Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a polyester material used for fibers, injection molded parts, and food and beverage containers. It is recyclable, lightweight, and provides a long shelf life. PET is also used to make synthetic fibers and is not to be confused with polyethylene or polypropylene.
Polyethylene terephthalate is a polyester material that is often used to make fibers, injection molded parts, and containers for food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and makeup products. This material can also be recycled to make carpet or fiberfill. The name is often abbreviated to PET or PETE and was formerly called PETP or PET-P.
Technically speaking, PET is a linear thermoplastic resin that is created by the condensation of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. There are several benefits to using this material especially when it is used for packaging. PET does not break easily and edibles stored in it taste good because it is pure. The substance also provides a long shelf life because it acts as a good barrier to the elements outside the container.
PET containers are also very light and transparent. The products have a clean and pure appearance thanks to the crystalline aspect. Because PET weighs only 10% of an identical glass container, it allows for less expensive shipping and handling, saving a significant amount of money for businesses around the world.
PET continues to be preferred by many companies because it offers significant design flexibility and is recyclable. Companies that choose to use it for packaging have various options in terms of shape, size, neck finish and colour. Some of the models are thick enough to fill, but most of the containers are granulated into flakes and reshaped into new bottles or other products. PET is made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, just like paper, so when it burns it produces carbon dioxide and water and leaves no toxic residues.
Although PET is very popular for use in containers, most of its production in the world is for synthetic fibers. Since PET is part of the polyester family, the synthetic fibers made from it are generally referred to simply as “polyester”. Even recycled PET containers are used to produce synthetic fibers such as polar fleece.
While PET manufacturing is a major segment of polymer manufacturing worldwide, it should not be confused with polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), both of which are produced more worldwide. PE is widely used all over the world, especially in the production of plastic shopping bags. Fatigue resistant and recyclable PP is used for a variety of uses which include packaging, textiles, stationery, plastic parts, laboratory equipment and automotive parts.
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