Uncover The Heat Induction Seal Process

Liners are an intricate component of packaging. It's commonly known that F217 liners are multi-use, remaining inside the confines of the closure. PS liners are a bit more advanced, capable of adhering to a container, creating a degree of tamper-evidence. HIS or heat induction seal liners require special machinery to be correctly applied and are therefore unnecessarily shrouded in mystery. Read on to learn the simple secrets behind the freshness preserving, shelf-life extending and tamper-evident capabilities of HIS liners.

Two piece heat induction seal liners are made from four different components. The top layer is made from paperboard. Secondly, lies a sheet of wax that adheres the paperboard to tier three, aluminum foil. Lastly, a portion of polymer completes the liner. Each of the four materials serves a special purpose that contributes to the overall success of the induction process.

So, how does a hodgepodge of materials come together to form the metallic liner we're all accustomed to seeing on peanut butter jars and pharmaceutical items? Though the process may seem mysterious, it's not as complicated as you might think. Read on to shed some light on the liner subject matter.

Induction sealing is the last step in the packaging process. All containers should be filled with marketable product and capped with an HIS lined closure (click through our HIS closure line). Once all the logistical decisions are made and the goods are all bottled up, the induction process can begin. Induction machines come in different shapes and sizes. Whether it's massive, welded to an assembly line and capable of processing major product runs or hand-held and more suitable for small productions, every induction machine is made functional through two components, a power supply and a sealing head.

Power supplies are similar from model to model, while sealing heads are varied and specialized, dependent upon the specifics of the closure being sealed. There are three standard sealing head options, flat head, tunnel head and all-in-one. A flat sealing head is conducive to a wide sealing area, making it the sealing head of choice for substantial closures, 53mm and larger. Tunnel sealing heads narrow the electromagnetic field allowing for focused application as small containers are fed through a tunnel-like passageway. An all-in-one sealing head is just what it describes itself to be. The apparatus is furnished with four different size options, making it capable of processing closures ranging from a small 28mm to a massive 120mm.

Now that you've graduated from HIS liner component and induction machine element school let's analyze the steps of the induction sealing process. The induction machine is jump started and the power supply is initiated. Then electrical frequencies begin building, moving toward the sealing head as currents. Eventually the currents are transmitted through the sealing head directed toward the liner, provoking changes within every material tier.

1. The electrical current disrupts the foil.
2. The process generates heat, softening and melting the wax.
3. The paperboard engulfs the wax, disconnecting the bond between the liner's first and third layers.
4. The polymer disintegrates and bonds with the foil liner over the container's opening.
5. The result is a single liner nestled with the closure and a strongly sealed foil liner blanketing the orifice of the container, requiring it to be peeled off before consumer use.

The mystery has been revealed and it's not as elaborate as you may have guessed. Heat induction seal liners are just like any other liner and its application isn't brain surgery.

By: Kayla Holman

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There are many liners to choose from in the packaging industry. Read Kayla Holman's blog article on heat induction seal liners before making the big decision!