bottlegrade

Bottlegrade is a term used to describe a resin or polymer grade that is suitable for manufacturing bottles, especially beverage containers. The designation is most commonly applied to PET (polyethylene terephthalate), but bottlegrade quality is also available for other polymers such as HDPE. Bottlegrade PET is formulated to meet food-contact safety requirements, provide high optical clarity, and offer the mechanical and processing characteristics needed for bottle production.

Key properties and requirements include appropriate intrinsic viscosity, low acetaldehyde content, low color and extractables, and high purity to meet regulatory standards for food and drink contact. Bottles are typically produced by extrusion to form preforms, followed by injection-stretch-blow molding to shape final containers. Processability, dimensional stability, and barrier performance (gas and moisture) are important for maintaining product quality over shelf life.

Recycled bottle-grade materials (rPET) are widely used but require additional decontamination and quality control to ensure safety and performance for food contact. R PET must meet stringent standards for recyclates used in packaging, including limits on contaminants and consistent optical and mechanical properties.

Regulatory considerations vary by region and include compliance with food-contact regulations and applicable industry standards. Suppliers provide specifications (IV range, color, impurities, and mechanical properties) that define bottlegrade suitability for specific applications, whether virgin or recycled.

In summary, bottlegrade denotes resin grades deemed appropriate for bottle manufacturing, balancing safety, clarity, strength, and processability. The term is not universally standardized, but it is widely understood in packaging to indicate materials meeting the criteria for producing beverage and related bottles.