Plastic performance
multi-layer, injection-blow-moulded plastic bottles and vials. The
company has selected Topas cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) from
Ticona, the technical polymers business of Celanese AG, as the
moisture barrier layer. O-I said that Topas COC was chosen because
of its low permeability to water vapour, high transparency, clarity
and chemical resistance, and ease of processing.
Topas COC has received an FDA food contact substance notification for use in direct contact with all food types under all conditions of use. It can therefore be used in food packaging films.
O-I claims that the new bottles offer a more user friendly alternative to glass packaging. The new material is more shatter resistant, contains no aluminum, and does not chip during production. The bottles are available in a variety of wall thicknesses.
The location of the Topas COC barrier layer depends on end use. It can be sandwiched between inner and outer layers of polycarbonate or polyethylene terephthalate when more durable bottles are needed. If impermeability to both water vapour and oxygen is needed, Topas COC can be used for the external layers with an oxygen barrier material, such as nylon, between them.
The bottles are injection-blow-molded using Owens-Illinois' SurShot multi-layer injection technology, a method that the company claims can control barrier content down to 2 per cent of total package weight. All bottles are inspected for barrier content as a redundant quality check. The company uses this technology to produce millions of food and beverage containers every every year.
"Topas COC is an essential part of our development effort because it works exceptionally well in our SurShot process," said Bill Negrini, vice president and business manager of Owens-Illinois plastics group. "It helps us build high-integrity structures since it has good processing compatibility with the other plastics we use, and is one of the best transparent, moisture-barrier polymers available. Topas COC gives us the glass-like clarity we need in these bottles and, because it is low in extractables."
Owens-Illinois is a global manufacturer of plastic containers, glass containers and closure systems. O-I's plastic group offers an unparalleled selection of materials, processes and innovations to address a wide variety of packaging demands and is the leading packaging supplier in North America in each of the markets it serves.
O-I's patented processes, including SurShot multi-layer injection technology and SurShield and SurBond barrier materials, allow for precise delivery of barrier material based on customer needs. An industry leader in using post-consumer recycled content, O-I is the only producer able to incorporate up to 35 percent recycled content in its packaging.
Ticona, the technical polymers business of Celanese, produces and markets a broad range of engineering polymers and achieved sales of €757 million in 2002. Ticona has approximately 2,400 employees at production, compounding and research facilities in the USA, Germany and Brazil.
Celanese is a global chemicals company with leading positions in its key products and world class process technology. The group generated sales of around €4.3 billion in 2002 and has 10,700 employees. In 2002, Celanese generated sales of around € 4.3 billion and had 10,700 employees. The company has 24 production plants and six research centres in 10 countries mainly in North America, Europe and Asia.
