Three-layer total co-injection blow molding process system solutions

Three layers of non-friable gas-barrier containers that outperform the glass, medical and pharmaceutical industries!

Kortec has completed the integration of technology, hardware and software after developing the Kortec-specific multi-material blow molding equipment platform in cooperation with Uniloy Milacron. The result was a complete, new coinjection turnkey system specifically targeted at blow molding applications in the medical/pharmaceutical industry.

Kortec’s vice president and John Kermet, who is responsible for sales and marketing, said: “This market continues to drive the transition of the medical market from glass to plastic. The pollution and danger caused by the easy breakage of glass is still the primary cause of change.” But until now plastic The container still cannot meet the requirements of all typical medical fields.

One of the greatest successes in the medical field is polycarbonate (PC) medical equipment. The specification requires the ability to endure quite harsh sterilization (vapour, autoclaving, etc.), good clarity, bottle strength and gas barrier properties. Until now, thick-walled glass containers have become the standard in this area. A single-layer PC container can meet most of the physical performance requirements other than gas barrier performance. Kortec's new coinjection solution produces a three-layer PC container in which PA nylon material is used in the middle layer. As a result, on the basis of very competitive costs, a three-tier PC container that satisfies all in-use requirements is obtained.

According to Kermet's introduction, Uniloy Milacron was selected by Kortec as a platform for this new type of system product almost two years ago because of their special technology and flexibility. He said: "Uniloy is the leader in injection blow molding equipment. Their ability to process engineered grades and customize the platform capabilities to meet our needs can result in very good coinjection solutions."

The company plans to sell the "turnkey" system to the world. Future applications include three-layer polycarbonates as well as PP, HDPE, and even PET containers that require additional gas and moisture barrier properties. Small size and large size applications are all possible, and new markets include cosmetics and perfumes. In addition, higher quality co-extrusion applications can benefit from more uniform wall thicknesses and high-quality bottleneck finishes, which are becoming the target of lock-in.

The first system was sold to Pittsfield, Saskatchewan, USA, initially for the development of very challenging PC/PA applications, and is actually fully applicable and customizable for various applications and material types. Kortec can use the equipment of the customer to use the equipment platform to provide interested companies with all the development processes for special applications.

At the same time, the application of this technology is completely customized. Kermet said: “The barrier layer can be designed to block light, humidity, oxygen, carbon dioxide, keep vacuum, or other required functions in other applications and pharmaceutical applications.” He said that although the first system is a four-cavity structure, the system is now up to The 16-cavity is being introduced to the market.

Reproduced from: specialchem