What is a Peelable Sealant in Medical Packaging?

A peelable sealant is a functional layer within many medical packaging materials that helps maintain sterility while allowing packages to open safely and easily. Each peelable sealant is engineered and formulated to maintain specific properties for the needs of the final packaging format. The ingenuity of a peelable sealant is one reason why, for decades, they have been trusted in the medical packaging industry to allow for proper aseptic transfer and maintained sterility. Truly making peelable sealants a fundamental element for a lot of medical packaging.  

When two substrates are sealed together to create a peelable system that works cohesively, whether it’s a pouch, a die-cut lid to tray, or a thermoform-fill-seal application, one substrate needs a peelable technology for the best performance. This means one side of the packaging typically uses either a heat seal coating or a material with a peelable sealant. The true science behind peelable sealants lies in the delicate balance: strong enough to protect, yet engineered to provide a clean, cohesive peel. 

A cohesive peel occurs when a peelable sealant layer, or heat seal coating, splits within itself, leaving a portion of the sealant technology on both sides of the package. Both coatings and materials with peelable sealants are viable options depending on the packaging format and the functional needs of the packaging. Regardless of the chosen peelable technology, the goal remains the same: maintain the product’s integrity and enable proper aseptic transfer into a sterile environment.  

Peelable sealants have a foothold in medical packaging is because they make opening a package intuitive, repeatable and safe for the sterile field. Another reason is that they often have a larger sealing window, making them easier to handle, which simplifies manufacturing and reduces variability. A peelable sealants' ability to provide a secure yet consistent peel makes them not just an option among many, but a differentiator during the key moments when a package is opened.