How to Specify PVC/PVDC Sheet for Your Blister Line
1. Identify the Product Sensitivity
Determine whether moisture, oxygen or light is the main factor affecting your pharmaceutical product. Stability data and existing packaging specifications provide the best starting point.
2. Define the Required Barrier
Whenever possible, specify target WVTR and OTR together with temperature, relative humidity and test method. Barrier values without test conditions are difficult to compare accurately.
3. Confirm the Blister Geometry
Provide blister cavity length, width and depth. Deeper or more complex cavities may require different PVC thickness, forming conditions or material evaluation.
4. Match the Packaging Machine
Provide the blister-machine manufacturer, model, thermoforming method, line speed and current operating temperature range. This helps reduce unnecessary machine trials.
5. Confirm the Lidding Material
The forming web and lidding material work as one packaging system. Provide the pharmaceutical lidding foil structure and heat-seal coating information whenever available.
6. Define the Roll
Confirm width, tolerance, core diameter, maximum roll diameter, winding direction, splice requirements and approximate roll weight to ensure smooth converting.
PVDC Coating Weight and Barrier Selection
40 g/m² PVDC
Often considered a starting level for applications requiring improved barrier compared with plain PVC. Suitability should still be confirmed against the medicine’s stability requirements.
60 g/m² PVDC
Provides a higher coating level and is commonly evaluated where additional moisture or oxygen protection is required.
90 g/m² PVDC
Frequently associated with higher-barrier pharmaceutical blister structures for products requiring greater environmental protection.
Higher-Barrier Grades
Higher coating weights and multilayer structures may be evaluated when standard PVC/PVDC cannot meet the required barrier target.
Do not select a blister material by coating weight alone. Coating formulation, distribution, forming depth, finished cavity geometry and environmental test conditions can influence the barrier performance of the final package.
