For decades, food manufacturers have been reaping the benefits of switching from foil-based flexible structures to metallized film-based packaging. Given the U.S. Department of Commerce’s recent decision to impose tariffs on aluminum foil imported from China, Toray Plastics (America) (www.toraytpa.com) anticipates that end users will want to substitute foil with metallized films at an even greater rate. In this interview, Tammy Williamson answers questions about what to consider in redesigning a foil-based packaging structure with a metallized film and point out the benefits of metallized films.
Metallized (MET) films encompass biaxially-oriented polypropylene (BOPP), polyester (PET), nylon and cast OPP, and are manufactured by means of high-speed vapor deposition. In this article, the focus is on metallized BOPP and PET. The quality of the base film and the integrity of the metal coating process are critical for the success of an application. When those fundamentals are in place, metallization can significantly improve the oxygen and moisture barrier durability of a film, make for an opaque barrier to light and offer a high-reflective, glossy appearance.