Polyethylene terephthalate (Polyester, PET, PETP) - Rod & Sheet - Material Information

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a high-performance thermoplastic polyester known for its strength, dimensional stability, and excellent gas barrier properties. Its chemical structure, composed of repeating ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid units, results in a polymer that can exhibit both amorphous and semi-crystalline morphologies depending on its processing conditions. This dual nature allows PET to serve diverse roles—from transparent packaging films to robust engineering components.

Material Overview

PET typically has a density of around 1.38 g/cm³, a tensile strength of 55–75 MPa, and a modulus of elasticity of approximately 2.8 GPa. The polymer’s crystallinity can be precisely controlled during processing, influencing transparency, stiffness, and barrier performance. Di Lorenzo (2024) highlighted that PET’s tunable crystallization kinetics—through variation in molar mass, catalyst residues, and thermo-mechanical treatments—enable tailored combinations of transparency and mechanical integrity. Oriented PET films, such as biaxially stretched Mylar®, achieve high optical clarity while maintaining excellent dimensional stability and tensile strength (Varma et al., 1998).

Recent advances have focused on recycling and sustainable use of PET. Marques et al. (2024) reviewed the degradation mechanisms during mechanical recycling, noting that chain scission and crystallinity loss reduce strength but can be mitigated by chain extenders or nanofillers. In composite systems, post-consumer PET has shown excellent performance when blended with polyamides or natural fibers, producing strong, thermally stable materials suitable for automotive or industrial applications (Coltelli et al., 2009). PET-polyamide barrier materials, incorporating catalytic fillers, have also been developed to improve toughness and gas impermeability for fuel storage (Ye & Zhou, 2017).

Applications and Advantages

PET’s balance of strength, clarity, and resistance to moisture and gases makes it ideal for food packaging, beverage bottles, electrical components, and precision films. Biaxially oriented PET sheets provide superior dielectric and optical properties, enabling use in capacitors, graphic substrates, and recording media. Engineering-grade PET rods and sheets are employed for structural applications where chemical resistance and dimensional accuracy are essential. Additionally, PET’s recyclability and compatibility with circular economy strategies have made it the most widely recycled thermoplastic in the world.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow provides Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET, PETP) in rod and sheet forms, produced to research and industrial-grade standards. Custom dimensions and crystallinity levels can be specified for optical or mechanical performance. Explore PET and other advanced polymer materials through the Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Di Lorenzo, M. L. (2024). Crystallization of Poly(ethylene terephthalate): A review. Polymers, 16(14), 1975. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym16141975
• Marques, G. G., Couffin, A., Hajji, P., Inoubli, R., Bounor-Legaré, V., & Fulchiron, R. (2024). A review on the formulation and rupture properties of polyethylene terephthalate in a mechanical recycling context. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.3c02376
• Varma, P., Lofgren, E. A., & Jabarin, S. A. (1998). Properties and kinetics of thermally crystallized oriented poly(ethylene terephthalate). Polymer Engineering and Science, 38(2), 208–217. https://doi.org/10.1002/PEN.10185
• Coltelli, M. B., Bianchi, S., Savi, S., Signorini, F., Manariti, A., Bruni, C., Ciardelli, F., & Castelvetro, C. (2009). Post-consumer poly(ethylene terephthalate) in composites and blends for automotive applications. University of Pisa.
• Ye, H., & Zhou, J. (2017). PET-polyamide barrier material and its preparation method. Patent Publication.