Topas COC chosen for pharma bottles
Topas cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) from Ticona, the technical polymers business of German company Celanese, has been chosen by Owens-Illinois Plastics Group, Plastic Containers, as the moisture barrier layer for its multilayer, injection blow-moulded plastic bottles and vials for pharmaceuticals.
The new bottles are said to offer a more user friendly alternative to pharmaceutical glass in packaging injectable drugs, diluents and other products, because they are shatter-resistant, contain no aluminium, and do not chip or craze during production. The bottles are available in wall thicknesses from 0.5-1.5mm and in capacities from 3-250cc.
Topas COC has low permeability to water vapour, high transparency and clarity, good chemical resistance.
The barrier layer can be sandwiched between inner and outer layers of polycarbonate or PET if very durable bottles are required, but if impermeability is the primary consideration, Topas COC can be used for the external layers with an oxygen barrier material, such as nylon, between them.
Topas COC has excellent biocompatibility, is low in extractables, meets USP Class VI requirements, and has received US FDA Drug and Device Master File numbers. In addition, it has good heat resistance, is compatible with all common sterilisation processes, and resists hydrolysis and a wide range of substances, including polar organics, acids and bases.