Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) exists both as an amorphous (transparent) and a semi-crystalline (opaque and white) thermoplastic, and can be made into either a resin or a film. The semi-crystalline PET has good strength, ductility, stiffness and hardness while the amorphous PET has better ductility. PET also has good processability and can be recycled for other applications such as polyester fibres.
PET first penetrated the carbonated soft drinks (CSD) market because of its lightweight and good barrier properties against oxygen and carbon dioxide. It is also strong and PET bottles are virtually unbreakable. More recently, it has been taking market share in the bottled water market due to its good clarity and not leaving any taste in the water. It has also found applications in more niche markets such as sports drinks and fruit juices. However, PET has yet to make any noticeable impact in the bottled beer market but a pre-coloured PET has been developed that meets the light barrier requirements for beer packaging.
Other applications for PET include thick-walled containers for cosmetic and personal care products as well as pharmaceuticals. PET film is utilised in electrical applications such as dielectric metal foil capacitors and for packaging.
In Asia , the market is 100% oversupplied and very fragmented, with several producers scattered in Taiwan , South Korea , China , India and southeast Asia. China is Asia ‘s largest producer with an annual capacity of close to 5 million tonnes in 2011, followed by South Korea and Taiwan . Asian bottle resin capacity will continue to grow in 2012 and 2013 with capacity expansion being planned in China , Taiwan and India .
To find out more Polyethylene Terephthalate Methodology August 2013
