Beverage container
A beverage container or package that includes an internal surface for promoting nitrogen bubble nucleation and growth. The surface incorporates a plurality of nanoscale structures, e.g. between 6 and 100 nanometers in size. Most preferably the structures are pits, greater than 15 nm in depth/height. Upon opening the container filled with a Nitrogen (and carbon dioxide) supersaturated beverage, a foaming effect occurs which provides a desirable head of fine bubbles when transferred to a drinking glass.
1. A beverage container, containing a beverage product with supersaturated nitrogen or a gas mixture with nitrogen in solution, the container including a surface for promoting bubble nucleation and growth that includes a plurality of pits between 6 and 100 nanometers in width.
2. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein the pits only become wet during the action of opening and pouring the container.
3. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein the pits are arranged in a defined pattern.
4. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein the pits are between 20 to 30 nm in width.
5. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein the pits are greater than 15 nm in depth.
6. The beverage container of claim 1 , the surface being hydrophilic or hydrophobic.
7. The beverage container of claim 6 wherein the surface has a contact angle of 50 to 80 degrees.
8. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein the approximate total number of pits is defined and confined within a known surface area with a specified location on the container.
9. The beverage container of claim 8 incorporating a closure/opening sized to enable regulation of the egress of liquid from the container to ensure a minimum residence time for said liquid in the container.
10. A method of manufacturing a container for promoting nitrogen bubble nucleation and growth including the steps of:
applying a pattern of pits of 6 to 100 nm diameter, with greater than 15 nm depth, to at least a portion of a beverage contacting wall of the container;
filling the container with a beverage containing supersaturated nitrogen, or a gas mixture containing nitrogen, in solution and sealing the container with a closure means.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the approximate total number and location of pits is defined and confined within a known surface area or multiple areas within the container.
12. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein the pits are between 20 to 40 nm in width.
13. The beverage container of claim 1 wherein the pits are between 10 to 80 nm in width.