Glass bottles, traditionally coated with tin oxide and polyethylene, were obtained from a commercial production plant and their surface properties analysed. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to image the surfaces of glass bottles and to estimate surface roughness. SEM studies of the coated glass surface showed features largely consistent with AFM images. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) thickness studies on the coatings showed a direct correlation with measured coating thickness unit (CTU) thickness. Bottles were also tested by standard factory procedures for surface lubricity and internal bursting pressure. The surface and physical properties studies, in particular AFM, AES and internal bursting pressure, concluded that a hot-end coating thickness of ~50 CTU or 7nm provides optimum strength for these bottles.
