Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Provides Barrier Layer for Pharmaceutical Bottles

When Owens-Illinois introduced its first line of multi-layer, injection-blow molded bottles and vials for drugs and other pharmaceuticals, it selected Topas cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) from Ticona as the moisture barrier layer. Topas’ desirable properties were low permeability to water vapor, high transparency, clarity, chemical resistance and ease of processing.

The new bottles offer an alternative to glass for packaging injectable drugs, diluents and other products.

The location of the Topas barrier layer depends on the end use. It can be sandwiched between inner and outer layers of polycarbonate or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) when more durable bottles are needed. If impermeability to both water vapor and oxygen are needed, Topas can be used for the external layers in conjunction with an oxygen barrier layer such as nylon.

The bottles are injection multi-blow molded using Owens-Illinois’ SurShot multi-layer injection technology, which controls barrier content down to 2% of total package weight.

“Topas COC gives us the glass-like clarity we need in these bottles, and, because it is low in extractables, it works well with liquid pharmaceuticals,” says Bill Negrini, vice-president and business manager with Owens-Illinois.

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