Mylar Bags | Industrial Food Storage & Oxygen Barrier Bags
- Material Composition: Multi-layer BoPET (Biaxial-oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate) and Aluminum Foil Laminate.
- Size/Capacity Range: 1-Quart Pouches to 55-Gallon Industrial Drum Liners.
- Compliance/Ratings: FDA-Compliant Food-Grade Material; BPA-Free.
- Closure Types: Interlocking Zip-Lock and Permanent Heat-Sealable Ends.
| Buy More, Save More! | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Price Each | You Save |
| 1 - 1 pieces | $2.99 ea. | $0.60 (17%) |
| 2 - 5 pieces | $2.81 ea. | $0.78 (22%) |
| 6 - 11 pieces | $2.65 ea. | $0.94 (26%) |
| 12 - 47 pieces | $2.51 ea. | $1.08 (30%) |
| 48 - 199 pieces | $2.45 ea. | $1.14 (32%) |
| 200 - 499 pieces | $2.35 ea. | $1.24 (35%) |
| 500+ pieces | $2.25 ea. | $1.34 (37%) |
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|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Price Each | You Save |
| 1 - 11 pieces | $2.69 ea. | $0.43 (14%) |
| 12 - 24 pieces | $2.19 ea. | $0.93 (30%) |
| 25 - 49 pieces | $1.75 ea. | $1.37 (44%) |
| 50+ pieces | $1.65 ea. | $1.47 (47%) |
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|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Price Each | You Save |
| 1 - 3 pieces | $19.98 ea. | $2.35 (11%) |
| 4+ pieces | $18.98 ea. | $3.35 (15%) |
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|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Price Each | |
| 1 - 4 pieces | $15.99 ea. | |
| 5 - 9 pieces | $13.95 ea. | |
| 10+ pieces | $12.95 ea. | |
| Buy More, Save More! | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Price Each | You Save |
| 1 - 4 pieces | $14.95 ea. | $1.00 (6%) |
| 5 - 9 pieces | $13.95 ea. | $2.00 (13%) |
| 10+ pieces | $12.95 ea. | $3.00 (19%) |
| Buy More, Save More! | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Price Each | |
| 1 - 4 pieces | $26.95 ea. | |
| 5 - 9 pieces | $23.95 ea. | |
| 10+ pieces | $19.95 ea. | |
| Buy More, Save More! | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Price Each | |
| 1 - 4 pieces | $13.95 ea. | |
| 5 - 9 pieces | $11.95 ea. | |
| 10+ pieces | $10.95 ea. | |
| Buy More, Save More! | ||
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Price Each | |
| 1 - 1 pieces | $29.95 ea. | |
| 2+ pieces | $27.50 ea. | |
- Material Composition: Multi-layer BoPET (Biaxial-oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate) and Aluminum Foil Laminate.
- Size/Capacity Range: 1-Quart Pouches to 55-Gallon Industrial Drum Liners.
- Compliance/Ratings: FDA-Compliant Food-Grade Material; BPA-Free.
- Closure Types: Interlocking Zip-Lock and Permanent Heat-Sealable Ends.
Mylar bags are specialized industrial-grade barrier containers engineered for the long-term preservation of dry goods and sensitive materials. This category includes high-tensile BoPET films laminated with aluminum foil to provide a superior barrier against oxygen, moisture, and light. Available capacities range from 1-quart pouches to 55-gallon liners designed for bulk storage. These bags are utilized in food processing, emergency preparedness, and industrial packaging to extend product shelf life. The selection includes both re-closable zip-lock models for accessibility and heat-sealable designs for airtight, tamper-evident storage when paired with oxygen absorbers.
Configuration Analysis
Technical Mylar Bag Configurations
Mylar bags are categorized by their dimensions and closure mechanisms to suit specific storage volumes. Small-format bags, such as 1-quart and 1-gallon pouches, are often used for individual portions or laboratory samples. Medium-scale bags (1.25 to 5 gallons) are sized to fit standard industrial pails, providing a secondary barrier within a rigid container. For bulk operations, 55-gallon Mylar liners are used to protect large quantities of raw materials within steel or plastic drums. Closure systems further define utility: zip-lock configurations allow for repetitive opening and closing, while flat-top heat-sealable bags require an impulse sealer to create a permanent molecular bond, ensuring maximum shelf-life extension.
Material Engineering
Laminate Properties and Gauge Thickness
The performance of Mylar packaging is derived from its multi-layer construction. The primary substrate is Biaxial-oriented Polyethylene Terephthalate (BoPET), which provides high tensile strength and chemical stability. This is laminated with a thin layer of aluminum foil, which acts as the core barrier against gas permeation and light transmission. Material thickness is measured in mils (thousandths of an inch), typically ranging from 3.5 to 7.0 mils in industrial applications. Thicker gauges offer increased puncture resistance and lower Oxygen Transmission Rates (OTR). Interior layers consist of food-grade polyethylene, which allows the material to melt and fuse during the heat-sealing process without contaminating the contents.
Regulatory Standards
Compliance and Food Safety Standards
Industrial Mylar bags must adhere to strict regulatory frameworks to ensure suitability for human consumption and chemical safety. Materials listed in this section are manufactured using FDA-compliant resins and are BPA-free, making them safe for direct contact with dehydrated foods, grains, and pharmaceuticals. In an industrial context, these bags assist in maintaining compliance with OSHA and DOT regulations by preventing the degradation of sensitive chemical powders during transit. While Mylar itself is not a primary shipping container, its use as a liner ensures that the primary packaging meets hygiene standards by preventing contact between the product and the outer drum or crate.
Industrial Applications
Sectors and Technical Use Cases
The application of Mylar barrier technology spans multiple industrial sectors. In the food and agriculture industry, these bags are the standard for storing bulk grains, legumes, and freeze-dried products, as they mitigate the risks of oxidation and insect infestation. In the pharmaceutical sector, Mylar is used to protect moisture-sensitive active ingredients and diagnostic kits. The manufacturing and electronics sectors utilize Mylar for the vacuum-sealing of components to prevent corrosion and electrostatic discharge. Furthermore, the emergency preparedness sector relies on 5-gallon Mylar systems to maintain the caloric integrity of food supplies for durations exceeding 20 years.
Selection Criteria
Technical Factors for Procurement
Selecting the appropriate Mylar bag requires an analysis of the storage environment and the physical properties of the contents. Buyers must consider the Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR) and OTR requirements; products with high fat or oil content require thicker foil laminates to prevent rancidity. The physical geometry of the item also dictates the required mil thickness; sharp-edged items like dehydrated pasta require a 5.0 mil or higher gauge to prevent micro-perforations. Additionally, the choice between a zip-lock or a plain heat-seal top depends on whether the application requires frequent access or a long-term, static vacuum seal.
Capacity and Application Reference
| Bag Size | Dimensions (Approx.) | Typical Capacity | Primary Industrial Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Quart | 8" x 10" | 1–2 lbs | Lab samples, spices, small electronics |
| 1 Gallon | 10" x 14" | 5–7 lbs | Dehydrated base ingredients, powders |
| 1.25 Gallon | 12" x 13" | 8–10 lbs | Retail-ready bulk dry goods |
| 5 Gallon | 18" x 28" | 30–35 lbs | Long-term grain and legume storage |
| 55 Gallon | 36" x 56" | 300–400 lbs | Industrial drum liners for raw materials |
Operational Implementation
Sealing and Oxygen Management
To achieve the technical barrier properties described in the Material Engineering section, Mylar bags must be deployed with appropriate secondary components. For long-term preservation, Oxygen Absorbers (OAs) are inserted into the bag prior to sealing to reduce internal oxygen levels to less than 0.1%. While zip-lock closures provide a temporary seal for transit, industrial-grade storage requires a heat seal at a temperature range of 375°F to 425°F (190°C to 218°C). This thermal process creates a fused bond between the inner polyethylene layers, ensuring the integrity of the aluminum barrier remains uncompromised by atmospheric ingress.
Oxygen Absorber (OA) Capacity and Selection Guide
Oxygen Management Technical Requirements
To maintain an ultra-low oxygen environment (less than 0.1%), the volume of the oxygen absorber must correspond to the atmospheric volume trapped within the Mylar bag after it is filled. Absorber capacity is measured in cubic centimeters (cc) of oxygen uptake. Failure to use the correct cc rating results in incomplete oxidation of the internal atmosphere, leading to aerobic microbial growth and lipid oxidation.
Calculations and Specifications
| Mylar Bag Size | Recommended OA Capacity (cc) | Material Type Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Quart (8" x 10") | 100cc – 300cc | Dense powders, spices, seeds |
| 1 Gallon (10" x 14") | 300cc – 500cc | Grains, flour, white rice |
| 5 Gallon (18" x 28") | 2000cc – 2500cc | Bulk beans, pasta, oats |
| 55 Gallon (36" x 56") | 15,000cc+ | Industrial bulk raw materials |
Technical Factors Influencing OA Requirements
Interstitial Air Volume and Product Density
The required cc rating is not solely dependent on bag dimensions but on the "interstitial" air—the air space between product particles. Dense, fine-grained materials (e.g., flour or sugar) displace more air and require lower cc ratings. Conversely, low-density or irregularly shaped items (e.g., macaroni or freeze-dried chunks) trap significant volumes of air, necessitating higher-capacity absorbers or multiple units to achieve the desired vacuum effect.
Operational Constraints
Atmospheric Exposure Limits
Oxygen absorbers utilize finely divided iron powder that begins reacting with oxygen immediately upon exposure to air. In industrial packaging workflows, bags must be heat-sealed within 15–20 minutes of opening the OA master seal. Prolonged exposure depletes the chemical capacity of the iron before the bag is sealed, rendering the preservation attempt ineffective. A slight "pull" or vacuum effect on the Mylar bag 24–48 hours after sealing indicates a successful chemical reaction and atmospheric reduction.