Biaxially drawn polyester vessel having resistance to heat distortion

Abstract

The present invention is based on the finding that when a multi-layer blow-formed body is heat-treated, cooled and taken out, an intermediate layer of a gas-barrier resin in the multi-layer blow-formed body acts as a heat-insulating layer and if the blow-formed body is cooled from the interior by a cooling fluid, a shape-retaining property necessary for taking out the blow-formed body from the mold can be promptly obtained. A biaxially drawn polyester vessel excellent in the resistance to thermal contraction and gas-barrier properties can be prepared at a high manufacturing speed with a reduced number of steps by preheating or temeprature-adjusting a multi-layer preform comprising inner and outer layers of a polyester composed mainly of ethylene terephthalate units and at least one intermediate layer composed of a gas-barrier resin to a temperature suitable for drawing, carrying out the biaxial draw-blow forming of the preform and the heat treatment of the blow-formed body in a mold maintained at a heat-setting temperature, changing over a compressed fluid for the blow-forming to a fluid for internal cooling, cooling the blow-formed body to a temperature at which deformation is not caused when the blow-formed body is taken out from the mold, while contacting the blow-formed body with the surface of the mold cavity, and taking out the formed body from the mold.