plastic bottles

A plastic is a material that can change its shape, so many things can be made of plastic. Plastics are man-made; they do not occur in nature. They use PET pellets (Polyethylene terephthalate). Some can be shaped only when they are freshly made; then they become hard. Others can be changed by heating them up or even by melting them. It can be coloured by adding dyes/ dyed pellets.

Features and Uses

Hot plastic can be poured into moulds in the shapes of toys and other things. It can also be squeezed through holes to make pipes and hoses and bags.It can be hard and used to make things such as casings for television sets, garden pots, and even furniture.

It is strong but it isn't heavy. It is very light. Because it is so light, many parts of aeroplanes and cars are made from plastic. This means it takes less energy to move these machines and so they use less energy (fuel).

It can be soft and used to make things such as soft toys, balls, umbrellas, and paddling pools.

It can be made into thin threads and then woven to make material that is used to make clothing such as raincoats and waterproof jackets. These plastic materials are called synthetic materials.

Plastic Pollution

Plastic is not environment friendly, but it is required for many vital purpose. So we need to try and reuse plastic.

Process of making plastic bottles

First, the pellets along with the flakes (recycles plastic from the last stage of manufacturing) and the desired colour pellets are loaded in hubber, a funnel shaped portion in the machine.

Then as they are heated, there they melt and blend well to the desired colour.

There are 2 different types of bottle manufacturing. They are Injection moulding and extrusion moulding.

This is how extrusion moulding is done.

First, the pellets are melted.

Next, the melted plastic is extruded in the form of noodles and passed through the mould and the air is blown in to expand and form the shape as in the mould.

Then, they are cooled immediately in the machine.

After that, when it comes out, it is a plastic bottle.

Finally, the extras are cut and the bottles are ready. These extra are again chopped and used as flakes along with the pellets.

In the injection moulding, the pellets are heated and passed through a mould and air is blown in to expand and form a shape. This forms a preform.

These preforms are arranged in the slots in the machine when required and are heated and gets a little soft.

Then, they pass through a mould, where the air is blown into it to take the shape of the mould.

After that, they are cooled immediately in the machines.

Finally, the bottles from the preforms are ready.

I also saw how the caps are made. It is the same process as the manufacturing of plastic bottles.

These lids are closed using an automated machine.

The I also saw how the sleeves are fitted on the bottle.

First, the plastic bottles are lined in the slots.

Then, the automatic sensors senses if there is bottle or not. When a bottle crosses it, the sensor senses it and puts a sleeve on it. The bottle will be a little warm here, so that the sleeve can slide through it.

After that, the bottle is passed through a hot air blower to make the sleeves fix properly all around the bottle.

Finally, the bottles are ready with their sleeve and are ready to be sent to the warehouse. From the warehouse, the bottles and caps will go to the factory when required.

Glad I could see the whole process.