Process for making extruded pet containers

A process for the production of a multi-layer plastic container, comprising:

• a. providing a first body of a thermoplastic polymer comprising virgin polyethylene terephthalate, a second body of a thermoplastic polymer comprising a barrier material having a reduced permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide relative to the permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide of said virgin polyethylene terephthalate, and a third body of a thermoplastic polymer comprising polyethylene terephthalate;
• b. extruding said first, second, and third polymers through a die to provide a tubular profile comprising a composite-multilamellae stream having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one discrete lamella of said virgin polyethylene terephthalate and at least another discrete lamella of said barrier material;
• c. spraying the outer surface of said profile with a flow of fluid having a temperature lower than that of said composite stream;
• d. calibrating said profile to an inner diameter of 30 mm to 150 mm;
• e. cooling and solidifying said profile by putting it into thermally conductive contact with a first heat absorbing source;
• f. cooling and solidifying said profile by putting it into thermally conductive contact with a second heat absorbing source after placing it into thermally conductive contact with said first heat absorbing source, wherein said second heat absorbing source is cooler than said first heat absorbing source;
• g. cutting said cooled and solidified profile into sections having first and second open ends.

A process for the production of a multi-layer plastic container, comprising:

• a. providing a first body of a thermoplastic polymer comprising virgin polyethylene terephthalate, a second body of a thermoplastic polymer comprising a barrier material having a reduced permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide relative to the permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide of said virgin polyethylene terephthalate, and a third body of a thermoplastic polymer comprising polyethylene terephthalate;
• b. extruding said first, second, and third polymers through a die to provide a tubular profile including a composite-multilarnellae stream comprising a wall having at least one discrete lamella of said virgin polyethylene terephthalate and at least another discrete lamella of said barrier material, wherein said stream has an inner surface and an outer surface;
• c. spraying the outer surface of said profile with a flow of fluid having a temperature lower than that of said composite stream;
• d. calibrating said profile to a total wall thickness of about 0.01 to 0.08 inches;
• e. further cooling and solidifying said profile by putting it into thermally conductive contact with a first heat absorbing source;
• f. further cooling and solidifying said profile by putting it into thermally conductive contact with a second heat absorbing source after placing it into thermally conductive contact with said first heat absorbing source, wherein said second heat absorbing source is cooler than said first heat absorbing source;
• g. cutting said cooled and solidified profile into sections, wherein each section has first and second open ends.

A multilayer tube adapted to be formed into a container, comprising:

• an inner multi-component layer formed by extrusion having at least two discrete sublayers wherein at least a first sublayer comprises virgin polyethylene terephthalate and at least a second sublayer comprises a thermoplastic barrier material having a reduced permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide relative to that of the virgin polyethylene terephthalate;
• and
• an outer layer formed by extrusion comprising recycled polyethylene terephthalate wherein the outer layer is thicker than the second sublayer;
• wherein the tube has an inner diameter of about 30 mm to about 150 mm.

A multilayer tube adapted to be formed into a container, comprising:

• an inner multi-component layer formed by extrusion having at least two discrete sublayers wherein at least a first sublayer comprises virgin polyethylene terephthalate and at least a second sublayer comprises a thermoplastic barrier material having a reduced permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide relative to that of the virgin polyethylene terephthalate;
• and
• an outer layer formed by extrusion comprising recycled polyethylene terephthalate wherein the outer layer is thicker than the second sublayer;
• wherein the tube has an overall thickness of from about 0.01 inches to about 0.08 inches.