Tokyo – Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc. (MPI) announced today that it will launch the super high gas barrier film X-BARRIER™ on July 1, 2008. X-BARRIER™ is a modified film based on Mitsubishi’s TECHBARRIER® technology ⁽¹⁾ that has been used in high performance food, medical, pharmaceutical and industrial packaging throughout the world since 1991.

- Reference data ONLY. (Value is measured as laminated film) - SUPERNYL is co-ex bi-ax polyamide film produced by Mitsubishi Plastics - SANTONYL is bi-ax polyamide film produced by Mistsubishi Plastics

The main advantage of this new product is its water vapor barrier. Some of the X-BARRIERs™ achieve outstanding water vapor barrier properties (See Figure 1). With a water vapor transmission rate of 10-4 g/m2/day, this allows for flexible, roll-to-roll production of plastic electronics. This property has little deterioration even under long-term high temperature / humidity conditions. In addition to the water vapor barrier, other gas barrier properties, for hydrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide, for instance, are also at a high level. X-BARRIER™ is a transparent material and is metal-free so contents are visible. Functions such as Gelbo-Flex durability, heat resistance, stability of gas barrier property under high temperature and high humidity, climate durability, chemical durability, anti-static electricity, electric insulation, heat resistance, flame resistance, high transparency, low contamination, etc., can be tailored to customer needs.

Potential markets of X-BARRIER™ for high performance packages are expected in the medical, pharmaceutical and industrial fields, especially for products such as catheters, surgical sutures, contact lenses, tablets, capsules, liquid products for parenteral nutrition, dialysis and hematal treatment, which require not only oxygen barrier but also high water vapor barrier. Industrial products requiring high water vapor barrier, i.e. packing material for humidity sensitive products like resin, amino-acid, chemicals, finished or semi-finished components of semiconductors, electric circuit FPD (flat panel display) and building material, could also benefit from this new product. Additionally, X-BARRIER™ will be highly effective for electronics applications, especially as an encapsulation material for electronic devices such as FPD, electric paper, organic EL and photovoltaic modules.

Some applications of X-BARRIER™ have already been evaluated and put into use by customers. A long-standing supply chain system established by the TECHBARRIER® business is in place. In addition, Mitsubishi Plastics has established a customer service system to satisfy customers’ requests quickly and accurately. The experienced “Team X-BARRIER” works with customers to identify needs, prepare product samples, evaluate effectiveness and bring final product to market. Quality assurance is accomplished by contract between MPI and customers with bilateral understanding. (Quality specification, Supply / Purchase agreement, etc.)

(1) TECHBARRIER® is SiOx vacuum coated plastic film developed and commercially sold by Mitsubishi Plastics, Inc. since 1991. TECHBARRIER® has mainly been used as a packaging material for food, medical, pharmaceutical and industrial applications as an alternative to aluminum foil, glass containers and tin cans. Typically, TECHBARRIER® has a 10-1 to 10-2 cc(g)/m2/day level of oxygen (water vapor) barrier level which provides a long shelf life for the contents. Because of its superior fragrance barrier, it is a good choice for cosmetic and flavored products. The metal-free structure appeals to food processing customers due to the availability of metal detector and microwavable food design. It is worth noting that these properties continue after typical handling (heat treatment, retort sterilization and mechanical stress, like automated handling, transportation, etc.) These unique characteristics have become the basis for the X-BARRIERTM technology.