How Are Plastic Bottles Made?

General Overview

Plastic bottles are cylindrical containers made out of plastic with narrow necks and openings that are sealed off with a plastic cap. Plastic bottles are ideal for holding a variety of liquids such as water, juice, milk, shampoo, laundry detergent, motor oil, gasoline, medicine, ink and cooking oil. Plastic bottles are made of different types of resins that are manipulated to form plastic for everyday use. Plastic bottles are highly popular with the public for their variety of uses, portability and price, especially when compared with glass bottles.

Manufacturing Process

Plastic bottles are made with a variety of resins, the most popular of which is high-density polyethylene. Low-density polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate are also popular resins used to make different types of plastic bottles. Polyethylene terephthalate is most often used to make plastic bottles for water and soft drinks. The plastic that eventually becomes a bottle starts out as a malleable resin, which can be manipulated into different shapes by blow molding. The resin is attached to a mold, which is blown into shape with hot air then left to cool. As soon as the mold cools, the bottle is ready to use.

Recycling Plastic Bottles

Most plastic bottles are not biodegradable, so it is very important that they are recycled instead of thrown away to fill up landfills. Left to break down naturally, plastic bottles take millions of years to go back into the environment without causing any harm. When recycling plastic bottles, rinse out the used ones and place them in a recycling bin to be picked up with the trash and taken to a recycling center. You can also take all of your accumulated plastic bottles to your local grocery store where recycling drop-off centers are available.

References

• Plastics Info: Plastic Beverage Bottles