speed. Moreover, when performing operations such as heat sealing, thick aluminum foil may require higher temperature and pressure to achieve a good sealing effect.
Barrier property
Thin and thick aluminum foil
Generally speaking, within a certain range, the thickness of aluminum foil has little effect on its performance of blocking oxygen, water vapor and light. As long as the quality of aluminum foil is qualified, whether it is thin aluminum foil or thick aluminum foil, it can provide a good barrier effect. Because the barrier properties of aluminum foil mainly depend on the density and purity of aluminum, rather than the simple thickness.
However, if the aluminum foil is too thin (less than 0.01mm), in the case of long-term storage or external extrusion, there may be tiny pores or cracks, thereby reducing its barrier performance. The thick aluminum foil is relatively more resistant to the effects of these factors, and may more reliably maintain its barrier properties in extreme environments (such as storage conditions with high humidity and high pressure for a long time).
Packaging appearance and texture
Thin aluminum foil
The appearance of the drug after the thin aluminum foil packaging may appear more delicate and lightweight. It can make the drug packaging show a delicate texture, especially suitable for some drugs with high appearance requirements, such as high-end health products or small oral medicines. Thin aluminum foil can better fit the shape of the drug, making the package look more compact and tidy.
However, thin aluminum foil may be more soft and prone to wrinkles, affecting the overall beauty of the package. During transportation and storage, these wrinkles can be further exacerbated, giving the impression that the packaging is not delicate enough.
Heavy aluminum foil
Thick aluminum foil packaging of drugs will give people a solid, thick feeling, may be more suitable for some traditional, emphasis on efficacy and quality of reliable drug packaging. It can make the package have better stiffness, not easy to fold, even after long-distance transportation or long-term storage, the package can still maintain a good appearance shape.
However, the thick aluminum foil packaging may cover up the small and delicate size of the drug itself to a certain extent because of its thickness, and may not be the ideal choice for some small and portable drug packaging.