High-Contact-Angle Pharmaceutical Glass Containers for High-Speed Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass containers for pharmaceutical packaging face issues such as breakage during high-speed processing, contamination from coatings, and insufficient scratch resistance, leading to production disruptions and contamination risks.
Innovation Solution
A glass container with a surface region having a water contact angle of at least 80°, optionally combined with a functionalizing composition and inorganic particles, to enhance scratch resistance and reduce contamination, allowing for increased processing speed and reduced disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If glass containers are processed at high velocities on the filling line, then productivity increases, but breakage of glass containers occurs leading to production disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a coating to the glass container surface that changes the surface properties (contact angle, surface energy) to reduce friction and adhesion forces during handling. This parameter change allows containers to withstand high-velocity processing without breakage, enabling increased productivity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure consisting of glass container body with an additional coating layer. This composite material combination provides both the chemical resistance and mechanical strength of glass plus the friction-reducing and impact-absorbing properties of the coating, resolving the contradiction between high-speed processing and breakage resistance.
2Strength
If silicone coating is applied to glass container exterior surface, then scratch resistance improves, but contamination of container interior with silicone occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies coating only to the exterior surface of the glass container, leaving the interior surface uncoated. This local application ensures that scratch resistance is improved where needed (exterior) while avoiding contamination of the interior with coating materials. The coating composition is specifically selected to be non-migrating to the interior.
3Strength
If coating is applied to glass container surface, then scratch resistance improves, but coating must be removed via caustic solution treatment adding process complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a coating that is designed to be removed easily and completely by caustic solution treatment. While the coating provides temporary protection during processing, its complete removal is achieved through a standardized, efficient process that prevents contamination. The coating serves its protective function during critical handling phases and is then completely eliminated without requiring complex removal procedures.
4Ease of operation
If inorganic nano-particles of SiO2 are provided on exterior glass container surface, then tribological characteristics improve, but scratch resistance is not significantly improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines inorganic nano-particles (SiO2) with organic coating materials to create a composite coating system. The nano-particles provide tribological benefits and surface hardness, while the organic matrix provides cohesion, adhesion, and flexibility. This composite structure achieves both improved tribological characteristics and significant scratch resistance that neither component could achieve alone.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides enhanced scratch resistance, reduces contamination risks, and allows for higher processing speeds with fewer disruptions, maintaining cleanliness and integrity during pharmaceutical packaging processes.
Implementation Method 1
a surface region characterized by a contact angle for wetting with water of at least 80°
Data Source
AI summary
A hollow body includes a wall which at least partially surrounds an interior volume of the hollow body. The wall comprises a layer of glass and has a wall surface. The wall surface comprises a surface region which is characterized by a contact angle for wetting with water of at least 80°. A process for making an item; a hollow body obtainable by this process; a closed container; a process for packaging a pharmaceutical composition; a closed hollow body obtainable by this process; a use of one of the hollow bodies; and a use of a perfluorinated silane or a perfluorosulfonic acid or both is also provided.