What Is Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

What is plastic?

It is a type of material that contains an essential ingredient of an organic medium having a large amount of molecular weight. These organic mediums are either naturally occurring or synthetic in nature. Plastics are also defined as polymers that have long carbon chains. The word Polymer is derived from the two Greek words, poly that is many or abundance, and monomer that is a single unit.

Plastic was discovered by the German chemist Christian Schonbein, in 1846. The word plastic is also derived from the Greek word, Plastikos which is to mould.

Important properties of plastic are-

• Plastics are extremely strong and ductile and they are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
• They can be designed into the desired shapes and sizes according to the product.
• They have properties to withstand corrosion and are also resistant to many chemicals.
• They are also used in the construction sector as they have low maintenance and a high level of durability.
• It makes for one of the best packaging materials as it can be moulded into any shape.
• It is extremely lightweight and hence it is easier to carry.

Types of plastic-

Most of the time people have this misconception that plastic is available only in a single form. However, there are several forms of plastic and they are-

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)
One of the most commonly used plastic, it is extremely lightweight at the same time has robust properties. It is transparent in nature and is most probably used for the food and beverages industry.

High-density polyethylene-
It is a very strong polyethylene and it makes for an ideal option for cartons, containers, and pipes.

Low-density polyethylene-
It is a softer version of high-density polyethylene, and it also has a more clear and more flexible appearance that HDP. It is commonly used inside beverage cartons as a lining and is very corrosion-resistant.

Polyvinyl Chloride-
It is a very type of plastic and is extremely resistant to weathering. It makes the ideal material for the construction sector and several high-tech applications such as wires and cables. They are also used in plumbing pipes, medical tubing, and oxygen masks.

Polypropylene-
It is one of the most durable types of plastic and is very heat resistant. It is very ideal for food packaging and food storage.

Properties of PET-

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a type of polyester. It is known for its mechanical, chemical and thermal properties. It also has dimensional stability.

• PET material is crystal clear which adds aesthetics
• Due to its good level of creep strength, along with low moisture absorption, it is well-suited for applications where complex parts are required, and dimensional accuracy along with surface quality is needed.
• The thermal properties of PET offer good temperature stability.
• It has good chemical resistance against acids.
• The biggest characteristic of PET is it has low permeability to oxygen, and water and hence it can maintain the quality of the products with a longer shelf-life.

Awanti Polymoulds manufactures blow moulds for bottles having various product applications like packaged drinking water, carbonated soft drinks, hotfill juicesfor brands like Coca-Cola, Parle Agro, Bisleri etc. These bottles are made from PET material. The beverage industry and packaging industry have some of the biggest applications of PET material.