Isothermal and non-isothermal computer simulation of a stretch blow molding process and comparison with experiments

Abstract

Environmental pollution by plastic waste has become a serious problem, and there is increasing demand to reduce the weight of PET bottles. To fabricate reduced weight PET bottles, research on the PET blow molding process is essential. In this study, experiments and computer simulations were performed on the stretch blow molding process used to fabricate carbonated soft drink PET bottles. The computer simulations were performed under the same conditions as the experiment using isothermal and non-isothermal models to analyze the blowing phenomena, thickness and temperature distributions, stretch ratio, and the stretching path of PET bottles. Experimental and simulation results were compared, confirming that the stretch blow molding simulation was useful for designing and fabricating improved PET bottles through the stretch blow molding process.