Bottles and hollow packaging
Blow moulding uses compressed air to expand a heated plastic form against the inside of a mould. Once the plastic has cooled and retained its shape, the mould opens and the component is removed.
The role of the mould
The mould defines the outside shape of the bottle or packaging. Body, neck and base sections are designed around the product dimensions. Material and mould construction are assessed according to the intended use and production method.
Main methods
In extrusion blow moulding, a tubular plastic form is captured directly in the mould. Injection blow moulding first creates a preform that is then inflated. Stretch blow moulding stretches the form during inflation. The choice depends on the product and plastic material.
Applications
Blow moulds are used for bottles, containers and similar hollow packaging. Polyethylene and polypropylene are among the plastics used.
