What is plastic?
Plastics are a range of synthetic or semi-synthetic materials – made from long, repeating chains of molecules called ‘polymers’ – used for a range of common household items as well as specialist equipment.
These materials are popular for their ability to be moulded, when soft, into a variety of shapes – before hardening to remain in their new structural design.
Plastics are lightweight yet sturdy and durable, so they don’t easily bend or break. This makes them a popular choice for a range of products, with some of the most common uses of plastics including:
- Packaging containers and equipment
- Medical containers
- Food packaging
- Toys and games
- Sports equipment
What are the common types of plastic?
There are seven types of plastics – each with unique properties that make them suitable for use in different products. Below are the seven types of plastics and examples of how they are used:
- Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE or PET) – a commonly recyclable plastic used in food and drink packaging such as water bottles.
- High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) – another commonly recyclable plastic that is stronger than PET, used in shopping bags, toiletries bottles and medical containers.
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – a versatile plastic that has two forms – rigid and flexible. Commonly known for its use in windows and doors as it does not rot or rust.
- Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) – a traditionally thinner and less dense plastic that is popular in the pharmaceutical industry due to its heat-, acid- and alcohol-resistant properties.
- Polypropylene (PP) – a thick and sturdy plastic known for its thermal and heat-resistant properties, commonly used in food and drink packaging.
- Polystyrene or Styrofoam (PS) – a non-biodegradable and non-recyclable plastic that is commonly known as ‘Styrofoam’ and used in food containers such as egg cartons and takeaway packaging.
- Other – all other plastic materials, including polycarbonate, polylactide, acrylic, acrylonitrile butadiene, styrene, fibreglass, and nylon.
How are plastic bottles made?
Plastic bottles – including water bottles and those used in pharmaceutical packaging – are typically produced using a technique called stretch blow moulding.
This process sees plastic pellets heated until they become liquid, then poured into long, thin tube moulds.
These plastic tubes then need to be transformed into the required bottle shape through a stretching process. A thin steel rod is placed inside the tube, applying highly-pressured air – the heat and pressure of which stretches the mould into the desired shape.
The finished bottle mould is then cooled instantly – typically by pouring cold water into the pipes surrounding the mould or by applying pressurised CO2 – to produce the final product.
Why is plastic used in pharmaceutical packaging?
The heat-, acid- and alcohol-resistant properties of many types of plastics – as well as their lightweight and durable properties – make it a convenient and safe solution for storing pharmaceutical products.
Pharmaceutical containers are mostly in contact with the medicines that they are carrying, which means they cannot be made with anything that could present a risk of toxicity.
Pharma packaging must also be durable and child-resistant to avoid accidental ingestion. Most plastics are designed to withstand impact and high temperatures without compromising their integrity – making them the perfect choice.
Plastic bottles from Origin
Interested in finding out more about the properties of plastic bottles and how they can support the safe and hygienic storage and dispensing of pharmaceutical products? Chat with our helpful team today or view our range of plastic bottles.
