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Plastic bottle

technology Maturity 5-7 Next article →

Plastic bottles are useful tools for holding many different liquids.

Botella de plástico - PET
Botella de plástico - PET

You might see them holding water, milk, or even motor oil. They come in many shapes and sizes. Some are very small, while others are huge containers called carboys. Many bottles have handles built in to make them easy to carry.

Bottled Zamzam water - Flickr - Al Jazeera English
Bottled Zamzam water - Flickr - Al Jazeera English

These containers are very popular around the world. They are much lighter and cheaper to move than glass. Most importantly, they do not break easily during travel. Because of this, the food industry uses them for almost everything except wine and beer.

Different types of plastic are used depending on what is inside.

PETling
PETling

One common type is HDPE, which is strong and keeps moisture out. It is often used for milk bottles and can handle acids. Another type is PET, which is used for water and bubbly sodas. PET is very strong and can hold gas inside without leaking. Some bottles use LDPE, which is a softer plastic that is easy to squeeze. There is also Polypropylene, which is a stiff plastic used for jars and caps.

Plastic Bottle Cap
Plastic Bottle Cap

Each material is chosen to keep the liquid safe and fresh.

People have been making plastic since the nineteenth century.

Bottle of milk
Bottle of milk

At first, it was used to replace things like ivory or rubber. Companies first used plastic bottles for business in 1947. However, they were not very practical for most people back then. Everything changed in the 1970s when the PET bottle was introduced. This new kind of bottle made it much easier to manufacture and ship goods. Since then, plastic bottles have become a huge part of how we buy things.

There are many important facts to know about these containers.

U+2673 DejaVu Sans
U+2673 DejaVu Sans

In 2017, people around the world bought 480 billion plastic drinking bottles. You can find a special code on the bottom of every bottle. This is called a resin identification code, and it tells us what plastic was used. Some bottles are even special, like collapsible bottles that squeeze down to save space. Carbonated soda bottles often have uneven bottoms to help them stay steady. These small details help make sure the bottles work exactly as they should.

While plastic is helpful, scientists are studying how it affects our world.

antifreeze
antifreeze

Some people worry about how plastic waste impacts the environment. Researchers have even found tiny bits called microplastics in bottled water. These tiny particles can be made of materials like nylon or polyethylene. Some experts are looking at how chemicals might move from plastic into food. In the United States, the FDA inspects water plants to keep things safe. It is important to understand both how plastic works and how we use it.

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🖼️ Images & Media (7)
File:Botella de plástico - PET.jpg
Botella de plástico - PET.jpg
File:antifreeze.jpg
antifreeze.jpg
File:Bottled Zamzam water - Flickr - Al Jazeera English.jpg
Bottled Zamzam water - Flickr - Al...
File:Plastic Bottle Cap.JPG
Plastic Bottle Cap.JPG
File:Bottle of milk.jpg
Bottle of milk.jpg
File:PETling.jpg
PETling.jpg
File:U+2673 DejaVu Sans.svg
U+2673 DejaVu Sans.svg
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