A high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin configured to be molded into a preform that can be biaxially expanded within a cavity of a container mold by introducing an incompressible fluid under pressure into the preform to stretch the preform to assume a shape of a surrounding mold cavity of the container mold. The HDPE resin has: a melt flow index of between 0.3 and 10.0 grams per 10 minutes at a temperature of 190° C. under 2.16 kilograms of load; a polydispersity index of 4-24; and a density of 0.943-0.965 grams per cubic centimeter.

A plastic container is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In embodiments, the container may be comprised of PET, the weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening may be 3.0 grams or less, and/or the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange may be 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.

The part under the neck ring (9) of a preform for blowing a PET bottle of predetermined capacity not larger than 75 cl and with a max. material weight of 15 g, is inclined by an angle less accentuated than normal, max. 17, which allows to make a preform with a thickness t.sub.2 of the wall thinner than 1.9 mm and a thinner inner diameter of the preform body in order to allow a lower stretch ratio starting from a larger preform to obtain the final bottle of predetermined capacity.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

A preform for use in molding a bottle by blow molding includes a tubular sprout portion and a bottomed tubular preform body. The preform has a weight ranging from 82 to 90 g. The maximum wall thickness of the preform body ranges from 4.5 to 5.0 mm. The preform has a total length ranging from 165 to 175 mm.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

An innovative neck (301) configuration is suggested in order to reduce the weight of a large container for beverage dispenser. The neck (301) comprises a neck finish (303) which extends in length (Ltot) starting from the wide mouth (302) of the container to an annular support ring (305) and a smooth surface cylindrical portion (306) which joins the annular support ring (305) to the body (309) of the container. For functional reasons, the total length (Ltot) of the innovative neck (301) remains the same as the usual traditional necks for this type of container, but due to the short length (Ltot) of the neck finish (303) and said cylindrical portion (306), the weight is reduced.

Disclosed are preforms which incorporate improvements in the region of the neck and upper segment of the body to allow the production of lightweight containers, such as bottles suitable for containing water or other beverages. In accordance with certain embodiments, the improvements include a thinner neck finish area than conventional bottles, where the thinner area is extended into the upper segment of the body portion below the support ring. Reducing the thickness in these areas of the bottle allows for less resin to be used in forming the preform and bottle.

A polyethylene terephthalate composition (PET), an injection-molded bottle preform made from a PET composition, a refillable PET container blow-molded from the preform, catalyst compositions used for making the PET composition, methods for making the PET composition, methods for injection-molding a PET bottle preform, methods for blow-molding a refillable PET bottle from a preform and methods for improving the rewash stability and recyclability of refillable PET bottles particularly for carbonated soft drinks.

A plastic container is provided that includes a hollow body portion including a lower supporting base portion; a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the base portion; and a neck portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion. The neck portion includes a support flange having an upper and lower surface, at least one thread, and a dispensing opening at the top of the neck portion. In embodiments, a closure may be provided to form an assembly. In embodiments, the container may be comprised of PET, the weight of the neck portion from the lower surface of the support flange to a top of the dispensing opening may be 3.0 grams or less, and/or the vertical distance from the top of the dispensing opening to the lower surface of the support flange may be 0.580 inches or less. A preform and method for making a container are also disclosed.