Aluminium foil & Metallized PET film: Applications ... - Alfipa

17 Jun.,2024

 

Aluminium foil & Metallized PET film: Applications ... - Alfipa

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Aluminium foil has been used for more than 100 years especially in the packaging industry. But meanwhile a serious competitor has entered the arena. Metallized PET films cover an ever-growing range of applications, making it one of the fastest growing segments in the flexible packaging market.

At first sight, the two types of films are similar. However, they offer very different properties, making each of them more or worse suitable depending on the applications.

Properties of aluminum foil

Aluminium foil is usually made of pure aluminium, with an aluminium content of at least 99%. In a series of passes through rolling mills the aluminium reaches the desired thickness.

Very thin foils are double-rolled together in the last step and later, separated again This process produce two kind of natural finishes: the outer side of the foil touching the mill work rolls gets a &#;bright&#; finish, while the side contacting the other aluminium foil (foil-to-foil) gets a &#;matte&#; finish.

The aluminium is solidified by the cold rolling, becoming hard and brittle. Nevertheless, a subsequent thermal treatment in an annealing furnace makes the films soft and flexible again.

Aluminium foils with a thickness of about 12-20 µ possess  barrier properties. This means that those foils are impermeable to water and gases. Thinner foils cannot guarantee the same 100% barrier properties. However, they also offer barrier properties and ensure that food stays fresh longer because of its light protection.

Aluminium foil is easily deformable without losing its barrier properties.

aluminium foil is physiologically harmless to food. However, acidic, alkaline and salty foods should not be in contact with the film. Aluminum foil is light and resistant to water, water vapor, grease and gas, it reflects light, heat and UV rays and does not charge electronically. Moreover, it is fire resistant and easy to recycle.

For packaging, it is rarely used pure aluminum foil. In most cases, the aluminum foil is laminated with plastic films (eg PET, PE, or PP) or paper. One then speaks of aluminum composite films. Composite films have some advantages over pure aluminum foils, for example, higher resistance to rusts and/or stiffness. In addition, aluminum foil can be painted and printed to meet the requirements of modern packaging.

Aluminium bands can be deep-drawn to produce containers or trays and cans. It then keeps the deep-drawn shape. Aluminum can be bent and folded without losing its barrier properties.

Properties of PET-met film

In contrast to aluminum foils, which are made entirely of light metal, metallized PET foils are plastic foils which are only evaporated with aluminium powder in a high vacuum. For this process, it is used pure aluminium in powder form with an aluminium content of at least 99,98%. The films produced this way obtain a metallic shine and thereby achieve a special optical effect.

In addition to the optical effect, the aluminum vaporization serves in particular to improve its barrier effects against vapours, gases and aromas in comparison to non-metallized plastic film. Overall, the metallized PET films are less gas-tight than &#;real&#; aluminum foil, but more tear resistant, more flexible and lighter. Also, they are less sensitive to corrosion and not as winkle-prone as pure aluminium foil.

You can see through PET-met foils,

not through aluminum foils.

PET-met films are made of only 1% of the aluminum that would have been needed for an aluminum foil. Therefore, PET-met is especially interesting as a cost-effective and more environmentally friendly alternative to aluminum.

Applications for aluminum foil

Aluminum foils are real all-rounder and can be found in almost all sectors of the industry. Lightweight and yet tear-resistant, aluminum foil can be folded in many ways making it ideally suited for packing and wrapping different kind of products and product shapes.

In the pharmaceutical industry, aluminium foil is used to protect medicines from external influences during transport and storage.

Hardly any material is as versatile as aluminum.

The food industry relies on aluminum foil and aluminum composite foil packaging, benefiting from the good hygienic characteristics and the light and gas barrier properties of th

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e material. In the cosmetics industry a variety of aluminum tubes and spray cans are used.

Above all, the construction industry uses the insulating effect of aluminum foil, for example for insulating sewers, pipelines and complete buildings, as well as the construction of vapour barriers for saunas or cellar walls.

In the energy sector, in particular, the low weight and the high conductivity of the aluminum foil are used to insulate power cables. The telecommunications industry, on the other hand, uses aluminum foil and its special barrier properties to protect fiber optic cables from moisture and to shield communications cables from electrostatic interference caused by electronic devices.

Applications for metallized PET-film

Metallized PET films are an ideal solution for all applications that require the preservation of flavour and freshness. It is suitable for many applications in the packaging industry as well as for applications in the technical and industrial sectors.

PET films have particular advantages where the higher gas tightness of the aluminum foil is not required.

If high gas tightness or opacity is important, better use aluminum foil.

Metallized PET film can be printed like aluminum foil, and it results in a variety of optical variants. The gloss level of metallized PET film is much higher than for aluminum foil, so with metallized PET film you can achieve a  stronger mirror effect. This is also used when printing &#; for example, without a white primer, yellow colour shimmers gold.

Therefore, PET met films offer an ideal opportunity to combine certain protective and barrier functions with an attractive appearance &#; even if the protection of the food is not quite as high as with real aluminum foil and the shelf life may need to be shortened.

In combination with other materials, for example, PET met foils are ideal for snacks packaging, thermoformable container covers such as yogurt cups or refill bags for cosmetic products. Coffee and pet kibbles remain dry in those PET packaging and retain their full aroma and flavour for a long time.

For tomatoes, better use PET-met film instead of aluminium foil!

In the particular case of acidic, alkaline or salt-containing foods, metallized PET films are a perfect substitute for aluminium foils, as a longer exposure or a large contact area of aluminium with those materials can release potentially harmful emission of aluminium into the edible content.

Insulation systems, for example for insulation against heat radiation in buildings or against heat conduction in vacuum insulation panels, can also be realized with metallized PET films. In addition, PET met films can be used for decorative adhesive tapes. Labels made from metallized PET-film are highly resistant to heat and chemicals, which ensures a long-time durability.

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What You Need to Know Before Buying Aluminum Labels

Unlike some other materials, aluminum can be used to fabricate labels, tags, panels, signs, more. It has become a popular substrate material for metal labels due to its durability and resistance to many common contaminants and sources of damage. You can find aluminum labels used throughout the world for applications in many different industries.

Before purchasing aluminum labels for your operation, it&#;s helpful to consider some of the key benefits that these labels can provide. These metal labels come in several types, and it&#;s important to match the durability characteristics and other features to your application&#;s specifications and requirements. To help you select the best aluminum label, here are some of the most helpful things that you should know.

Benefits of Metalphoto® Aluminum Labels

Metalphoto® aluminum is one of the most desired label materials due to its durability to withstand harsh environmental conditions while remaining readable for years. Companies throughout the world rely on these durable labels for their most demanding applications. Here are a few of the many benefits aluminum tags and labels provide:

  • Long Lifetime. Even in extreme outdoor environments, Metalphoto® aluminum labels can last for more than 20 years. This performance is among the best in the industry, and it&#;s one of the few materials that can perform well in such a wide range of environments. They&#;re also a popular choice in highly regulated industries, such as aerospace or defense, that have stringent asset tracking, item identification, and product lifecycle management requirements.
  • Durability

    . Metalphoto aluminum is the perfect label choice for demanding applications that may encounter a wide variety of environmental conditions. With resistance to chemicals, moisture, temperature, UV rays, and abrasion, they can be used just about anywhere. They are often selected for use on marine vessels and oil rigs which spend long periods of time at sea. Even under these extreme situations, these labels are dependable and remain readable and intact.

  • Image Clarity

    . The standard black-on-silver design of most Metalphoto aluminum labels provides clear, crisp graphics that are easy to read. Since the graphics are protected beneath an anodic layer, they are less likely to become damaged from any exposure to harsh conditions. In addition, the clean and professional look makes these labels a high-quality choice for any factory, warehouse, or industrial operation.

Metalphoto® aluminum labels provide superior durability to withstand harsh environmental conditions compared to other types of aluminum labels. Metalphoto® anodized aluminum labels have crisp black graphics sealed beneath an anodic layer of the aluminum to provide superior image quality and durability, whereas anodized aluminum labels with graphics of any color residing beneath a surface layer do not offer the same image resolution quality and durability. Screen-printed aluminum labels have images screen-printed onto the surface of the aluminum and are subject to abrasion and fading.

Types of Aluminum Labels

Since aluminum can be used in so many environments, many of the label options are categorized based on specific applications. Reviewing the options that are available will help you make the most of these unique use cases. These are some of the most popular types:

  • Foil Asset Labels. With a thin anodized aluminum face stock, foil asset labels retain the excellent durability of metal while providing flexible installation options. These labels can be easily installed on equipment of all types with a high-performance, permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive, including assets with contoured or textured surfaces.
  • Rigid Metalphoto® Asset Labels. These rigid labels are often used to track assets that are frequently transferred and spend a great deal of time outdoors. Many companies choose rigid Metalphoto asset labels as a permanent asset tagging solution.
  • Warehouse Floor Labels. Created with Metalphoto photosensitive anodized aluminum, these pre-printed bar code labels can be placed in high-traffic areas within a factory or warehouse. They can be installed with a high-performance, permanent pressure-sensitive adhesive or screwed down directly into the floor surface.
  • Pallet Barcode Labels. Pallets are subject to significant wear and tear during transportation and storage. Metalphoto aluminum pallet barcode tags can be easily attached to pallets as part of a comprehensive asset management and inventory tracking program.
  • Teflon on Aluminum Barcode Labels. These labels are fabricated with a Metalphoto aluminum substrate that is covered with a Teflon coating. This coating adds extra resistance to paint and other chemicals that may be especially acidic or caustic.
  • Extra High Temperature (XHT) Aluminum Barcode Labels. The standard temperature limit of Metalphoto aluminum is an impressive 650°F. These labels undergo an additional treatment process that extends temperature resistance up to °F, making them suitable for use in industrial high-heat processes and other harsh environments.
  • Laser-Markable Label Blanks. There are three different aluminum label blank products that are optimized for use with unique laser marking technologies. These label blanks can be used outdoors and have excellent resistance to sand and other sources of abrasion.

After selecting a particular label design, you can customize many features based on technical and branding requirements. There are unique customization options available for some label types, although these are some of the most common:

  • Custom sizes can often be accommodated for unique needs that are outside of the standard specifications.
  • The thickness of the aluminum substrate can usually be adjusted to best match your durability requirements.
  • Customization of the barcode label design can involve selecting fonts, barcode symbologies, and colors. A corporate logo can also be added to many types of aluminum labels.
  • Selecting between an adhesive or physical attachment method will be based on your expected tagging locations and surface conditions of the items.

With so many options available, aluminum remains one of the most widely used label materials across nearly all industries. Comparing each label configuration with your specific requirements can help you identify the perfect solution for your needs. Consulting with a trusted partner like Camcode can help you optimize your selection and customize a final aluminum label that will fit perfectly into your existing asset management workflows.

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