Annealing
An annealing process where glass is gradually cooled in "lehrs" to reduce internal stress and strain caused by uneven cooling. Improperly annealed glass is more susceptible to thermal shock and breakage.
AQL
An abbreviation for Acceptable Quality Level. A quality control method that outlines the acceptable number of defective items for a given sample.
Removal
Loosening of a bottle cap due to improper use, incompatible cap and container selection, vibration or impact during transport or general use.
Blow Molding
The process of placing a "preform" (a warm, hollow tube) into a mold and using air pressure to shape it into a given mold cavity. Once the preform reaches the cavity's limit, the mold opens, and the finished product is ejected. For our purposes, blow molding processes are mainly divided into three types—"extrusion blow molding," "injection blow molding," and "stretch blow molding."
Blown Glass
The process of pressing molten glass into a "mold" to achieve the desired shape. The container is then popped or removed from the mold and undergoes an "annealing" process to relieve stress and temper the glass for everyday use.
Boston Round
A bottle characterized by a round, cylindrical body and short, curved shoulders. Boston Round bottles are commonly used in the pharmaceutical, chemical, and essential oil industries and are traditionally made of amber glass, but are also made from various plastic resins and colors.
Capacity
Closely related to "volume," capacity, as used on our website, refers to the amount of water a given container can hold. For example, our 270 ml hexagonal bottle has a capacity of 270 ml or 9.1 fluid ounces (oz). Depending on your specific product and its comparison to water, the finished product's "net weight" may be heavier or lighter than the container's fluid capacity. Also note the difference between capacity and "overflow capacity."
Cavity
The hollow part of the "mold" that determines the shape of a particular container.
CC
Cubic centimeters. Units used to measure volume, where 1 cc = 0.0338 ounces.
Chemical Resistance
The ability of a container to maintain its shape and function when exposed to chemicals. Chemical resistance is determined by the container's ability to resist discoloration, swelling, softening, material degradation, and structural integrity.
Child-Safe Closure
Abbreviation CR — A closure that requires two distinct actions, making the sub-item difficult to remove. Two common examples are "push-and-turn closure (PDT)" and "squeeze-lock closure."
Co-extrusion
Melting two or more layers of "thermoplastic resin" material to form a chemically bonded resin. This resin is typically more ridged than a single extruded container and has greater resistance to heat, moisture, oxygen, and chemicals. Limited to plastics.
Compatibility
The ability of containers, caps, and products to coexist without diminishing form and function, from the initial filling of the relevant container until its desired product lifespan.
Continuous Thread Finish
Abbreviation CT — The uninterrupted line found on the neck of plastic and glass containers.
Continuous thread (CT) is a "surface treatment" on many glass and plastic containers where the "threads" continuously wrap around the "neck" of a given container. Continuous thread finishes can be found on both glass and plastic containers. Containers with a continuous thread finish require corresponding continuous thread caps, which are easy to apply by hand and provide an excellent seal between the edge of a given container and its corresponding cap. Continuous thread containers (and caps) are usually shown as two numbers separated by a backslash. The first number refers to the diameter of the jar opening from edge to edge, in millimeters. The second number refers to the depth of the closure. For the purposes of our website, the shallowest continuous closure is 400 (expressed as x/400), while the "deepest" closure is expressed as 485.
Embossing
Embossing involves pressing certain portions of a curved surface below the standard surface elevation. Embossing can be found on glass, metal, plastic, and/or caps. Embossing requires a custom "mold" and is often done for aesthetic purposes to create lettering or company logos.
Deep Skirt
A hat with a deeper appearance.
Flash Removal
The process of removing excess material (also known as "flash") from a molded container.
Desiccant
A desiccant that helps control humidity levels in sealed packaging.
Dead
A tool or apparatus for cutting, shaping, or forming a given material into a desired shape.
DISC Top Cap
An injection-molded dispenser cap that exposes an "orifice" when pressure is applied to a designated area on the top of the cap. Commonly found on sunscreen and other cosmetic containers.
Dome
A closed style with a rounded top. Dome caps create a stylish look and are often used in conjunction with round-bottom jars.
Drop Test
A test method in which a container or collection of containers (boxes) is dropped from a standard height a specific number of times, or until the item fails.
Embossing
Raised designs or lettering on the surface of an object, often used for decorative or branding purposes.
Environmental Stress Cracking
Thermoplastic articles are prone to cracking or crazing under the influence of certain chemicals and stress.
Extrusion Blow Molding
A plastic manufacturing process in which a "preform" (a warm, hollow plastic sleeve or tube) is pushed out or extruded from a mold. While the preform is still warm, the two halves of the mold (the template for the final shape) surround the preform and fill the cavity by expanding using air pressure. Once the plastic has cooled sufficiently, the mold is opened, and excess plastic (also known as "flash") is removed through a process called "deburring."
F217 Liner
A foam liner in plastic bottle caps, consisting of a low-density foam core between two layers of solid low-density polyethylene. F217 liners offer excellent chemical resistance and significantly reduce moisture transfer.
Fill Point
A level that a container must be filled to provide a specified amount of internal load.
Fine Mist Sprayer
A dispensing bottle cap style that produces a fine, splash-free mist.
Finishing
A container opening of a specific shape that will ultimately accept a specific seal. Two common finish types include "Continuous Thread (CT)" and "T/O" or lug finish."
Finishing
Used in conjunction with the main non-dispensing cap, a fitting is inserted inside the neck of the bottle to prevent the flow of a given product. The user will remove the main cap to dispense the product, while the fitting remains.
Flame Treatment
The process of exposing a plastic container to an open flame to promote oxidation and improve its receptivity to inks, paints, and adhesives.
Flash
Additional plastic attached to a specific item found along the parting line. It must undergo a "deburring" process before the item is considered a finished product.
Flint
Clear glass used for all types of containers.
Aluminum Foil Lining
An aluminum foil liner in a metal bottle cap, laminated with polyester film and bonded to a pulp board backing. Aluminum foil liners are resistant to hydrocarbon-based products such as paraffin and oil-based products. Aluminum foil liners are not recommended for use with strongly acidic or alkaline products.
FTL
Abbreviation for Full Cartreload.
Glass Dropper
A glass pipette capped with a plastic ball that extends into a given container. When the plastic ball is squeezed, the product is drawn into the pipette and dispensed as needed. Commonly used with Boston round bottles and flasks for cosmetics, essential oils, and fragrances.
High-Density Polyethylene
Abbreviation for High-Density Polyethylene. HDPE is a naturally translucent and moderately rigid thermoplastic resin with excellent moisture resistance, impact resistance, and cold resistance. HDPE has a maximum recommended filling temperature of 160°F and poor oxygen barrier properties. For more information, please visit our Resin Information page.
Top
The space between the “fill point” of the container and the cap. Top space is required to allow expansion due to heat or pressure.
Heel
The lower part of the container, where the body begins to bend towards the bottom, typically ending at the resting point.
Airtight Seal
An airtight or vacuum seal that completely prevents the transfer of air and/or other gases.
Shock Resistance
The ability of a given container to maintain its shape and function when dropped or subjected to other physical forces or impacts.
Induction Machine
A machine that emits an oscillating electromagnetic field to seal a foil-lined bottle cap to a specific container.
Induction Seal
A process that uses an induced current (generated by an "induction machine") to bond a specialized foil liner to the opening of a plastic container. This process heats the foil liner and polymer coating, thus forming an adhesive between the liner and the edge of the given container. The liner will remain in place until it is physically removed by the consumer before use. Induction seals have been approved by the FDA as an effective tamper-evident method.
Induction Seal Liner
A special liner consisting of several layers, including wax, foil, and a polymer coating, bonded to the edge of a given container using an "induction machine." The type of liner required depends on the material of the container.
Injection Blow Molding
A two-stage process for manufacturing plastic bottles, in which a "preform" is "injected." The "finish" of a given container is then formed. The preform is then transferred to a blow mold, where "axial rods" vertically stretch the preform while air pressure shapes it into the form of a given cavity.
Injection Mold
A mold into which plastic resin is introduced by pressure from an externally heated cylinder.
Injection Molding
A molding process in which heated and softened plastic resin is forced from a heated cylinder into a relatively cool cavity, thereby giving the product the desired shape.
Label Panel
An area in a given container where a label or printed decoration is applied.
Low-Density Polyethylene
An abbreviation for Low-Density Polyethylene. LDPE is very similar to HDPE in composition but differs in the branched structure of the polymerized ethylene. Compared to HDPE, LDPE has polymer chains composed of many branches, resulting in a less compact molecular structure. Due to its lower density, LDPE bottles are ideal for products requiring extrusion applications. For more information, please visit our Resin Information page.
Lift Door (Delivery)
Used to lower pallets from the rear of a towing trailer to the ground. Lift door service can be requested if forklifts and/or loading docks are not available at the given delivery location, but at an additional cost. Requests must be made before the given order leaves Burch Bottle's warehouse.
Light Resistance
The ability of a plastic item to withstand sunlight or UV exposure without fading due to component degradation. Almost all plastics darken upon exposure.
Unlined Seal
A plastic bottle cap with a sealing ring around the top that forms a seal when in contact with a given container. When an unlined seal is fitted with a compatible container, the seal prevents liquid leakage. Different from "Unlined Closure".
Less-than-Truckload (LTL)
Less than the truck load. Any shipment that does not meet the required weight or pallet quantity is considered "Full Truckload (FTL)".
Loop Finish
Also known as "T/O Finish". At the neck of a glass container, the lug surface is identified by intermittent, discontinuous threads that allow a specially designed cap to slide between the threads and close by partially rotating the cap.
Mold
A tool used to repeatedly form the desired product shape.
Multi-cavity mold
A mold with multiple cavity indentations. While requiring additional start-up costs, multi-cavity molds are more productive because they produce two or more bottles per molding cycle.
Multilayer
A bottle co-extruded from two or more layers of plastic. Multilayer plastic containers allow for higher filling temperatures, greater chemical resistance, and reduced oxygen transport.
Neck
The neck is located directly above the shoulder of the container and is the uppermost part where the "finish" is found.
Opacity
A descriptive property of a material or substance that does not transmit light.
Orifice
An opening in the container through which a given product is dispensed.
Throttle orifice
A plug or fitting that reduces the flow rate of a given product.
Overflow capacity
The capacity of a container when filled to its overflow point. Overflow capacity differs from the container's "fill point".
Drum Lid
An HDPE lid with a sealing gasket.
Panel
This occurs when the pressure in a full container decreases compared to the external ambient pressure, causing partial collapse of the walls and creating a "sucking" appearance. Paving occurs in plastic containers—glass is less susceptible to paving. The most common reason for paving is the hot filling of a plastic container with a given product. As the air (located in the "headspace") and the product cool and shrink, the negative pressure causes the container walls to shrink as well.
Preform
A warm, hollow, tubular sheet of plastic resin used to manufacture containers according to the shape of a given mold.
Permeability
The rate at which a gas, vapor, liquid, or solid passes through or diffuses into a porous material, such as a plastic container.
PET
An abbreviation for polyethylene terephthalate. In its natural state, PET is a colorless, transparent thermoplastic resin. Depending on the processing method, PET can be semi-rigid to rigid, and is very lightweight and impact-resistant. PET also provides good oxygen barrier and moisture protection. For more information, please visit our Resin Information page.
Phenolic
Phenolic formaldehyde is the common name for a thermosetting plastic. Phenolic caps have an LDPE cone that seals the inner diameter of a given container, making them ideal for chemicals, essential oils, and other corrosive products.
Plasticol Lining
A flexible PVC-based material placed inside continuous thread (CT) and screw-on (T/O) or lug-type metal caps. When the warm plastisol is molded to the edge of the matching container, it creates a gasket-like effect. Upon cooling, the plastisol resin solidifies, forming an airtight vacuum seal. Plastisol-lined caps are not recommended for home bottling processes, as these processes expose caps to temperatures exceeding 212°F for extended periods, which may cause deformation.
Polyethylene Cone Cap
A phenolic cap with a conical LDPE liner, contacting the inner diameter of a given container to prevent leakage of liquid products. Recommended for essential oils and other corrosive products.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene, abbreviated PE, is a thermoplastic resin classified by its density. From a packaging perspective, "high-density polyethylene (HDPE)" and "low-density polyethylene (LDPE)" are the two most common forms.
Polymer
A substance whose molecular structure consists of a large number of similar units bonded together.
Polypropylene
A translucent, semi-rigid thermoplastic polymer with good moisture resistance and strong resistance to acids and alcohols. One of the main advantages of polypropylene is its ability to withstand temperatures up to 212°F. On the other hand, polypropylene becomes brittle and prone to cracking at low temperatures. For more information, please visit our resin information page.
Polystyrene
Polystyrene, abbreviated PS, is a transparent plastic that is very rigid but has poor impact strength. Some disadvantages of polystyrene are that it cannot withstand high temperatures, low temperatures, and highly acidic products. For more information, please visit our resin information page.
Polyethylene (PV) Liners
PV liners are used for metal bottle caps and consist of a polyethylene film with a pulp board backing. The polyethylene release paper is resistant to weak acids, alkalis, and solvents. Not recommended for use with active ingredients.