초록 ▼

A polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor

A polyester container having an enhanced level of crystallinity in the sidewall while maintaining a low level of crystallinity in a thickened base portion. The container is particularly useful as a refillable container which can withstand higher caustic wash temperatures and exhibits reduced flavor carryover, or as a hot-fill container. The container, which can be monolayer or multilayer, is also useful as a carbonated beverage, O2 or CO2 barrier, or beer container.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A blow molded substantially transparent polyester container having a highly oriented, relatively thin and highly crystalline panel portion and a relatively thickened, low orientation and low crystallinity base portion, the container including a shoulder portion having an aver

What is claimed is: 1. A blow molded substantially transparent polyester container having a highly oriented, relatively thin and highly crystalline panel portion and a relatively thickened, low orientation and low crystallinity base portion, the container including a shoulder portion having an average crystallinity of 20-30%, the panel portion having an average crystallinity of 30-35%, the base portion including a chime area having an average crystallinity of 2-8% and a central gate area having an average crystallinity of 0-2%, and the container having an outer base between the chime area and panel portion having a crystallinity ranging between the average crystallinity of the chime area and panel portion, and an inner base between the gate area and chime area having a crystallinity ranging between the average crystallinity of the gate area and chime area. 2. The container of claim 1, wherein the panel portion has an average wall thickness of about 0.5-0.8 millimeters. 3. The container of claim 2, wherein the base portion has an average wall thickness of about 2.0-4.0 millimeters. 4. The container of claim 3, wherein the container base is a champagne base. 5. The container of claim 3, wherein the polyester is substantially polyethylene teraphthalate (PET). 6. The container of claim 5, wherein the polyester is a homopolymer or copolymer of PET. 7. The container of claim 5, wherein the container is a freestanding pressurizable container. 8. The container of claim 5, wherein the container is a freestanding hot-fillable beverage container. 9. The container of claim 8, wherein the hot-fillable container can withstand a product filling temperature of on the order of 180-185�� F., and a filling pressure on the order of 2-5 psi. 10. The container of claim 5, wherein at least the panel portion includes multiple layers, including at least one layer of a barrier, high thermal stability, recycle or post-consumer material. 11. The container of claim 5, wherein at least the panel portion has multiple layers with at least one O2 and/or CO2 barrier layer. 12. The container of claim 1, comprising a freestanding pressurizable carbonated beverage container. 13. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is a freestanding carbonated beverage container adapted to withstand filling pressures of 2-5 psi. 14. The container of claim 13, comprising a beer container. 15. The container of claim 1, wherein the base portion has a wall thickness at least three times greater than that of the panel portion. 16. The container of claim 15, wherein the base portion is about three to four times the thickness of the panel portion. 17. The container of claim 1, wherein the polyester is a bottle grade PET. 18. The container of claim 1, wherein the container is a refillable container able to withstand at least twenty refill cycles in a caustic wash at a temperature greater than 60�� C. without crack failure. 19. The container of claim 18, wherein the container can withstand at least twenty refill cycles in a caustic wash at a temperature greater than 65�� C. without crack failure. 20. The container of claim 19, wherein the container can withstand the designated refill cycles with a maximum volume change of about ��1.5%. 21. The container of claim 1, wherein the panel portion has a percent haze of no greater than 10%. 22. The container of claim 1, wherein the panel portion has a percent haze of no greater than 5%. 23. The container of claim 1, wherein the shoulder, panel and base portions have a percent haze of no greater than 10%. 24. The container of claim 1, wherein the shoulder, panel and base portions have a percent haze of no greater than 5%.