The manufacturing process of glass bottles involves key steps such as pre-processing of raw materials, preparation of compounding materials, melting, forming and heat treatment. The process choices made by different manufacturers in these links will directly affect the form and performance of the products.
During the pre-processing stage of raw materials, some manufacturers will adopt fine crushing and screening technologies. This can make the particle sizes of raw materials tend to be consistent, laying a foundation for the uniform mixing of subsequent compound materials. During the compound preparation stage, the manufacturer will adjust the formula according to the product requirements. Different formula ratios will endow glass with varying degrees of hardness, transparency and heat resistance.
Melting is the core process in glass forming. Different manufacturers will choose different melting equipment and temperature parameters. Advanced melting equipment can ensure that the compounding materials are heated more evenly, reducing the defects of bubbles and stones in the glass liquid. The process differences in the forming stage are more obvious, mainly including three methods: manual blowing, mechanical blowing and extrusion forming. Manual blowing is suitable for making complex-shaped artistic glass bottles, mechanical blowing is highly efficient and suitable for mass production of standardized products, while extrusion molding is mostly used for manufacturing thick-walled glass products.
The heat treatment process is the key to enhancing the stability of glass. The annealing process can eliminate the internal stress of the glass and prevent the product from breaking easily during use. Some manufacturers also adopt quenching technology to enhance the strength and impact resistance of the glass. Every difference in the processing flow is a choice made by the manufacturer based on its own positioning and market demand, which ultimately also makes the glass bottle products present diverse characteristics.