This paper presents an investigation on the optimization of the preform design to produce PET bottles with uniform thickness distribution and better barrier properties using a blow moulding simulation software. The barrier properties were studied by calculating the blow up ratio (BUR) of the initial and the final bottles. The bottle blown up using the new preform design had a higher value of BUR indicating that it had better barrier properties due to increased molecular orientation. Results from the simulation were also used to study the mechanical strength and the internal pressure variations on the bottle using the Pro/Mechanica finite element analysis (FEA).
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