Are you considering a new way to package your aerosol products? Then you might be wondering whether to go for a conventional aerosol canister or modern bag on valve technology.

Whether you require a solution for fire extinguishers, cosmetics, beauty, food, or pharmaceutical products, you’ll need a packaging method that gives your customers the best bang for their buck.

This article comprehensively breaks down the various components of a traditional aerosol can and a bag on valve can, including the benefits and drawbacks of each. You’ll learn more about the aerosol valve components, a feature that makes bag on valve technology so superior, and why it has taken the packaging industry by storm.

But first, a quick introduction to aerosol packaging.

Introduction to Aerosol Packaging

If you were to randomly select a household and bet on a specific type of packaging being there, aerosols would be a favorite.

The term aerosol refers to the spray, foam, or mist discharged from a can. It can also describe a suspension of fine liquid droplets or solid particles in a gas.

However, the term is widely used to denote the entire product combination. Besides, since the can’s design usually leads the buying experience, most people rarely pay attention to the assortment of components.

Although ‘aerosol’ is nowadays synonymous with a finished product, it comprises four main components. Suppose you’d like to learn a little more about the other visible parts of an aerosol, including the valve, diffuser, and cap.

Canister

The can, which is mostly cylindrical, holds the product and propellant. However, aerosol cans differ in shape and volume, and so does the color, design, and finish – according to a company’s brand image.

Canisters can be made from different materials, but more than 80% are made from tinplated steel. It is interesting to note that the steel used to make an aerosol canister contains about 25% recycled metal.

Of the remaining percentage, most canisters are made of aluminum and a small portion are made from glass. The product and type of propellant significantly contribute to the type of material used to make the containers.

The aerosol canister provides the ideal conditions for storing the product.

Valve

As a consumer, you might fail to notice subtle things like aerosol valve components. While it might not be visible from the exterior, the valve plays a crucial role in operating an aerosol can. One function of the aerosol valve is atomizing the can’s contents, ensuring they are discharged as a fine spray. This provides numerous application benefits for products like paint or grease as the valve will allow the product to be evenly applied as regulated by the user’s hand.

Other functions of the valve include:

• Keeping the container airtight
• Maintains the integrity of the can’s contents (clan, hygienic and safe)
• Regulates the product’s flow during use

The aerosol valve is an assembly of seven components that facilitate correct diffusion while also serving as a hermetic close.

The various aerosol valve components include:

• Actuator – refers to the spray button that allows a user to trigger the aerosol delivery system. The actuator regulates the angle, shape, amount, and consistency of the product that jets out. They are designed to regulate the product’s application and are usually easy to use.
• Valve cup – also called the mounting cup, this is the metallic cup located on top of the can. Sealing materials are attached to it, and it helps to hold all the aerosol valve components in place.
• Stem mounting gasket – this part is made of the stem and the stem gasket. The stem represents the connection between the actuator and the spring. The stem gasket serves a crucial role as it seals the opening surrounding the valve system, ensuring the can remains airtight.
• Spring – the spring serves to keep the pressure on the stem gasket which covers the can. When you press down on the actuator, the pressure is released, opening the seal.
• Housing – represents the cylindrical edifice that holds the spring and attaches the dip tube to the aerosol valve components (valve assembly).
• Dip tube – this is the hollow tube that extends from the valve assembly to the bottom of the canister, allowing the pressurized contents to be pushed out through the valve.

Cap

The cap’s role is to seal the canister and keep its contents within until the product is used. Besides, it also serves a decorative role and complements the product’s appearance. Interestingly, some caps serve as an actuator for different products.

Overall, an aerosol canister is a pressurized recipient that contains

• A propellant (could be one or a mixture of gases) can account for 5 to 90% of the product. The propellant can be liquefied or compressed gases. Notably, liquefied gasses can also double as a co-solvent.
• One or more solvents
• Active constituents, either dissolved or suspended in the liquid

Bag on Valve Technology

Now that you’ve been acquainted with the introduction to aerosol packaging, you’ll learn the basics of bag on valve (BOV) technology and what makes it such a fan favorite in today’s fast-changing environment.

But first, what is bag on valve technology? Well, bag on valve technology is a modern, cutting-edge aerosol filling system.

It is a multi-level protective aerosol packaging system that can be best described as a ‘bag in a can.’ As mentioned in the introduction to aerosol packaging, a conventional aerosol can comprises aerosol valves, tin cans, actuators, aluminum cans, caps, vacuum bags, and actuators.

What’s more, the system features a valve of a male or female variation sealed with a vacuum bag. The bag is made up of multi-layer films that provide a barrier, which completely separates the product from the eco-friendly air or propellant. What’s great about this separation is that it keeps the product uncontaminated. Again, BOV packaging is fully recyclable and gives the customer reliability and convenience.

The material agent and the propellant packed separately to reduce the product’s complexity and prevent the propellant’s release when using. Consequently, it reduces the ‘aerosol’s’ impact on safety and the environment.

How It Works

As mentioned above, the BOV can is typically a vacuum bag inside a can. Technically, the bag is attached to the aerosol valve components and then inserted inside the tinplated steel or aluminum canister. Subsequently, the product is filled into the vacuum bag, while the propellant is squeezed into the space between the bag and the container.

When you press the actuator, the propellant exerts pressure on the pouch, producing the force required to expel the product.

The separation between the propellant and the product is such an excellent provision, as it allows for gels, liquids, and creams to be dispensed using BOV technology. Besides, setting the two apart eliminates the need to use preservatives, enhancing the product’s purity.

Unfortunately, it also means bag on valve technology isn’t useful for products that need shaking before use.

Benefits of Bag on Valve Packaging

People have been using conventional aerosol packaging technology for two primary reasons:

1. Packaging using conventional aerosol cans is more cost-effective than bag on valve technology.
2. BOV technology wasn’t developed enough to allow entrepreneurs to make sufficient profit margins

However, times have changed. Consumers and industrialists alike have critical considerations for their aerosol products. Amazingly, today’s consumers and sellers both prioritize safety before price point, especially when it comes to cosmetics and food products.

Anyway, what are the benefits accompanied by using Bag on valve technology for packaging aerosols?

The product mustn’t be altered to accommodate the propellant

The BOV aerosol packaging technology allows for the propellant and product constituents to be situated separately. As such, it disregards the need to contaminate the product with the propellant. This is great because the separation enhances the product’s safety and reduces the production cost.

Allows a longer shelf-life for products that are sensitive to oxygen

The vacuum bag prevents the product from contacting oxygen, allowing fragrances and colors to remain stable for longer. Consequently, this advancement increases the product’s shelf life and reduces the number of fragrance essences required in the aerosol product.

It is an efficient aerosol filling mechanism

When compared to the conventional method of filling aerosol canisters, BOV technology is a more efficient approach. This cutting-edge technology utilizes advanced filling machines that simplify the work, thereby boosting production efficiency.

BOV is useful for both liquids and viscous products

BOV’s introduction to aerosol packaging has made it possible for products of varying consistencies to be packaged and used as aerosol products. It doesn’t matter whether it’s an oil, foam, gel, or cream. You can use it as an aerosol, thanks to bag on valve technology.

Besides, using BOV for a wide range of products increases brand recognition, which is a significant marketing advantage.

Standard actuators and aerosol cans are still useful with BOV

It is great that BOV’s introduction to aerosol packaging did not render typical aerosol cans and actuators obsolete. This means that BOV can be used widely as the go-to aerosol packaging system since manufacturers aren’t forced to design unique cans and actuators to contain BOV aerosol products.

BOV allows complete product emptying, leaving no product in the container

You can only use about 95% of the product stored in a traditional aerosol canister. However, with BOV aerosols, you can exhaust the container’s entire contents, leaving no room for waste or negative environmental impact.

What’s more, since you can spray an aerosol packed in a bag on valve in any direction, there’s no need to tilt the container at a specific angle to allow the aerosol valve components and the dip tube to reach the contents at the bottom of the can.

Allows an even spraying pattern

When spraying contents from a bag on valve canister, the excellent aerosol formulation and cutting-edge aerosol valve components allow you to get the finest jet of mist when spraying. This allows the aerosol to be absorbed faster and entirely.

No pumping motion required

Unlike conventional aerosol canisters, which require additional mechanical help in the form of pumping when spraying, bag on valve products don’t. You just need to press the actuator, and you’ll get a consistent spray of fine mist.

Reduced spray noise

Not everybody likes the hissing sound aerosol canisters make after spraying. If you’re in this category, you’ll love to know that bag on valve aerosol cans produces less sound upon spraying.

Is environmentally friendly

The propellant in a bag on valve canister is separated from the active substances. As such, the propellant, which can be made from various environmentally unfriendly liquids or gases, is never dispensed into the atmosphere.

Aerosol Canister Vs. Bag on Valve Aerosol Spray Technology? The Difference

Contrary to popular opinion, aerosol doesn’t refer to the propellant used to eject the product from the valve. However, technically speaking, an aerosol is a name for fine solid or liquid gas particles suspended in a gas. As such, ‘aerosol’ actually refers to the product that’s released.

Today, manufacturers chose between two methods of packaging aerosol products, namely

• Bag on Valve
• Conventional aerosol canister

So, what’s the difference between the two methods? Look at every method’s unique features.

Using each method’s unique features, you’ll learn the differences between the two packaging approaches.

Sealing performance

When it comes to BOV, it utilizes a multi-level protective system comprising a tinplated steel can (or aluminum), aerosol valve components, and four-layer vacuum pouches.

On the other hand, conventional aerosol canisters don’t have the best sealing performance, nor do they have a bag to safeguard the product’s integrity.

Material purity

The product constituents are placed separate from the propellant, upholding the product’s purity. The new technology also protects the aerosol from oxidation and protects it from heat and cold elements, not to mention secondary pollution.

When it comes to the aerosol canister, the product is mixed with the propellant and preservatives, rendering it not pure enough to enhance the aerosol’s quality. Besides, the poor sealing mechanism can lead to the product’s contamination by bacteria and other gases, which might reduce the product’s overall shelf-life.

So, which one is better?

BOV’s introduction to aerosol canister packaging is a progressive innovation that outdoes its predecessors on arguably all fronts. As such, it suffices to say that it is here to stay, and soon, it will render conventional aerosol canisters obsolete.

As you’ve learned by now, bag on valve aerosol canister filling technology offers a simpler design that is more efficient in delivery and uses and generally safer on you and the environment. That is why numerous manufacturing companies are adopting this method as their preferred aerosol filling system.