Rollprint Packaging Products, the manufacturer of award-winning ClearFoil, is debuting another high-barrier technology. Its new Exponent film represents a collaboration between Ineos' Barex and Rollprint's ClearFoil. The material targets pharmaceutical and other chemically-sensitive applications that require exceptional barrier and clarity.

ClearFoil, a barrier-coated polyester, is extrusion or adhesive laminated to Barex acrylonitrile-methyl acrylate copolymer to create Exponent. Pre-made or inline pouching, lidding and flow wrap applications are anticipated to be the first commercialized package types.

When compared to traditional foil-based high-barrier structures, Exponent's reduced number of layers and gauge offer cost-savings and create an improved environmental profile for a wide variety of pharmaceutical products.  The structure's high-barrier and clarity properties also make it a suitable replacement for glass vials, where cost and breakage continue to challenge manufacturers.

"We have developed Exponent in collaboration with Ineos, the manufacturer of Barex acrylonitrile-based resins.  The objective was to engineer a film would meet performance requirements for pharma and other chemically-sensitive products, but use less material to help manufacturers' meet their cost objectives.  We also wanted offer clarity attributes not possible with foil-based structures and give companies an alternative to glass vials," said Dwane Hahn, vice president sales and marketing, Rollprint.

In development for two years, Exponent has been engineered to provide a chemically neutral, ultra-high oxygen and water vapor barrier with chemical resistance, Oxygen barrier levels are available as low as 0.0008 cc/100in²-24 hrs. and water vapor barrier properties are available down to 0.0008 g/100in²-24 hrs. 

Barex resins provide a unique combination of chemical resistance with oxygen barrier properties, proven to be equivalent to glass in a wide range of aggressive applications. Barex is also known for its use in transdermal patch laminates for nicotine, chronic pain relief medication, hormones and other applications.

The transdermal patch, e-cigarette and diagnostics markets are the first application opportunities Rollprint envisions for this technology. Exponent is also a candidate for single-dose delivery systems and cosmetic applications because of its high surface-to-volume ratio and unique barrier properties. Additionally, the high-barrier film is ideally suited for the emerging flexible packaging for wine and spirits segment because of its organoleptic characteristics.