TOPAS® Cyclic Olefin Copolymer (COC) is Commercial Alternative to Barex® PAN Resin
Packaging Companies Adopt COC for Broad Range of Applications Including Pharmaceuticals
FLORENCE, Ky. – TOPAS® cyclic olefin copolymer from TOPAS Advanced Polymers has been identified as a successful alternative to Barex® polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in the wake of the announced closure of Ineos’ lone Barex® plant in Lima, Ohio. Working closely with top packaging suppliers, TOPAS has specified COC in a wide range of pharmaceutical packages such as medicinal pouches and patches and other applications that require strong chemical resistance.
"We’re pleased to announce that our industry-leading COC is filling the needs of many healthcare suppliers who seek a replacement for Barex® materials," said Timothy Kneale, president of TOPAS Advanced Polymers. "PAN and COC come from the opposite ends of the polymer spectrum but they offer similar properties when it comes to barrier/permeation performance and strong chemical resistance."
The pharmaceutical packaging industry is already familiar with COC through its use in semi-rigid and container applications, according to Kneale. While not a 1-for-1 replacement for PAN, COC delivers effective chemical resistance and low adsorption rates, exhibiting low reactivity with medical-grade chemical contents such as nicotine for patches. For example, COC's resistance to methyl salicylate is similar to PAN and better than PETG. COC's adsorption of nicotine is less than that of PETG and ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH). TOPAS’ converter customers have developed innovative nicotine patch packaging solutions utilizing COC for the transdermal industry.
COC is known for its high purity and excellent heat sealing behavior, and comes with broad global regulatory compliance for food contact and medical uses. Unlike PAN, TOPAS COC can be melt processed by all common thermoplastic processing methods including mono and multi-layer film, sheet, and extrusion coating, along with injection and extrusion blow molding.
TOPAS COC is a key component in a broad range of global Barex® replacement products from leading healthcare packaging companies including Bemis Healthcare Packaging, Oshkosh, Wis., Rollprint Packaging Products, Addison, Ill., Tekni-Films Division of Tekni-Plex, Inc., Wayne, Pa, and other suppliers.
About TOPAS Advanced Polymers                      Â
TOPAS Advanced Polymers is the world's leading maker of cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), a glass-clear and incredibly pure plastic for healthcare, optics, packaging, and electronics applications. From insulin delivery, to food contact films, to tablet and smartphone displays, TOPAS COC is the high-performance material of choice. The broad global regulatory compliance of TOPAS COC can make your next development a simpler task. Learn more at www.topas.com.
