Topas cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) from Topas Advanced Polymers has been identified as a suitable alternative to barex polyacrylonitrile (PAN)
Topas has said COC is used in a wide range of pharmaceutical packages such as medicinal pouches and patches and other applications that require strong chemical resistance.
Timothy Kneale, president of Topas Advanced Polymers, said: “We’re pleased to announce that our industry-leading COC is filling the needs of many healthcare suppliers who seek a replacement for barex materials.
“PAN and COC come from the opposite ends of the polymer spectrum but they offer similar properties when it comes to barrier/permeation performance and strong chemical resistance.”
The pharmaceutical packaging industry is already familiar with COC through its use in semi-rigid and container applications, according to Kneale.
Topas has said COC delivers effective chemical resistance and low adsorption rates, exhibiting low reactivity with medical-grade chemical contents such as nicotine for patches.
COC has high purity, heat-sealing behaviour and compliance for food contact and medical uses.
Unlike PAN, Topas COC can be melt processed by all common thermoplastic processing methods including mono and multi-layer film, sheet and extrusion coating, along with injection and extrusion blow moulding.