Production Process and Quality Control of Sterile Serum Bottles
In cell culture and biomedical research, serum bottles play a crucial role as containers for storing and transporting serum. Serum is essential in cell culture, providing vital nutrients and growth factors to promote cell proliferation and development. However, the quality of serum bottles directly affects cell culture outcomes, making the production of high-quality sterile serum bottles a key aspect of the biotechnology industry.
Materials and Manufacturing Process of Serum Bottles
Modern serum bottles are typically made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate), a material known for its excellent transparency and chemical resistance, ensuring the safe storage of serum. During the manufacturing of sterile serum bottles, transparent PET material undergoes an injection stretch blow molding process, which guarantees both the strength and capacity of the bottles.
Before PET raw material granules enter the injection molding machine, they must undergo a rigorous drying process. This step is critical because PET material is hygroscopic, meaning it readily absorbs moisture from the environment. Excessive moisture during production can negatively impact the bottle’s molding quality. If the raw material contains too much moisture, it may lead to surface hazing or microcracks in the preform, ultimately affecting the product’s overall performance and durability.
Drying Process of PET Raw Material
Proper drying of PET raw material is essential before processing. Due to its moisture-absorbing properties, PET granules typically contain 0.1%-0.3% (1000-3000 PPM) of water. If the moisture content is too high, molecular chain degradation may occur during production, compromising the integrity of the preforms. To prevent this, the drying system utilizes hot air to evaporate moisture, ensuring that the final moisture content is reduced to below 40 PPM before processing.
In this drying process, hot air is treated with a chemical desiccant and continuously recycled. The heated air enters the drying hopper, where it absorbs moisture from PET granules. The moisture-laden air is then expelled from the top of the hopper. Afterward, the air is cooled and passes through a chemical desiccant, which removes any remaining moisture. Finally, the re-heated air is sent back to the hopper to complete the drying cycle, ensuring that the PET raw material maintains an optimal moisture level for production.
Quality Assurance for Serum Bottles
The quality of sterile serum bottles is a critical factor in cell culture. Through stringent drying procedures, PET raw material moisture levels are effectively controlled, preventing moisture-related defects in bottle preforms. Temperature regulation, humidity control, and efficient desiccant recycling all play a vital role in this process.
Additionally, every stage of serum bottle production must comply with strict sterility requirements. To prevent contamination during storage and transportation, manufacturers must implement rigorous aseptic operations and quality inspection standards, ensuring that every serum bottle provides reliable support for laboratory experiments and cell culture.
As a fundamental tool in cell culture, the quality of serum bottles directly impacts cell growth and experimental success. By implementing precise drying processes and maintaining strict quality control measures, manufacturers can prevent moisture-related defects in preforms. Only by adhering to high production standards at every stage can sterile serum bottles provide researchers with a dependable foundation for their scientific work.