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A Complete Guide to Perform PET Bottle Testing

A Complete Guide to Perform PET Bottle Testing

04-Jun-2025

Presto Instruments

Bottle testing is an essential quality control process applied in the bottle packaging industry to check the strength, durability, and integrity of plastic, glass, or other material bottles. With growing consumer demand and changing product safety standards, producers are challenged by leakage, deformation, and breakage during transportation, or pressure failure. 

These problems contribute not only to product loss but also to brand damage. Bottle testing is a consistent solution by guarantees bottles withstand actual conditions of compression, impact, and pressure in real life. In a variety of test processes, makers can detect defects ahead of time, maintain industry standard compliance, and provide safe, high-quality packaging.

 

What is Bottle Testing?

Bottle testing is a standardized laboratory procedure used to evaluate the efficiency of chemical demulsifiers in breaking water-in-oil emulsions. It involves placing a measured volume of emulsified oil into a clear bottle, adding a specific amount of demulsifier, and then agitating the mixture under controlled conditions.

The test monitors phase separation over time, helping determine the demulsifier’s effectiveness in promoting oil-water separation. Bottle testing is particularly beneficial in the following conditions –

  • Finding Efficient Demulsifiers: The test will assist in identifying which demulsifier best breaks an emulsion (a combination of water and oil) into distinct layers.
  • Optimizing Dosage and Application: After an efficient demulsifier has been found, the test can then be utilized to identify the minimum amount required for successful separation as well as the optimal method of application.
  • Quality Control and Troubleshooting: Testing of bottles is an important means for quality control of oil production and refining, assisting in the detection and determination of any potential issues.

 

Different Types of Bottle Testing

Bottle testing involves various methods to ensure durability, safety, and quality. Common types include drop testing, leak testing, top-load testing, and vacuum testing, designed to simulate real-world conditions and verify the bottle's performance during handling, storage, and transport. The following are the frequently used types of bottle testing –

  • Top Load/Compression Testing
  • Burst Strength Testing
  • Leak Testing
  • Drop Testing
  • Thermal Shock Testing
  • Wall Thickness Measurement

 

Why is Bottle Testing Required?

Bottle testing is essential for product safety, quality, and brand reputation in industries. The testing enables manufacturers to detect and correct manufacturing defects, keep the product intact, and avoid problems such as leaks or contamination. The following are the reasons why bottle testing is essential:

1. Product Safety

Testing ensures that bottles are pressure-resistant, impact-resistant, and resistant to other stress factors without bursting or leaking, ensuring consumer safety and avoiding product loss or contamination.

2. Improve Product Quality

Testing prevents bottles from losing their integrity and causing deterioration of the product inside, like carbonation loss or spoilage.

3. Secure Brand Reputation

Defective packaging can result in recalls, poor customer experience, and erosion of brand trust. Testing keeps such situations at bay, claim Perfect Group India and Presto Group.

4. Industry Standards and Regulations

Numerous industries have certain packaging strength and safety requirements, which testing aids manufacturers in fulfilling.

5. Cost Saving

Testing can identify weak bottles or batches early, preventing costly recalls, warranty claims, and product loss.

6. Design Optimization

Testing yields valuable information to enhance bottle design, materials, and closure, resulting in lighter, stronger, and more resilient packaging.

 

PET Bottle Testing Procedure

Step 1: Sample Preparation

Sample preparation is the starting point of the process. Bottles to be analyzed are randomly taken from a production batch so that the result indicates the overall quality of the lot. Visually, each bottle is inspected for any defects like bubbles, material distribution unevenness, flash (extra plastic), or embedded foreign particles in the walls. The samples are then washed, dried, and labeled for analysis.

Step 2: Dimensional Measurement

After preparing the samples, the second step is to take measurements of the PET bottles' dimensions. The height, neck diameter, wall thickness, and general shape of the bottle are determined using digital calipers or bottle gauges. This helps in ensuring that the bottles meet design standards and can be filled and capped automatically.

Step 3: Top Load/Compression Strength Test

The third process involves testing the top load or compression strength of the bottle. In this test, the PET bottle is positioned vertically in a top-load tester, where downward force is applied until the bottle begins to buckle or collapse. This replicates the pressure bottles can get during stacking in warehouses or during transport. The force level the bottle can handle before deforming is measured.

Step 4: Burst Strength/Pressure Test

After compression testing, the burst strength test is carried out to determine the bottle's resistance against internal pressure. The test is performed using a hydrostatic pressure tester or a burst tester. The bottle is filled with water, and pressure is introduced internally until the bottle bursts or leaks. 

Step 5: Wall Thickness and Material Distribution Test

Another significant test is the wall thickness or material distribution test. This process checks if the material is uniformly distributed over the bottle. This is done using a thickness gauge or an infrared wall thickness scanner. The strength and weight of the bottle depend on the material's uniformity. If the areas are too thin, then these areas will collapse or break when pressure is applied. If they are too thick, then this means that there is unnecessary consumption of material and extra expenditure.

Step 6: Leakage Test

Leak testing is done to identify any pinholes or micro-cracks in the PET bottle that could result in leakage of fluid. Bottles are filled with water and capped before being subjected to vacuum or water immersion to see if air bubbles form. Other systems employ air pressure and sensors to identify decreases in pressure over time. This action is crucial for items that need to be kept sealed and clean, i.e., food, drinks, and medicines.

Step 7: Drop Test

The drop test is performed to test the impact resistance of PET bottles during handling. The bottle is filled with the intended product, or water, and dropped from a predetermined height onto a hard surface in this test. The test is conducted at various angles – the upright, side, and base. The test is to determine if the bottle cracks, bursts, or leaks when dropped.

Step 8: Environmental Stress Crack Resistance (ESCR) Test

For some uses, particularly in aggressive environments, PET bottles are subjected to an Environmental Stress Crack Resistance test. Bottles are exposed to stress conditions with the presence of certain chemicals or detergents. The bottles are monitored over time for evidence of surface cracks or material fatigue. The test is designed to determine the long-term durability and chemical resistance of PET bottles for industrial, personal care, or home cleaning applications.

Step 9: Final Assessment and Reporting

After all the tests are finished, the results are tabulated and matched against standard quality requirements and specifications. Bottles passing all the tests are cleared for production use, while the defective ones are rejected and subjected to failure root cause analysis. 

 

Presto Instruments – A Leader of Bottle Test Systems

Presto Instruments is a top laboratory testing equipment manufacturer that specializes in the production of bottle testers and other testing equipment. They have been in business for more than 40 years and have built a reputation for quality, reliability, and precision. Presto has a vast array of bottle testing systems, which include top-load testers, burst testers, and perpendicularity testers.

With decades of experience, Presto Instruments has made a niche for itself as India's most dependable and innovative makers of quality testing equipment. The firm has established its credentials in precision engineering, strong R&D, and a customer-focused strategy. Whether for food and beverage bottles, pharmaceutical packagings, or household product jars, Presto offers custom-designed instruments that assist manufacturers in assessing and optimizing their bottle performance.

Presto Instruments is a leading bottle testing equipment manufacturer sri lanka, committed to global quality standards. Our equipment is designed to improve product reliability, reduce defects, and ensure consistent performance. Trusted by industries worldwide, we offer reliable and customized solutions to meet your testing needs. Contact us today.

 

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