Early experiences in the use of silicone-treated glassware

JSGT 1958 V42 T214-T226

The work described was undertaken in collaboration with the United Glass Bottle Manufacturers Ltd. A suitable bottle was chosen and a protective silicone film was deposited by spraying a silicone fluid into the leer. The process was carried out on a production scale. The siliconed bottles were packed into several types of case and corresponding quantities of non-siliconed bottles were packed similarly, as controls. The bottles were carefully examined under standard conditions for damage of any kind, both on arrival and after being washed in either water or 5% caustic soda solution. The siliconed bottles were shown to have sustained far less damage than the controls under similar conditions. In particular, the degree of scuffing had been reduced to a remarkable extent. It appeared that the protective property of the silicone film was not appreciably reduced by washing the bottle once either in water or in 5 % caustic soda solution. The bottles were successfully subjected to normal packeting operations, including labelling. The bottle contents were not demonstrably affected by the silicone coating on the interior surface. Condensation of water on the interior surface of the silicone bottles above the liquid contents precluded the use of these coated containers for pharmaceutical aqueous liquids. Further trials were carried out on containers used for non-aqueous preparations and again a substantial reduction in wastage was demonstrated as a result of silicone treatment. It is considered that it has been demonstrated that the treatment of glassware by silicones substantially reduces the incidence of breakage and other surface damage. The development of condensed moisture on the interior surfaces of siliconed containers containing aqueous liquids may limit the application of the method for pharmaceutical products but nevertheless the method shows considerable promise and justifies further investigation.

D. A. Hughes