{"id":15976,"date":"2023-11-28T09:35:55","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T08:35:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/?p=15976"},"modified":"2026-01-29T18:15:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T17:15:45","slug":"polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"Polyethylene Terephthalate \u2013 A Plastic with a Wide Range of Applications"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_73 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-white ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/#History_of_PET_Plastic\" title=\"History of PET Plastic\">History of PET Plastic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/#Production_of_PET\" title=\"Production of PET\">Production of PET<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/#Properties_of_Polyethylene_Terephthalate\" title=\"Properties of Polyethylene Terephthalate\">Properties of Polyethylene Terephthalate<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/#Density_and_Temperature_Resistance\" title=\"Density and Temperature Resistance\">Density and Temperature Resistance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/#Glass_Transition_Temperature_of_PET\" title=\"Glass Transition Temperature of PET\">Glass Transition Temperature of PET<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/#Electrical_Resistance_and_Chemical_Resistance\" title=\"Electrical Resistance and Chemical Resistance\">Electrical Resistance and Chemical Resistance<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/#What_Is_PET_Used_for\" title=\"What Is PET Used for?\">What Is PET Used for?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/#PET-A_as_a_Material_for_Beverage_Bottles_and_Films\" title=\"PET-A as a Material for Beverage Bottles and Films\">PET-A as a Material for Beverage Bottles and Films<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/#Use_of_Semi-Crystalline_Polyethylene_Terephthalate_PET-C\" title=\"Use of Semi-Crystalline Polyethylene Terephthalate PET-C\">Use of Semi-Crystalline Polyethylene Terephthalate PET-C<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/#Recycling_of_PET\" title=\"Recycling of PET\">Recycling of PET<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><strong>With a share of 6% of the total amount of all plastics produced, polyethylene terephthalate, or PET for short, is one of the most important representatives. Originally developed for fiber applications, polyethylene terephthalate has become an important everyday plastic. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition to beverage bottles, packaging, outdoor and sports clothing, seat belts, blankets, and tents contain this polymer. PET is also often used as a carrier material for films, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/semi-finished-products\/adhesive-tapes-and-tapes\/adhesive-tapes-and-tapes-made-of-elastomers-or-plastics\">adhesive tapes<\/a> and filter cloths, as well as in the form of functional components such as gears or pump parts.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"History_of_PET_Plastic\"><\/span>History of PET Plastic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"box info  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tPolyethylene terephthalate, or PET or PETP for short, was developed in 1941 by the Englishmen James Tenannt Dickson and John Rex Whinfield (1902\u20131966) in the laboratories of the English textile company Calico Printers Association for the production of fibers.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The Second World War slowed further research and development work on this new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/tubings-and-pipes-made-of-rigid-plastics\">plastic<\/a>. In 1947, the British chemical group Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) received the worldwide patents for it, except for the USA. Two years later, ICI started trial production of fibers made from polyethylene terephthalate under the brand name TERYLENE\u00ae. The US chemical company DuPont acquired the manufacturing rights for the USA and produced PET fibers under the trade name DACRON\u00ae.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">After licenses were granted to the German companies Farbwerke Hoechst AG and Vereinigte Glanzstoff-Fabriken AG in Wuppertal, PET was also produced in Germany from 1956 under the names Trevira\u00ae and DIOLEN\u00ae.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Production_of_PET\"><\/span>Production of PET<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Starting materials for the production of polyethylene terephthalate are terephthalic acid, correctly referred to as 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, and ethane-1,2-diol with the trivial name ethylene glycol, as shown in the following structural scheme, which is intended to illustrate the chemical structure.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-15982 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/formelschema-engl.jpg\" alt=\"Polyethylene Terephthalate chemical formula\" width=\"397\" height=\"265\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/formelschema-engl.jpg 397w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/formelschema-engl-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 397px) 100vw, 397px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In the first step, the monomers are directly esterified at temperatures between +220 \u00b0C and +260 \u00b0C to form a dimeric intermediate. In the subsequent polycondensation, this intermediate forms the polymer PET, with water as a byproduct.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The polycondensate is present as a viscous melt that is pressed into thin threads, ribbons, or strands. After cooling, the material can be further processed into granules.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box note  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tThe crystallization rate of polyethylene terephthalate is low, which is why this plastic can be produced both in amorphous (i.e., crystal-clear) form and in semi-crystalline form. The degree of crystallization is typically between 30 and 60%. Amorphous polyethylene terephthalate is referred to as PET-A, and semi-crystalline polyethylene terephthalate as PET-C.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Properties_of_Polyethylene_Terephthalate\"><\/span>Properties of Polyethylene Terephthalate<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polyethylene terephthalate belongs to the group of polyesters. These are thermoplastics that can be reversibly deformed within a certain temperature range. Due to the ester group in the main chain, PET is polar; the polymer consists of linear chains without cross-linking.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Density_and_Temperature_Resistance\"><\/span>Density and Temperature Resistance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The properties depend on the degree of crystallization. The density of PET-A is between 1.33 and 1.35 g\/cm<sup>3<\/sup>, and that of PET-C between 1.38 and 1.40 g\/cm<sup>3<\/sup>. PET-C has higher stiffness and hardness, but lower impact strength than PET-A.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/semi-finished-products\/adhesive-tapes-and-tapes\/adhesive-tapes-and-tapes-made-of-elastomers-or-plastics\/30083\/adhesive-tape-made-of-polyester\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9273 size-full\" title=\"Adhesive Tape made of Polyester\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/klebeband-aus-polyester.jpg\" alt=\"Adhesive Tape made of Polyester\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/klebeband-aus-polyester.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/klebeband-aus-polyester-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/semi-finished-products\/adhesive-tapes-and-tapes\/adhesive-tapes-and-tapes-made-of-elastomers-or-plastics\/30082\/assembly-adhesive-tape-made-of-petp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9274 size-medium\" title=\"Assembly Adhesive Tape made of PETP\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/montage-klebeband-aus-petp-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Assembly Adhesive Tape made of PETP\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/montage-klebeband-aus-petp-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/montage-klebeband-aus-petp-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/montage-klebeband-aus-petp.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The maximum continuous service temperature of semi-crystalline polyethylene terephthalate is +100 \u00b0C, and the minimum is -20 \u00b0C. For amorphous PET-A, values of +60 \u00b0C and -40 \u00b0C are given.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Glass_Transition_Temperature_of_PET\"><\/span>Glass Transition Temperature of PET<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">PET-C has a glass transition temperature of +98 \u00b0C, PET-A of +86 \u00b0C. The glass transition temperature Tg is the temperature at which an amorphous or partially amorphous material changes from a rigid, glass-like state to a soft, rubber-like one. Specifying the glass transition temperature is important for processing thermoplastics.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Electrical_Resistance_and_Chemical_Resistance\"><\/span>Electrical Resistance and Chemical Resistance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polyethylene terephthalate has a high specific resistance, high dielectric strength, and a high dielectric constant. It has very low sliding friction, shows little shrinkage, and therefore offers high dimensional stability.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The polymer is resistant to weak acids and alkalis, fats, oils, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. PET is attacked by strong acids and alkalis, halogenated hydrocarbons, and prolonged contact with hot water. Although the material is combustible, it is difficult to ignite according to UL 94 after the \u201ctests for the flammability of plastics for parts in devices and applications\u201d.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_PET_Used_for\"><\/span>What Is PET Used for?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"PET-A_as_a_Material_for_Beverage_Bottles_and_Films\"><\/span>PET-A as a Material for Beverage Bottles and Films<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">PET-A is characterized by good light transmission. The best-known application of this polymer is beverage bottles. Compared to glass, the plastic is lighter and more shatter-resistant. A 1-liter single-use PET bottle weighs between 20 and 30 g; a refillable PET bottle around 100 g. A glass bottle, by contrast, weighs around 600 g. The lower weight of these bottles also has an impact on transport costs and CO<sub>2<\/sub> emissions.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9270\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9270\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9270 size-full\" title=\"PET preforms with thread before the stretch blow-molding process\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/pet-preforms.jpg\" alt=\"PET preforms with thread before the stretch blow-molding process - Polyethylene Terephthalate \" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/pet-preforms.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/pet-preforms-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9270\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center>PET preforms with thread before the stretch blow-molding process<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/laboratory-equipment\/laboratory-containers\/bottles-carboys-and-accessories\">plastic bottles<\/a> are manufactured in a two-stage process. In the first step, the PET granulate is melted at a temperature of around +280 \u00b0C and, by injection molding, so-called preforms are produced. The preforms already have a thread. In the second step\u2014usually carried out directly before filling\u2014the preforms are heated to around +120 \u00b0C in a stretch blow-molding process and blown into bottles using sterile compressed air. Manufacturing directly before filling, at a higher temperature, simultaneously ensures the sterility of the bottles.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">However, PET bottles are also controversial. Antimony trioxide (Sb<sub>2<\/sub>O<sub>3<\/sub>) is used as a catalyst in the production of the bottles, producing acetaldehyde. Both chemicals can dissolve in small amounts into the liquid filled in PET bottles.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">In addition to PET bottles, the amorphous PET variant is also used in the form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/semi-finished-products\/foils\">foils<\/a>\u00a0for packaging foods and pharmaceuticals.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Use_of_Semi-Crystalline_Polyethylene_Terephthalate_PET-C\"><\/span>Use of Semi-Crystalline Polyethylene Terephthalate PET-C<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">PET-C is mainly processed into fibers for the textile industry or into intermediate products for filtration technology such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/filtration\/screen-cloths-filter-cloths-and-fleeces\">screen fabrics, filter cloths, and nonwovens<\/a>. PET fibers are known under the name \u201cpolyester\u201d. These fibers have hardly any stretch, are wrinkle-free, and tear-resistant. Because they absorb very little water, they are often found in sports and outdoor textiles as well as in awnings, tents, sails, and flags. Due to their strength, they are used to manufacture seat belts, airbags, and strapping bands for load securing. As a lofted material, they are used in pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, and jackets.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/tubes-hoses\/protective-and-insulating-hoses\/31176\/polyester-gewebeschutzschlauch\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9275 size-medium\" title=\"Polyester fabric protective sleeve \" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/polyester-gewebeschutzschlauch-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Polyester fabric protective sleeve \" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/polyester-gewebeschutzschlauch-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/polyester-gewebeschutzschlauch-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/polyester-gewebeschutzschlauch.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/filtration\/granulars-and-sorbent-material\/30882\/rct-accessories-filter-pad\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9276 size-medium\" title=\"RCT\u00ae-Accessories: Filter Pad\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/filterpad-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"RCT\u00ae-Accessories: Filter Pad\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/filterpad-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/filterpad-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/filterpad.jpg 502w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Due to its high dimensional stability, good sliding and friction behavior, and very good machinability, polyethylene terephthalate is also suitable for components that must be manufactured with tight tolerances, such as vascular prostheses. The polymer is also an integral part of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/drive-elements\">drive technology<\/a>; for example, it is used to manufacture <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/drive-elements\/gears-and-gear-racks\">gears<\/a>, precision plain bearings, rollers, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/drive-elements\/couplings\">couplings<\/a>, and parts for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/pumps\">pumps<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/fasteners\/insulating-spacers-and-insulators\/30571\/insulating-spacers-made-of-pes-glass-fiber-reinforced-hexagon\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9277 size-medium\" title=\"Insulating Spacers made of PEs-glass fiber reinforced - hexagon\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/isolierstuetzer-glasfaserverstaerkt-sechskant-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Insulating Spacers made of PEs-glass fiber reinforced - hexagon\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/isolierstuetzer-glasfaserverstaerkt-sechskant-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/isolierstuetzer-glasfaserverstaerkt-sechskant-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/isolierstuetzer-glasfaserverstaerkt-sechskant.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/en\/drive-elements\/couplings\/30978\/coupling-made-of-polyester-highly-elastic\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-9278 size-medium\" title=\"Coupling made of Polyester - highly elastic\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/wellenkupplung-aus-polyester-hochelastisch-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Coupling made of Polyester - highly elastic\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/wellenkupplung-aus-polyester-hochelastisch-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/wellenkupplung-aus-polyester-hochelastisch-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/wellenkupplung-aus-polyester-hochelastisch.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The material is also frequently used in industrial and assembly adhesive tapes and is also used for films and filter cloths. Many molded and housing parts for household and office devices are also made from this material.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recycling_of_PET\"><\/span>Recycling of PET<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Polyethylene terephthalate can be identified by the recycling code with the digit 1. Thanks in part to Germany&#8217;s deposit-return system for single-use beverages, 94% of PET bottles in Germany are recycled.<\/p>\n<div class=\"box success  \"><div class=\"box-inner-block\"><i class=\"fa tie-shortcode-boxicon\"><\/i>\n\t\t\tThe bottles are compressed and sorted by color at the recycling plant, then processed into flakes. The recycling process is a multi-stage process and is carried out either by melt filtration or the URRC process. In melt filtration, the flakes are cleaned and melted in order to filter out material that does not melt. This is followed by crystallization of the cleaned plastic into granules.\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The URRC process was developed by the American company United Resource Recovery Corporation (URRC). It also starts with washing, followed by a float-sink separation, in which light plastics such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) float on the surface while polyethylene terephthalate sinks to the bottom. After the flakes are dried, light contaminants such as labels are removed using an air separator. The cleaned PET can then be processed into fibers. To obtain food-grade PET, the cleaned flakes are treated with sodium hydroxide solution to remove contaminants and slightly dissolve the flake surface. After further washing and drying steps, the flakes can be filled for further processing.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_9271\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-9271\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-9271 size-full\" title=\"The PET recycling symbol on a beverage bottle\" src=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/recycling-symbol-pet.jpg\" alt=\"The PET recycling symbol on a beverage bottle - Polyethylene Terephthalate \" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/recycling-symbol-pet.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/recycling-symbol-pet-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-9271\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><center>The PET recycling symbol on a beverage bottle<\/center><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">According to a 2019 study on PET beverage bottle collection and recycling in Germany by the Society for Packaging Market Research (GVM), 94% of all PET bottles in Germany are recycled. One bottle contains an average of 30% recycled material. Refillable bottles can be filled up to 20 times. In addition, PET bottles have a better environmental footprint than glass bottles or aluminum cans, both in production and transport, as well as in recycling. This means that PET bottles are better than their reputation.<\/p>\n<pre><strong>Image sources: \r\n<\/strong>Featured image | \u00a9 ximich_natali \u2013 stock.adobe.com\r\nPET preforms with thread before the stretch blow-molding process | \u00a9 Pixel_B \u2013 stock.adobe.com\r\nPET recycling symbol on a beverage bottle | \u00a9 calypso77 \u2013 stock.adobe.com\r\n<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With a share of 6% of the total amount of all plastics produced, polyethylene terephthalate, or PET for short, is one of the most important representatives. Originally developed for fiber applications, polyethylene terephthalate has become an important everyday plastic. In addition to beverage bottles, packaging, outdoor and sports clothing, seat belts, blankets, and tents contain &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":13265,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,2748],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15976","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-all-articles","category-materials-in-chemistry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) \u00bb RCT Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Properties, production and uses of PET plastic explained! \u2705 PET-A vs. PET-C \u2705 Synthesis &amp; applications \u2705 PET recycling\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rct-online.de\/magazin\/en\/polyethylene-terephthalate-a-plastic-with-a-wide-range-of-applications\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) \u00bb RCT Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Properties, production and uses of PET plastic explained! 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