Do you know well the aerosol components ?
Aerosol components – How do an average user describe an aerosol ? It’s an under pressure recipient , with gas … A spray…
The aerosol has become such a popular product that the buying experience is led by the design of the can, but nobody really pays attention the choice of the components. Maybe people would also talk about the other visible parts : the difuser and the cap.
(If you want to know more about the aerosol uses and its history, you can check out this video from AEDA)
We invite you to know a little more about the components that make up an aerosol; the can, the valve, diffuser and cap.
The can: normally made from tinplate or aluminium its job is to keep the product in perfect condition until use.
Valve: its job is to maintain the pressure seal of the can and regulate the flow of the product during use.
Diffuser: the diffuser controls the angle, quantity and spray shape of the product as it leaves the can during application.
Cap: although the cap may appear to be only used to enhance the aesthetics of the finished product, it is designed to maintain the aerosol in optimum condition until use and protects the fragile components of the aerosol such as the valve and diffuser.
THE CAN
The can contains the product and the propellant used for its application during use.
A well designed and manufactured can should be capable of handling the pressures of the propellant that are used in the aerosol industry and maintain a wide variety of products in perfect condition.
A wide variety of containers are available on the market, varying both in shape and the volume of product they can hold.
The shape, colour, design and finish of the can vary according to the corporate image and the marketing message that each client wishes to transmit to the public.
Although normally manufactured from tinplate or aluminium the cans may also be made from a wide variety of materials and finishes depending on the characteristics of the final product and the type of propellant used.
In addition some aerosols can have very specific packaging included in the design such as supports, handles or other special adaptations according to end use.
Once you have to buy cans, it is of critical importance to know which barnish has to go inside the can to avoid all the potential leaks. It is important as well to know the standard dimensions (sizes and diameters). These 2 factors may have an importance on the cans delivery date. Some barnishes and some cans are produced very few times.
We invite you to check our recent article to understand the points to check for the can decoration. Depending on the volume of the project, one has to think clearly about the options allowed for can decoration, may it be with a label or may it be painted.
VALVE
Although not visible the valve is a crucial component in the operation of the aerosol, to maintain the integrity of the pressure seal / contents as well as the possible benefits it can provide during the application or use of the product, some examples of the types of valve available:
- light / minimum pressure to trigger the difusion
- one-shot – remain open once activated, called
- specific for viscous fluids
- 360°- a distribution angle of up to 360°
The valve is the most technical part of the aerosol, it is an assembly of 6 components altogether. The valve allows a correct diffusion and also a hermetic close.
For example, in the last few years, the numbers of products in (BOV) (Bag-on-valve), compressed deodorants have been possible thanks to innovations around the valve. These inovations have made greener aerosols, using no propellant or divided by two. For the environement, the BOV is probably the best example of this innovations because it only uses compressed air. The aerosol can empty itself up to 99% and doesn’t use any petro-chemical gases.
From a technical perspective, PROERSA has got all the machinery necessary to work on both new technologies.
Moreover, PROERSA has recently obtained the Ecocert Cosmos Natural certification. This is a new stage for the company on its way to adapt to consumer’s demands.
For more information about the valve properties, you can read the following article which will give you more technical information. Focus on the most under-valued component of the aerosol : the valve
DIFFUSER
The diffuser plays a vital role in the final result obtained from the use of the product, the diffuser characterises the distribution, direction and spray shape of the aerosol´s contents.
Various types of diffusers are available, the choice of diffuser comes from the content and the use of the aerosol.
A continuación, mostramos algunos ejemplos de difusores, en función del tipo de producto a contener.
CAP
Typically we associate the cap of an aerosol as simply decoration, but in reality the cap is a key component that carries out very specific functions such as:
- Act as a Tamper Evident Seal
- Be the diffuser / actuator in certain products
- Protect the product until use
- Harmonise the aesthetic appeal of the finished product
In conclusion of this article, it is important to remember the steps to develop an aerosol. One of the mistake people make is assuming, that because 2 products look alike, they are the same. For each new product, it is important to make the compatibility test. It is the only step that can guarantee you an expiry date. Generally, this is the longest step for a new development. According to FEA standards (European Federation of Aerosol), for every year claimed on the expiry date, the aerosol has to be tested for 45 days in a stove at 50ºC. We observe that a large majority of our clients claim 3 years of expiry date, hence 180 days or 6 months in a stove.
In total, the launch of a new aerosol is a process that can take between 13 to 17 months, by respecting all those steps.
All the information is available in the following article: 5 steps to improve your time-to-market on your aerosol project
If this article has been helpful and/or you wish to receive more information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at info@proersa.com
The PROERSA Team