Foillaminated

Foillaminated is a term used to describe a composite material produced by laminating a metallic foil, most commonly aluminum, to a substrate such as polymer film or paper. The resulting structure combines the foil’s barrier properties with the flexibility and mechanical strength of the substrate, producing a versatile multi-layer film.

Typical constructions involve an aluminum foil layer bonded to a polymer film (for example PET, PE, or CPP) or to paper. The foil is usually very thin (approximately 6 to 12 microns) and is attached with adhesives or through extrusionlamination. This creates a barrier film that can resist moisture, oxygen, light, and odors while maintaining formability for packaging or other applications.

Manufacturing methods include adhesive lamination, where a suitable adhesive binds the foil to the substrate, and extrusion lamination, where the layers are bonded during plastic extrusion. Some foillaminated products also use intermediate tie layers or coatings to improve adhesion and compatibility between dissimilar materials.

Applications are dominated by packaging, especially for food and beverages, coffee bags, confectionery wrappers, and pharmaceutical pouches, where high barrier properties extend shelf life. Foillaminated materials are also used in building insulation as radiant barriers and in certain electronics or specialty applications requiring combined barrier and reflective properties.

Environmental considerations center on recyclability. Multilayer foillaminated materials are often difficult to recycle because the foil, polymer, and adhesive form a single composite. When possible, separation or targeted recycling streams and proper disposal are advised. Aluminum in isolation is recyclable, but lamination complicates processing.