Closed-Cell Polyethylene Foam for Medical Packaging

When it comes to selecting the right foam for your medical packaging, it can be a challenging task.

Different foams have wide variations in density, durability, firmness and overall performance. In the medical industry, you need materials that are medical grade, biocompatible and FDA compliant.

When it comes to medical packaging, closed-cell polyethylene foam is a great option.

At Janco Inc, we’re experienced in using closed cell polyethylene foam and can help you choose the right material and application for your medical packaging. Here’s what you need to know about closed cell polyethylene foam for your next project:

What is closed cell polyethylene foam?

Closed cell polyethylene foam is a durable and lightweight closed-cell material made of millions of tiny bubbles, sealed off from each other. It is a popular choice for medical packaging because it is resistant to moisture and chemicals, and has excellent insulation properties.

Benefits of closed cell polyethylene foam

Closed-cell polyethylene foam is a popular choice for many applications, including medical packaging, because of its many advantages over other materials. Here are some of the benefits:

• Easy to process – Closed cell polyethylene foam is easy to manipulate and fabricate, making it a great choice in manufacturing and packaging. This type of foam is easily die cut and works well with compression molding and thermoforming.
• Cost-effective – Its high load bearing characteristics mean that smaller amounts are needed to protect products, saving manufacturer costs on materials.
• Water impermeability – The closed-cell nature of the material means water does not pass through the foam, making it an effective solution for preventing moisture problems.
• Insulating – This highly-dense material insulates extremely well against heat, noise and vibrations.
• Durable – The material is light yet strong which makes it tear-resistant and long-lasting.
• Non-particulating – This material doesn’t shed small particles that could become contaminants in a clean space, making it a great choice for the medical industry.
• Sterilizable – Unlike many other materials, closed-cell polyethylene foam can undergo the strains of sterilization and still hold up strong.

Types of closed-cell polyethylene foam

This versatile material comes in a variety of forms for a wide range of applications. These types include:

• Polyethylene sheets – Foam sheets that come in various thicknesses and can be used for a wide range of applications, from packaging to insulation of buildings.
• Polyethylene rolls – Foam rolls are used for piping and plumbing purposes, medical supplies and other health care products. You can find it in a variety of shapes and thicknesses, making it a versatile choice. While this is an effective foam in some cases, when it is in a thinner state it is less durable than foams of greater thickness.
• Volara – This flexible foam has a wide range of uses. Beyond its popularity in the medical industry, Volara is ideal because it’s both FDA-compliant and non-toxic, containing no chlorofluorocarbon, hydrochlorofluorocarbon, or hydrocarbon-blowing agents.
• Closed cell cross-linked polyethylene foam – This type of form is air, stain and water resistant, which also makes it mold and mildew resistant. It is used extensively in the packaging of medical products and equipment.
• Zotefoam – The world’s largest manufacturer of lightweight crosslinked polyolefin block foams, which offer effective cushioning and resistance to water and some chemicals.

Closed-cell polyethylene foam and Janco

We frequently work with closed-cell polyethylene foam when creating medical packaging because it’s one of the most effective materials for meeting our customers’ needs.

Here at Janco, we specialize in Volara foam distribution. Volara foam is used in projects across several medical manufacturing capabilities, including compression molding, thermoforming, and die cutting. We also use Zotefoam, another effective foam product for its easy manipulation and resilience.

Regardless of the material used, our medical device and packaging staff is skilled in ensuring products meet all standards, supported by an inspection team that performs thorough validation testing in accordance with ASTM, ISO, or custom standards.

Closed-Cell Polyethylene Foam for Your Medical Packaging Needs

When you need custom packaging services for the medical industry, Janco Inc has the experience, design skills and state-of-the-art equipment you can rely on to get the job done right.

Contact today to discuss our medical packaging capabilities.