Refillable use of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coated plastic bottles for beer

摘要

The candidates of beer plastics bottles for refillable use were investigated. Three types of plastics material, PET (poly(ethylene terephthalate), PLA (poly(lactic acid), and PAN (poly(acrylonitryl), were examined in terms of bottle strength, gas barrier property, and washability. Candidate bottle materials were found in PET and PAN while not in PLA due to the lack in anti-creep property. In this study, diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin film was applied to the inner surface of bottles for gas barrier enhancement in the consideration to beer quality and refillable use. Various washing conditions were examined to provide clean surface and to keep high gas barrier through washing process.