Nitrogen-Doped Glass Surface for Pharmaceutical Packaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Glass containers used in pharmaceutical packaging face challenges such as breakage during processing, contamination, and the need for complex multilayer coatings that complicate production and increase costs, while also requiring resistance to high temperatures and mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
A glass container with a surface region containing nitrogen (N) in the range of 0.3 to 10 at-% and silicon (Si) at least 5 at-%, determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, where chemically bound N is present throughout a functionalizing depth of 5 nm to 10 µm, enhancing durability and reducing contamination risks without the need for coatings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complex multilayer coatings are applied to glass container surfaces, then durability and contamination resistance are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential protective function from complex multilayer coatings and implements it through a single simplified nitrogen-containing glass composition with specific SiO2 (60-80 wt%), B2O3 (5-15 wt%), and Al2O3 (5-15 wt%) content, eliminating the need for multiple coating layers while maintaining durability and contamination resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the glass itself by incorporating nitrogen (0.1-5.0 wt%) and optimizing the ratios of SiO2, B2O3, and Al2O3, transforming the glass material properties to inherently provide enhanced durability and contamination resistance without requiring external coatings
2Productivity
If high transportation velocities are used on filling lines, then productivity is improved, but breakage of glass containers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by modifying the glass composition before the filling process with nitrogen incorporation and optimizing the glass structure in advance, so that the glass containers possess enhanced mechanical strength and resistance to thermal shock before being subjected to high-velocity transportation and processing on the filling line
3Reliability
If glass containers are subjected to high temperature sterilisation and mechanical washing, then hygiene and safety are improved, but container durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite glass material system combining SiO2, B2O3, Al2O3, and nitrogen in specific proportions, where the synergistic interaction of these components provides both the thermal resistance needed for sterilisation and the mechanical durability for extended service life, achieving hygiene and safety without compromising container longevity
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 increases the durability of glass containers, reducing breakage and contamination, while maintaining transparency and optical inspection capabilities, and simplifies the production process by eliminating the need for complex coatings, thus enhancing production efficiency and safety.
Implementation Method 1
introducing N at least into the wall region, wherein a plasma is obtained which comprises the N which is introduced at least into the wall region
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention refers to a hollow body (100) comprising a wall of glass (101) which at least partially surrounds an interior volume (102) of the hollow body (100); wherein the wall of glass (101) has a wall surface (103), which comprises a surface region (104); wherein at least in the surface region (104) the wall surface (103) has a content of a) N in a range from 0.3 to 10.0 at-%, and b) Si at least 5 at-%, wherein the preceding contents are determined by an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Further, the invention refers to a process (300) for making an item and a hollow body (100) obtainable thereby; to a closed container (200); to a process (300) for packaging a pharmaceutical composition (201); to a closed hollow body (200) obtainable by this process (300); to a use of a hollow body (100) for packaging a pharmaceutical composition (201); and to a use of composition comprising N.