A comparison of the performance of lightweight glass containers manufactured by the P&B and B&B processes

Abstract

The mechanical performance of lightweight glass packages produced by the NNPB (narrow neck press and blow) process was evaluated by comparison with the same glass packages (regular weight) produced by the conventional process (blow and blow). The temper number (annealing process evaluation), thickness distribution behaviour and mechanical performance (impact, vertical load and thermal shock strength) were analysed before and after line simulation, applied in optimized conditions in the laboratory. The performance of lightweight glass packages under transport simulation (truck envelope) in relation to the regular weight bottles was also evaluated. Both bottles presented residual stress values within the speci®ed limits. The lightweight glass bottles had a more homogenous thickness distribution in comparison with the regular weight bottles and a better performance (about 33% improvement) in relation to the impact strength, especially in the heel, even when evaluated after line simulation. As to the vertical load strength, the lightweight glass bottle also indicated a superior performance to the regular weight bottle, both before and after line simulation. Both bottles withstood the temperature difference of 42°C that such packages are supposed to resist according to thermal shock speci®cation. Due to the better thickness distribution of lightweight glass packages, they withstood a maximum temperature difference (progressive thermal shock) of 5±10°C higher than the regular weight bottles. No restrictions of the lightweight glass packages submitted to the transport simulation were found.

Is lightweighting glass bottles for wine an option? Linking technical requirements and consumer attitude

“…28 Lighter bottles made by the NNPB process, thus having a more uniform thickness distribution, showed better performance than their corresponding heavier B&B produced counterparts, with an improvement of around 33% on impact strength and 50% on vertical load resistance. 33 However, the influence that the weight of the bottle may have on the consumer's perception of the quality of the wine itself must also be taken into account. According to Piqueras-Fiszman and Spence, 34 Spanish consumers without a strong knowledge of wine generally associated a higher weight of a bottle with higher quality and/or price of the wine.…”

“…However, the weight of a wine bottle is not the single factor contributing to its strength 28 . Lighter bottles made by the NNPB process, thus having a more uniform thickness distribution, showed better performance than their corresponding heavier B&B produced counterparts, with an improvement of around 33% on impact strength and 50% on vertical load resistance 33 . However, the influence that the weight of the bottle may have on the consumer's perception of the quality of the wine itself must also be taken into account.…”

Packaging Material Use Efficiency of Commercial PET and Glass Bottles for Mineral Water

“…A higher wall thickness is associated with higher impact resistance [44]. However, several developments in the last decades have aimed to reduce the glass-packaging weight, e.g., by various process optimization and surface treatments [41,45,46]. Consumers perceive glass packaging as more pleasant [47].…”

Weibull Reliability and Mechanical Properties of Chemical Strengthening Lightweight Glass Containers Using Spray Coating

“…However, glass bottles are relatively heavy and brittle. Many glass bottle companies have attempted to reduce the weight of bottles by thinning the bottles to make them lighter [1,2]. However, because glass weight reduction has a trade-off relationship with strength, it is necessary to increase its strength.…”