How much do you know about aluminum foil and metalized PET material?

Nowadays, there are many types of packaging bags, and it is easy to confuse aluminum foil and metalized PET when ordering flexible packaging . Although their appearance looks the same, they are actually two completely different bags

What is the difference between aluminum foil bags and metalized PET bags? 

The following points are summarized:

1.Different materials: Although the raw materials of aluminum foil bags and metalized foil bags are both metal aluminum, aluminum foil bags are made of a variety of plastic films and pure aluminum. metalized PET bags are applied to metal aluminum evenly on the surface of the plastic film under high temperature and vacuum conditions.

2.Cost difference: Aluminum foil bags use more metallic aluminum than metalized PET bags, so the production cost of aluminum foil bags is higher than that of metalized PET bags.

3.Different performance: For packaging, pure aluminum foil is rarely used. In most cases, aluminum foil bags are made of metal aluminum and other materials, so they have good barrier properties, sealing properties, light protection, high and low-temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, softness, and other characteristics. Metalized PET bags only coat the metalaluminum on the film, which only plays the role of shading and decoration, and does not greatly improve other properties.

4.The aluminum foil bag can be vacuumed and anti-static liquid can be applied to its surface. They are suitable for electronic components, precision machinery and equipment, chemical raw materials, optoelectronics, circuit boards, and other products that are sensitive to static electricity and have moisture-proof requirements. Metalized PET bags are suitable for packaging electronic components, powders, tea, cosmetics, and other products.

So how to distinguish between aluminum foil bags and metalized PET bags?

The following four methods make it easy to make a quick judgment

1. Visual inspection: Look inside the bag through strong light. The opaque part is the aluminum foil bag, and the light-transmitting part is the metalized PET bag. Aluminum foil bags have a silvery white appearance and can reflect light, but their reflectivity is not as good as that of metalized PET bags, which can reflect people’s shadows. 

2. Touch: Aluminum foil bags are thick and hard, while metalized PET bags are lighter and softer than aluminum foil bags.

3. Rubbing: Because aluminum foil is a metal material, there will be creases such as dead folds and dead marks after folding, while metalized PET bags are made of plastic film, and it will quickly rebound and spread out when twisted, and no creases will appear.

4. Contact with Fire: Aluminum foil bags are not easy to ignite. When the aluminum foil bags come into contact with flames, the aluminum layer will roll back, and gray aluminum slag will be left after burning. Metalized PET bags can be ignited without leaving aluminum slag.

Then how to choose aluminum foil bags and metalized PET bags in packaging?

If your product has low shelf life and storage packaging requirements, then VMPET can be an ideal foil replacement and cost-effective solution for your packaging. Products such as coffee, nuts, dry foods, and powdered energy drinks are best suited for metalized PET films.

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 choice. The efficient storage of food and beverages in aluminum packaging reduces the need for cooling effects and allows them to spoil more slowly.

Aluminum foil is best suited for products such as instant drinks, snacks, sausages, jerky, baby food, ready meals, and preserves. However, demand for thinner aluminum foil is increasing due to high costs. Another thing to remember is that aluminum reacts with acidic or salty foods and the aluminum ions dissolve and can get into the food. 

Aluminum foil bags and aluminum-plated bags are different, and the suitable products are also different. Choosing the right one is the most important.