Plasma Surface Treatment for MDI Cans

Our unique new plasma process for treating the internal surfaces of metered-dose inhaler (MDI) canisters ensures the active drug content doesn’t stick to the canister wall. This solves a problem present in many other MDI cans and ensures the patient gets the correct dose.

This fluorocarbon polymerisation (FCP) plasma treatment process – available only from H&T Presspart – improves the surface energy performance of an MDI canister, which enhances drug stability in formulations where interactions with the aluminium substrate can lead to product degradation and reduced shelf life. We’ve used the process to develop several different plasma treatment options that successfully prevent drug degradation in solution or suspension formulations.

The plasma treatment process improves the surface energy performance of an MDI canister, which enhances drug stability in formulationsA unique improved process

Our improved Plasma treatment process a uniform layer on the inside walls. In traditional processes, the nanolayer thickness varies, and builds up around the canister lip, neck and base, while being depleted at the rim, shoulders and canister corners. Other surface treatments, such as spray coating or anodising, or alternative materials like stainless steel, can be expensive, or use chemicals which are undesirable or have long-term supply issues. The new plasma treatment improves on all these issues.

Summary of the advantages of the new process:

Uses readily available, high-purity industrial gases.

Uses no solvents and produces no harmful waste products.

Canisters are cleaned during the process

Surface treatment fully replicates the contours of the can

We have not detected any extractables.

A patent-protected future-proofed technology.

Lower carbon footprint than traditional coating technologies.Single stage treatmen