Method of producing glass vials

Abstract

A method for producing glass vials, in particular pharmaceutical vials or pharmaceutical ampoules, from a glass tube is provided, the method including the following steps: (a) rotating the glass tube about a longitudinal axis thereof; (b) locally heating the glass tube from one side by means of at least one burner to at least the softening temperature of the glass; (c) reducing the diameter by pressing at least one forming body laterally against the heated region; and (d) separating the glass tube by means of a burner. A glass vial produced in such a way releases a reduced amount of alkali in accordance with ISO 4802 and has a decreased delamination tendency. Furthermore, in the hot-formed peripheral region, the alkali content is only slightly reduced when compared with the alkali content in the glass interior.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A glass vial comprising a closed bottom and an open bottleneck, the glass vial consisting of a neutral glass configured as a borosilicate glass, wherein an alkali content within a heat-deformed region close to a surface of the glass vial is reduced by 30% at most when compared to an alkali content within an glass interior of the glass vial given by a composition of the borosilicate glass. 
     
     
         2 . The glass vial of  claim 1 , wherein the alkali content within the heat-deformed region close to the surface is reduced by 20% at most when compared to the alkali content within the glass interior. 
     
     
         3 . The glass vial of  claim 1 , wherein the alkali content within the heat-deformed region close to the surface is reduced by 10% at most when compared to the alkali content within the glass interior. 
     
     
         4 . The glass vial of  claim 1 , comprising a sodium release according to ISO 4802-2 that is smaller than 0.5 μg/cm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The glass vial of  claim 4 , wherein the sodium release according to ISO 4802-2 is smaller than 0.25 μg/cm 2 . 
     
     
         6 . A glass vial comprising a closed bottom, an open bottleneck, and a sodium release according to ISO 4802-2 that is smaller than 0.5 μg/cm 2 . 
     
     
         7 . The glass vial of  claim 6 , wherein the glass vial is a pharmaceutical vial or a pharmaceutical ampoule. 
     
     
         8 . The glass vial of  claim 6 , wherein the sodium release according to ISO 4802-2 is smaller than 0.25 μg/cm 2 .