With pharmaceutical packaging, your choice of material is vital. It must ensure longevity, efficacy, and safety. Crucially, it has to safeguard contents from contamination. At the same time, it must offer ease of use and preserve quality. This is while it meets regulatory and environmental standards. Among the popular choices, there are plastic and aluminium tubes. Both have unique advantages but cater to different requirements. We’re going to compare the two options in a few areas to see which one is best. Then, if you need tube bending services for any metal tubing, you can rely on us.
Barrier protection
Firstly, barrier protection is necessary for pharmaceutical packaging to stop exposure to contaminants. It also preserves product stability.
Aluminium tubes do the better job here thanks to their impermeability. They effectively block out moisture, air, and light. This makes aluminium pharmaceutical tubes perfect for sensitive products. These are ones that might deteriorate if they encounter exterior elements.
Plastic tubes do offer a basic barrier, yet they are more permeable. So, some moisture or oxygen can pass through, possibly affecting medications. For more robust protection, you need aluminium tubes.
Chemical compatibility
The substance’s interaction with the product it is holding is an essential consideration for pharmaceutical packaging. Aluminium does a great job resisting reactions. Thus, there is minimal danger of the tubing material leaching into the product. This chemical stability is particularly important for active pharmaceutical ingredients that could interact with other materials.
Plastic tubes can be more chemically reactive. It depends on the type of plastic and formulation. Therefore, aluminium is safer when working with chemically sensitive pharmaceuticals. If you need our tube bending services, get in touch.
Durability and flexibility
Plastic and aluminium differ massively in both of these areas. Aluminium tubes are more puncture-resistant. Not only this, but they offer strong protection from physical damage. As such, they are durable and reliable for storage and transport. Yet, they are less flexible than plastic. During dispensing, this can affect user experience.
By contrast, plastic tubes are easy to squeeze, flexible, and lightweight, improving ease of use. For products that need durability, opt for aluminium. When it’s flexibility and ease of use that matter most, go for plastic.
Environmental impact and sustainability
With there being more focus on sustainability, the recyclability of aluminium gives it an advantage. You can recycle it without losing its attributes. This supports a circular economy and lowers environmental impact.
Plastic is less sustainable because of the limited recyclability. There are also the environmental challenges with plastic waste. Some recyclable plastics do exist. Yet, the infrastructure for recycling the material remains limited. Aluminium’s lower environmental footprint and recyclability make it more sustainable. You can also rely on us to offer tube bending services that don’t produce any waste.
Costs
The final area is cost considerations. They always play a part in packaging decisions. Crucially, costs influence the overall budget of pharmaceutical production.
Aluminium tubes are more expensive because of the costs of manufacturing and the raw materials. Although, the increased durability and protection can offset the cost for anything needing high stability.
Plastic tubes tend to be more affordable. This makes them attractive for cost-sensitive items that only need moderate protection.
We can serve multiple needs with our tube bending services
At Multiform Tubes Engineering Ltd, we adapt tube to make it work in all kinds of industries. This includes medical, automotive, heating, furniture, and more. We have a huge amount of experience and the best equipment to ensure exceptional results.
As you can see, we can offer tube bending services for a diverse array of needs. So, if you’re interested in doing business with us, give our team a call.