A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W


A yellowish-brown color of glass or plastic containers used primarily to protect light-sensitive contents.

A method used to sterilize containers with superheated steam under pressure.

Blowmoulding is a process used for forming hollow containers in which heated plastic is placed inside a mold and forced outward via air pressure to assume the shape of that mold cavity.

The volume of space inside a container that holds a given amount of product.

A metal or plastic cap which effects a primary seal when properly applied to the container.

A cork finish is when the bottle opening (called the finish) is sealed with a cork.

A continuous-thread design that begins near the bottom of the closure skirt and continues upward toward the liner. Closure size designation determines number of turns.

Weight per unit volume of the packaging material, expressed in grams per cubic centimeter, pounds per cubic foot and so on.

A closure designed to be used to apply the contents of a container.

A closure (cap) that has a rounded surface. Often seen on Health and Beauty products.

A typical procedure in packagaging where the test of strength is accomplished by dropping an object in a specified manner for a pre-defined number of times, or until the article fails from impact.

A bottle closure that features a dropper or rubber bulb designed to dispense liquids.

A shaping method for plastic where the material is forced it through a specially shaped die. See also Blowmoulding.

The portion of the neck of a container designed to accommodate a particular closure.

A device included as part of a closure assembly designed to accomplish a specific purpose with the product inside the package, such as a sprinkler or powder shaker.

Flame treating is a process completed during decoration, where the plastic is exposed to an open flame to increase the polarity of the surface, rendering it more receptive to inks, lacquers, paints, adhesives, etc.

A gasket formed by a liquid material (vinyl or latex), poured (or flowered) directly into a gasket groove, and cured in place, usually by baking i.e. plastisol.

A liner applied between adjoining parts to make a tight seal.

A specific type of plastic. In the high-density grade, this thermoplastic material is more rigid and less permeable than the low density grade. It also displays a higher tolerance to distortion temperatures.

HDPE is the most widely used resin for extrusion blown plastic bottles. This material is economical, impact resistant, and provides a good moisture barrier. HDPE is compatible with a wide range of products including acids and caustics but is not compatible with solvents. It is usually supplied in FDA approved food grade.

HDPE is naturally translucent and flexible. The addition of color will make HDPE opaque although not glossy. Adding extra weight to the bottle will yield a rigid container.

HDPE is supplied flame-treated on a stock basis and lends itself readily to silk screen decoration. While HDPE provides good protection at below freezing temperatures, it cannot be used with products filled at over 160° F or products requiring a hermatic seal.

A two-stage, plastic bottle manufacturing process. First, a preform (or parison) is injection molded, forming the bottle finish. Then, the preform is transferred to a blow mold where the bottle takes its ultimate shape.

This is a term given to containers greater than one gallon in capacity.

A closure that has been engineered to function in specific applications without the use of a liner.

A flexible plastic with a lower density than HDPE. Squeezability is good, especially in the low-density grade of this thermoplastic material. It also displays better resistance to impact than the high-density grade, which can buckle.

LDPE is similar to HDPE in composition. It is less rigid and generally less chemically resistant than HDPE, but is more translucent. LDPE is used primarily for squeeze applications. LDPE is significantly more expensive than HDPE, but will yield a glossy bottle when produced in colors.

Containers composed of layers of specially selected plastics which are coextruded so that the unique characteristics of each material are retained. The objective is to improve the barrier qualities of the container, which can result in a longer shelf life.

A Package has a narrow mouth when the finish of a container that is small relative to the diameter of the body.

Describes the translucent appearance of a plastic material which has not been colored.

The part of the container where the bottle cross-section slenderizes to form the finish.

An opening in a dispensing closure or fitment from which the contained product is dispensed.

The generic name for phenol-formaldehyde thermosetting plastic that is molded or cast.

A popular resin with outstanding clarity and good resistance to impact, along with good barrier properties to resist grease and oil, cold and sunlight.

Polyethylene Terephthalate is an excellent material for use in orientation blow molding (stretch blow molding). It is commonly used for carbonated beverage bottles. Oriented PET provides very good alcohol and essential oil barrier properties, generally good chemical resistance (although acetones and ketones will attack PET) and a high degree of impact resistance and tensile strength. The orienting process also serves to improve gas and moisture barrier properties.

A downside to PET is that tThis material does not provide resistance to high temperature application (max. temp. 160° F). However, heat-set PET creates a container which will accept a 195° F hot fill and exhibit the clarity of other PET containers. This process provides an alternative to glass for products such as juice.

A resin with good barrier properties and outstanding clarity, with a slightly higher tolerance to distortion temperatures as compared to PET.

PETG: Glycol modified Polyethylene Terephthalate is a durable material with excellent gloss, clarity and sparkle desired for clear bottles. PETG can be processed via conventional extrusion blow molding methods, generally on machines designed to process PVC.

Common Applications include shampoos, soaps, and detergents. PETG exhibits a good impact strength and gas barrier. The chemical resistance of PETG is fair and compatibility testing is recommended, especially with products that contain alcohol.

A tough, lightweight, rigid plastic made by the polymerization of propylene in the presence of an organometallic catalyst at relatively low pressures and temperatures.

Polypropylene is a naturally translucent material which provides contact clarity and an excellent moisture barrier.

PP is easily processed via injection molding (jars and closures), and injection, extrusion, or stretch blow-molding (bottles). One major advantage of polypropylene is its stability at high temperatures, up to 200° F. Polypropylene is autoclavable and offers the potential for steam sterilization. The compatibility of PP with high filling temperatures is responsible for its use with hot fill products such as pancake syrup.

PP has excellent chemical resistance, but provides poor impact resistance in cold temperatures. Oriented PP offers improved impact resistance and clarity at low temperatures. Produced in color, PP exhibits a glossy finish.

Thermoplastic compound used to make plastic containers, closures, etc.

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) A thermoplastic material composed of polymers of vinyl chloride a colorless solid with outstanding resistance to water, alcohols, concentrated acids, and alkalis.

PVC is naturally clear, has extremely good resistance to oils, and has very low oxygen transmission. It provides an excellent barrier to most gasses and its drop impact resistance is also very good. This material is also very chemically resistant, but it is vulnerable to solvents. PVC is a semi-rigid material which, when produced on extrusion blow-molding equipment, can accommodate handled designs.

PVC is available in different grades depending on its application. These grades include general purpose grade, food grade, and fragrance-guard perfume grade. The occurrence of the blue tint in clear PVC can be modified by controlling the toner levels in each of these grades. PVC is also available in a rigid injection blow molding grade.

General Purpose PVC exhibits poor resistance to high temperatures and will distort at 160° F, making it incompatible with hot filled products. New PVC grades are able to withstand temperatures up to 190° F and can be hot filled. Since it provides a good oxygen barrier, PVC is an excellent choice for salad oil, mineral oil, and vinegar. It is also commonly used for shampoos and cosmetic products.

The type of material used in a plastic. Examples include HDPE, LDPE, PVC, etc). The Resin affect the properties and durability of the package.

The length of time a product can be stored under specified temperature conditions and still remain usable. The type of package will impact the shelf-life of your product.

Any device which shows visible signs that the container has been opened. This can be in the cap itself or in another tool that is part of the closure application.

The profile of a container finish which will accommodate specific closures.

A 10 digit, all-numeric code which uniquely identifies products.

A closure with no liner.

The generic name for urea-formaldehyde the thermosetting compound that is used to mold light-colored closures.

Containers with a large finish opening, or those that have a large finish size relative to their capacity or diameter.

A see-through vertical stripe on a molded container used primarily to monitor the level of the contents.