Q. What is the Bloom Seal ® treatment for plastics?
A : Through a surface reaction with Bloom Seal ®, a thin PTFE barrier layer can be created on surfaces of polyolefin articles. This layer imparts outstanding hydrocarbon solvent barrier and consequently has found growing uses in packaging and other industries. This barrier greatly reduces the permeation and scalping of a range of fuels, chemicals, solvents, flavours and fragrances. Container softening and/or swelling can be reduced in many cases and long term panelling through weight loss of product can often be brought down to an acceptable level. Bloom Seal ® effectively extends the application bounds of polyethylene containers and tankage. This allows inexpensive polyethylene to be used in applications with aggressive chemicals, such as with agricultural chemicals, solvents, institutional/industrial cleaning formulations, food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics etc., where an untreated container would have marginal success in containing the product.

Q. How is Bloom Seal ® TREATMENT performed?
A : Bloom Packaging practices post-mould batch Bloom Seal ® TREATMENT, whereby both inner and outer container surfaces are treated, and offers two levels of Bloom Seal ® to match the wide ranging needs of customer applications. Bloom Packaging process can be applied to most stock containers produced on generic equipment and thus has a much wider application.

Q. What problems does the Bloom Packaging Treatment address?
A : The Bloom Packaging process virtually eliminates or reduces a variety of permeation problems normally associated with the chemical attack on polyolefin including :

• Panelling and Distortion
• Product Weight Loss
• Container Discolouration
• Odour Emission
• Flavour, Fragrance and/or Active Ingredient Loss

Bloom Seal ® can reduce chemical permeation for many products up to 1000 times.

Q. How long will the treatment last?
A : The Bloom Seal ® process is a permanent molecular bonding of PTFE on the exposed surfaces of the polyolefin substrate.

In all Bloom Seal ® processes for rigid polyethylene packaging and tankage, PTFE is chemically bonded to the chain-like molecules on the outermost surfaces of the container. The reaction is permanent and forms a thin PTFE polymer surface layer with heightened chemical stability. Once grafted in place, the PTFE is permanent and not readily removable, nor does it become unbound with time. Other than surface abrasion and rare cases of extreme reactive agents, the barrier performance resulting from the Bloom Seal ® treatment lasts the life of the container, even in multi-trip packaging such as oil drums and IBC's. Bloom Seal ® automobile gasoline tanks have been extensively tested and shown to deliver exceptional barrier performance in excess of the ten year minimum life requirement.

Q. What causes panelling ?
A One cause can be permeation of the contents (liquid or gas), resulting in a slight vacuum that distorts the walls. Another cause can be permeation of the organic material into container wall, where it plasticizes the polymer (HDPE) and allows it to "shrink back" to the parison shape from which it was blow molded.

Q. What can be treated?
A : Any size or shape container, part or film made of polyolefin plastic from very tiny to 20,000 ltrs. tank. In addition to HDPE, LDPE and PP, Bloom Packaging can Bloom Seal ® a variety of other materials (including thermoplastics, rubber and other elastomers and some nonmetallic and metallic solids) to modify their chemical permeation resistance or surface characteristics.

Q. What if I have special requirements?
A : Bloom Packaging process is designed to suit the requirements of each product to be Bloom Seal ®. If you have special requirements, we will be happy to work with you to design a Customer Specific Quality Plan (CSQP) to meet your needs.

Q. Is the Bloom Packaging Process FDA compliant?
A : Yes. The Bloom Packaging process complies with FDA, USA regulations according to 21CFR Ch.I, Pt.177.1615 a,b and c.

Q. Do containers appear different after Bloom Seal ® treatment?
A : Visual changes to plastic surfaces are negligible. In many cases, there is no discernible visible change. With heavy Bloom Seal ® TREATMENT, plastic surfaces can become less glossy and slightly Mat (Although some high gloss resins are being developed that stay glossy after a Bloom Seal ® treatment).

Q. Can Bloom Packaging treat containers that are silk-screened ?
A : Usually yes, but they must be prequalified to insure that the inks are compatible with Bloom Seal ®.

Q. Can Bloom Packaging treat containers that have in-mould labels?
A : Usually yes, but they must be prequalified to insure they are compatible with Bloom Seal ®. Plastic in-mould labels work best with Bloom Seal ®.

Q. Can Bloom Packaging treat containers that are sleeve labelled?
A : In most cases, sleeve labels do not prevent containers from being Bloom Seal ®. But if possible should be avoided.

Q. What polyethylene resins Bloom Sealed the best?
A : This information would be given upon entering into the business secrecy contract.

Q. Can pigmented bottles be Bloom Sealed ?
A : Bloom Packaging Pvt.Ltd. has successfully treated natural and our in-house developed white and black master batch. Other colour are discouraged though they can be developed in our R & D department upon request.

Q. Is the Bloom Packaging plant ISO-9002 certified?
A : Bloom Packaging system have been ISO 9002 auditor verified.

Q. Which antistats can be used for Bloom Seal ®ED bottles ?
A : This information would be given post upon entering into business secrecy contract.

Q. What Bloom Seal ® level should I use?
A : The level of Bloom Seal ® that you use is dependent on so many factors. It is impossible for us to know how our container will perform with your product. Product formulation, container size and style, resin and additives are some of the factors that impact the final results. For this reason, Bloom Packaging always recommends product testing be done with the actual product and exact container and closure system proposed to determine the total package that will meet your requirements. Bloom Packaging Pvt.Ltd. feels this container qualification process is so vital that we are happy to treat a sample quantity of containers for testing purposes.