PEF Bottle Base Geometry for Pressure Resistance and Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing PET bottles face limitations in base design due to their stretchability and strain hardening, leading to instability under pressure and temperature changes, particularly in carbonated beverages, and there is a need for improved structural parameters in PEF bottles.

Innovation Solution

A bottle design featuring a thermoplastic polymer of FDCA and diol monomers, with specific parameters such as offset sitting radius, reinforcing grooves, and base feet configuration, allowing enhanced stability and pressure resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If PET is used for bottle base design to withstand internal pressure, then pressure resistance is improved, but the height difference between base center and feet is limited due to stretchability constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure resistanceVSAvoidheight difference between base center and feet
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the material parameter from PET to PEF polymer, which has different mechanical properties including higher elongation at break and different strain hardening characteristics. This allows the base center height to be increased beyond PET limits while maintaining pressure resistance, as PEF can be stretched further before breaking and maintains structural integrity at higher deformations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If PEF polymer is used to increase base center height, then stability is improved, but manufacturing precision may be affected due to different processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebottle stabilityVSAvoidbase design precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts processing parameters including heating temperature and blow molding pressure to match PEF's specific properties. The heating device is configured to heat PEF to appropriate temperatures for stretching, and the blow molding process parameters are optimized to achieve precise base geometry despite PEF's different flow and deformation characteristics compared to PET.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design improves stability angle and pressure resistance, reducing waste and preform weight by up to 30%, while maintaining good processability and barrier properties.

Implementation Method 1

a bottle made of a thermoplastic polymer of at least one FuranDiCarboxylic Acid (FDCA) monomer, preferably 2,5-FuranDiCarboxylic Acid (2,5-FDCA) monomer, and at least one diol monomer, preferably monoethylene glycol (MEG) monomer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIntermolecular forces: Van der Waals Force

Data Source

PatentEP3724089B1Bottle, method of making the same and use of FDCA and diol monomers in such bottle
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE SA
  • EP3724089B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3724089B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2b
  • EP3724089B1 patent drawingFigure 2c~2d

AI summary

The invention concerns a bottle (1) molded from at least one thermoplastic polymer of at least one Furan Dicarboxylic Acid (FDCA) monomer, preferably 2,5-Furan Dicarboxylic Acid (2,5-FDCA) monomer, and at least one diol monomer, preferably Monoethyleneglycol (MEG) monomer, said bottle, having a main axis (X), being provided with a body (5) and a bottom base (6) extending from a lower end of the body (5). The bottom base (6) comprises: - a peripheral seat (7) defining a laying plane (8); - a concave arch (10) which extends from the periphery of a central zone (11) of the bottom base (6) to the peripheral seat (7), said concave arch (10) having a rounded general shape with a concavity turned towards the outside of the container (1) and the middle point of the central zone (11) being named push-up (11a); - a series of reinforcing grooves (13) which extend radially from the central zone (11) to at least the peripheral seat (7); - base feet (14) located between two adjacent reinforcing grooves (13); According to the invention, the bottle bottom base (6) comprises an offset sitting radius, defined as the distance between the maximum bottle diameter and the contact point of the base feet with the laying plan (8) that is in the range of 5 to 10 mm for a bottle having a diameter (D) between 40 and 150 mm.