What are the Materials used for Packaging Pharmaceutical Products?

Following materials are commonly used in packaging of pharmaceutical products i.e., Corrugated cardboard, Wood; wool, Jute, Paper, Plastic, Wood and Bubble wrap.

Packaging Types

Pharamaceutical products are packed into different types of packages and containers such as Boxes, Pallets, Bags, Bottles, Cans, Cartons, Aseptic packages, Wrappers and Blister packs

Packaging machines are of the following main types:

i) Vertical Form, Fill, Seal (FFS) machines

ii) Horizontal FFS machines

iii) Bottling machines

iv) Cartoning machines

v) Case packing machines

vi) Palletizing machines

Paper

Paper is a thin, flat material produced by the compression of fibres. The fibres used are usually natural and based upon cellulose. The most common material is wood pulp from pulpwood (largely softwood) tree such as spruces, but other vegetable fibre materials including cotton, linen, and hemp may be used. The edges of paper sheets can act as very thin, fine-toothed saws, leading to paper cuts. The material to be used for making paper is first converted into pulp, a concentrated mixture of fibres suspended in liquid. These fibres are mainly obtained from natural sources. Fibres extraction from natural source requires many stages of separation and washing. Once the fibres have been extracted, they may also be bleached or dyed to alter the appearance of the final product.

Plastic /Polymer

Plastic is a term that covers a range of synthetic or semisynthetic polymerization products. They are composed of organic condensation or addition polymers and may contain other substances to improve performance or economics. There are few natural polymers generally considered to be “plastics”. Plastics can be formed into objects or films or fibres. Their name is derived from the fact that many are malleable, having the property of plasticity. Plastics are designed with immense variation in properties such as heat tolerance, hardness, resiliency etc. Combined with this adaptability, the general uniformity of composition and light weight of plastics ensure their use in almost all industrial segments.

Plastic may also refer to any material characterized by deformation or failure under shears stress, plasticity and ductility. Plastics can be classified in many ways

(a) On the basis of polymer backbone – Polyvinyl chloride, Polyethylene, Acrylic, Silicone, and Urethane

(b) On the basis of synthesis – Addition and Condensation

(c) On the basis of properties – Thermoplastic, Thermoset, Elastomer and Engineering plastic

(d) On the basis of nature – Crystalline and Amorphous

Polymers:

Polymers are high molecular weight compounds whose structures are made up of a large number of simple repeating units. The repeating units are usually obtained from low molecular weight simple compounds referred to as monomers. The reaction by which monomers are converted into polymers is known as polymerization. Polymers are giant molecules (also called macromolecules) that are essential to our existence. They are important chemicals in our bodies [proteins, poly (nucleic acids)], in plants (starch, cellulose), and in our everyday lives (fibers, plastics, elastomers). Although the chemical properties of polymers are similar to those of analogous small molecules, their physical properties are quite different. Every polymer has its own characteristics, but most polymers have the following general properties.

1. Polymers can be very resistant to chemicals.

2. Polymers can be both thermal and electrical insulators.

3. Generally, polymers are light in weight with varying degrees of strength.

4. Polymers can be processed in various ways to produce thin fibers or intricate parts.

Polymer Characterization

A variety of techniques are used to determine the properties of polymers: Determination of crystalline structure, Determination of number average molecular weight, Glass transition technique, Melting point etc.

1. Hompolymers

Polymers which are synthesized from only one kind of monomers.

2. Copolymers

Polymers which are prepared from more/different than one kind of monomers.

Rubber

Rubber is an elastic hydrocarbon polymer, which occurs as a milky emulsion (latex) in the sap of a number of plants but can also be produced synthetically. The latex from various trees are collected into flat pan containers and this is mixed with formic acid act as a coagulating agent. After a few hours, the very wet sheets of rubber are pressed and then sent to factories for vulcanization and further processing to remove impurities. Sulfur is mixed to improve resilience and elasticity of rubber. The process of vulcanization greatly improves the durability and utility of rubber. Carbon Black is commonly used as an additive to rubber to improve its strength. Natural rubber is essentially a polymer of isoprene units, a hydrocarbon diene monomer. Synthetic rubber can be made as a polymer of isoprene or various other monomers. Using various types and ratio of elastomers can modify properties of rubber.

Bubble wrap Regularly spaced, protruding air-filled hemispheres (bubbles) which provide the cushioning for fragile or sensitive objects are generally available in different sizes, depending on the size of the object being packed, as well as the level of cushioning protection that is needed. They can be as small as 1/4 inch in diameter to as large as an inch or more, to provide added levels of shock absorption during transit.