PET at Glance

Polyethylene Terephthalate commonly known as PET or PETE is the mostly used polymer in the world. It is naturally transparent and semi-crystalline plastic used widely for products used in our day to day life. PET polymer is better termed as “Polyester” in the textile industry. It is widely used as a fiber for clothing as it is an excellent moisture barrier and also used for bottling and packaging on large scale. The major share of PET plastic produced comprises of synthetic fiber (up to 60%) and remaining 30% is for bottle production of the total global demand.

PET material consists of polymerized units of monomer ethylene terephthalate and when these PET materials are combined with other materials such as glass fiber or carbon nanotubes their strength increases. As a raw material, PET is regarded as a safe, strong, lightweight, flexible and non-toxic material which can be easily recycled.

PET plastic has become the world’s choice in the packaging sector. It is prominently used for packaging of many food and beverages as it is hygienic, strong, lightweight, retains the freshness of the products and does not shatter. It is most commonly used for packaging of water and carbonated soft drinks. PET containers can be easily identified through the triangular resin identification code found on the PET containers (Bottles or Jars).

Today Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) has become one of the most widely used, versatile and trusted plastic material in the world. More than half of world’ synthetic fiber and bottles demand is fulfilled by PET plastics. PET was first prepared in The United States by the mid of the 1940s when the researchers were searching for the polymer that could be used to make new textile polymers. Later, these polyesters were branded as “Dacron” by DuPont.

Further, in late 1950s researchers found a way to stretch the thin extruded sheet of PET to create films which are now extensively used as X-ray or photographic films. Till the 1970s, a new technology was built to mold PET into strong and lightweight bottles and in 1977 PET bottles produced were now also recycled. 

Nara Loca Abadi is a recycled plastic specialist that promotes the use of recycled PET flakes, recycled PET chips, recycled PP & HDPE granules to various plastic and polyester manufacturers.