What is the Difference Between Aluminum Foil and Metallized PET in Flexible Packaging?

Flexible packaging uses metalized PET film, which has a wide range of applications in the packaging industry. But before the advent of flexible packaging, aluminum foil was widely used from the past to the present. Due to its excellent barrier properties, it can be applied to wet and dry foods.

Due to the continuous innovation in the packaging industry, the recyclability of aluminum foil is continuously improved and the cost is reduced. Metallized PET film rolls out with some of the properties of aluminum foil, but its enhanced properties are best suited for your product. But how do these two differ in the area of packaging and what is the right material for your product?

When choosing between the two, we must keep in mind that each has and contains different functions and uses.

Aluminum foil extends product shelf life while providing excellent barrier properties. Metalized PET film, offers a more economical solution to provide your product with puncture resistance, gas barrier durability, and aesthetic appearance.

Aluminum foil is widely used for its barrier properties and is typically used in powdered, dried food, confectionery, and dairy products. Due to the continuous development of the economy and the environment. We are constantly trying to find better alternatives in the packaging industry. Flexible packaging was introduced to provide a better and more economical solution than plastic packaging.

Not only does it use recycled raw materials, but it also provides your product with barrier properties in the long run. This uses a complex film, metalized PET film that helps reduce costs. Some properties of aluminum foil are also provided. To learn about aluminum foil and metalized PET film in flexible packaging, read on.

Foil is your all-around packaging type and can be found in all areas of the industry. It is used as a barrier layer in flexible packaging, and its production begins with a series of cold rolling steps. Each process of aluminum foil reduces the thickness of the aluminum ingot by half, making it lightweight and durable. In the final stage, the foil is folded in half and oiled to release. The foil is then rolled, separated, re-rolled, and cut to the desired width and length.

Foil can be folded in many ways to suit your packaging needs. Making it ideal for recycling, packaging, and packaging different kinds of products.

Metallized PET films, on the other hand, are made entirely of light metal (aluminum). Metallized PET film is a plastic foil evaporated with aluminum powder in a high vacuum. This makes the film less airtight than aluminum foil. But they are more tear-resistant, more flexible, and lighter, allowing for a more polished finish. The process of making metalized PET film uses pure aluminum powder containing 98% aluminum.

The end result gives the film a metallic sheen to create an optical effect. While looking inside the package. In addition, metalized PET films are less susceptible to corrosion and less prone to wrinkling than aluminum films. At the same time, it provides manufacturers with a more cost-effective solution and is an environmentally friendly alternative to packaging.

In summary, aluminum foil has the barrier functions of blocking moisture, blocking oxygen, blocking aroma, and resisting the influence of light. Thanks to its oxygen barrier, it prevents chemicals in food from reacting which can lead to off-flavors and rancidity. It is one of the most expensive layers in multilayer flexible packaging due to its barrier properties.

Metallized PET films are ideal for applications where flavor and freshness are required. This is suitable for packaging applications in the technical and industrial sectors. Read on to learn more about the difference between aluminum film and metalized PET film in flexible packaging.

There are various ways to distinguish them physically. For example, try shining light on aluminum foil and metalized PET film and see which will pass. If the light passes through the film, it is obviously a metalized PET film. Because it doesn't have an opaque barrier that prevents light from passing through. Unlike aluminum foil, which is made of sheet metal, light cannot pass through but only reflects.

Also in terms of appearance, the foil looks stiffer and has a matte finish compared to metalized PET. Metallized PET, it has a softer appearance and a glossy finish. When holding aluminum foil, it is lighter and more flexible than metalized PET film.

In rigid packaging, we use multi-layer materials laminated with aluminum foil or metalized PET film. By doing so, we have to consider the lamination fastness of these films. Laminated aluminum foil film has good sealing ability, good chemical resistance, and water resistance. Offers the advantages of good oxygen barrier properties and good formability. This preserves the freshness of the product for longer.

The metalized PET film is coated with a thin layer of aluminum powder. Therefore, we cannot laminate metalized PET as we can on Bopp, PET, or Nylon films. Why? Because of the thin aluminum layer on the metalized pet. This will create chemical transfer between the layers, compromising the bag's fastness and stability.

If you are a CPG brand, do not have high requirements for shelf life, storage packaging, or need a special environment. Then MET PET is the answer for you, as an ideal foil replacement and cost-effective packaging solution. Products such as coffee, nuts, dried food, and energy drink powders are best suited for metalized PET films.

Due to the lightweight metalized PET film, more packaging units can be accommodated per square meter. In addition, with the continuous advancement of packaging technology, the demand for metalized PET film is increasing.

On the other hand, if your packaging requires special barrier properties or shielding capabilities to protect and extend the shelf life of your product, then aluminum foil is your best option. The efficient storage of food and beverages in aluminum packaging reduces the need for cooling effects and makes them slower to spoil.

Another benefit is that aluminum's light weight reduces the energy required during transportation. Aluminum foil works best on products like instant beverages, snacks, sausages, jerky, baby food, ready meals, and preserves. But demand for thinner foils is increasing due to high costs. Another thing to keep in mind is that aluminum reacts with acidic or salty foods and the aluminum ions dissolve and can get into the food.

The aluminum foil itself is a metal material made of thin aluminum sheets. Metallized PET, on the other hand, is a plastic part with a single layer or thin aluminum flakes. As I said before, the production of aluminum foil requires more energy, water, and greenhouse gas emissions than plastic film. But despite this, aluminum foil is recyclable. Flexible packaging using aluminum foil has a higher product-to-pack ratio than rigid packaging.

In addition, the aluminum material is fully recyclable, which increases the collection and recycling rate of aluminum foil. This means that less primary aluminum will be required. Processed recycled aluminum can deliver significant energy savings compared to virgin metal, requiring 95% less energy.

Metallized PET is based on polyester resin, so it can be recycled into other plastic products, reducing landfill waste. An environmentally friendly solution for recycling metalized pets has been developed. This means that met PET is recycled into PET pellets with enhanced physical, mechanical, optical, and aesthetic properties. The physical, mechanical, and aesthetic properties of tapes and yarns produced from a recycled met pet are comparable to virgin pet pellets.

All in all, laminated metalized films provide enhanced barrier protection for your products. In food packaging, aluminum foil is usually laminated with plastic film. Using aluminum foil offers advantages such as being lightweight, water resistance, the reflection of heat and UV rays, and recyclability.

On the other hand, metalized PET is also very popular with food manufacturers. Because it maintains the freshness and flavor of the product. In addition, both films are scratch-resistant, protecting the product from packaging lines and environmental factors during transport. Provide high-quality and aesthetic finishes to your product packaging.

The above introduces the application and difference between aluminum foil and metalized PET film in detail. If you have any questions or want to buy, please pay attention and contact us.

PENGYUAN is a professional custom thermal insulation material manufacturer. We have 3 vacuum coating machines and 8 PE extrusion coating production lines, guided by the 6S management system. As the largest extrusion coating film base in China, the company has obtained ISO9001, ISO14001, and ISO45001 full-system production standards.