Herrmann Ultrasonics, Inc: Ultrasonic sealing for snack bags saves material

In the ultrasonic sealing process, the packaging materials to be joined are placed between the sonotrode and the anvil.  In order to focus the ultrasonic energy, small bundled contours (top, radius, or plateaus which are arranged as vertical lines) in the anvil are necessary. The seal quality depends on the line height, distance, quantity, and design of this contoured anvil.

Ultrasonic seals of metallic foils are peelable starting at widths of 7mm. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the overall amount of the packaging material.  Heat seals typically have a seal width of 15 to 24mm. The percentage of the area of a typical heat seal is approximately 8% to 12% of the package. This can be reduced by 50% when sealing with ultrasonics.

The overlap longitudinal seal (back seal) can also be sealed with ultrasonics, offering a similar tight seal.

The ultrasonic tooling remains cool, which eliminates shrinking and visual changes to the foil structure.

The correct sealing force insures an even distribution of the created flow of the seal layer, with few wrinkles, providing an even distribution of force across the length of the seal. This is critical for the peelability of the seal.

It is easy to peel a seal if it has a cohesion fracture (separation of the seal layers of the films) resistance of 4 to 6 N/15mm over the length of the seal. It is difficult to peel seals that have an adhesive fracture resistance in the area of the seal (delamination).