Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Page 1 of 5
Description
Image
Caption
PET drinks containers, pressurized and unpressurized. © Tee design and printing Ltd
The material
The name polyester derives from a combination of 'Polymerization' and 'esterification'. Saturated polyesters are
thermoplastic - examples are PET and PBT; they have good mechanical properties to temperatures as high as 175 C. PET
is crystal clear, impervious to water and CO2, but a little oxygen does get through. It is tough, strong, easy to shape, join
and sterilize - allowing reuse. When its first life comes to an end, it can be recycled to give fibers and fleece materials for
clothing and carpets. Unsaturated polyesters are thermosets; they are used as the matrix material in glass fiber/polyester
composites. Polyester elastomers are resilient and stretch up to 45% in length; they have good fatigue resistance and
retain flexibility at low temperatures.
Composition (summary)
(CO-(C6H4)-CO-O-(CH2)2-O)n
General properties
Density 1.29e3 - 1.39e3 kg/m^3
Price * 1.42 - 1.92 SGD/kg
Date first used 1941
Mechanical properties
Young's modulus * 2.8 - 3 GPa
Shear modulus * 0.994 - 1.49 GPa
Bulk modulus * 4.94 - 5.19 GPa
Poisson's ratio * 0.381 - 0.396
Yield strength (elastic limit) * 50 - 55 MPa
Tensile strength 55 - 60 MPa
Compressive strength * 50 - 60 MPa
Elongation 280 - 320 % strain
Hardness - Vickers * 2 - 5 HV
Fatigue strength at 10^7 cycles * 19.3 - 29 MPa
Fracture toughness * 4.75 - 5.25 MPa.m^0.5
Mechanical loss coefficient (tan delta) * 0.00966 - 0.0145
Values marked * are estimates.
ANSYS, Inc. provides no warranty for this data.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Page 2 of 5
Thermal properties
Melting point 237 - 277 °C
Glass temperature 59.9 - 83.9 °C
Maximum service temperature * 54.9 - 64.9 °C
Minimum service temperature * -58.2 - -38.2 °C
Thermal conductor or insulator? Good insulator
Thermal conductivity 0.138 - 0.24 W/m.°C
Specific heat capacity 1.15e3 - 1.25e3 J/kg.°C
Thermal expansion coefficient 115 - 119 µstrain/°C
Electrical properties
Electrical conductor or insulator? Good insulator
Electrical resistivity 3.3e20 - 3e21 µohm.cm
Dielectric constant (relative permittivity) 3.5 - 3.7
Dissipation factor (dielectric loss tangent) * 0.003 - 0.007
Dielectric strength (dielectric breakdown) 36 - 44 MV/m
Optical properties
Transparency Optical Quality
Refractive index 1.57 - 1.58
Critical Materials Risk
High critical material risk? No
Processability
Castability 1 - 2
Moldability 4 - 5
Machinability 3 - 4
Weldability 5
Durability: water and aqueous solutions
Water (fresh) Excellent
Water (salt) Excellent
Soils, acidic (peat) Acceptable
Soils, alkaline (clay) Limited use
Wine Excellent
Durability: acids
Acetic acid (10%) Acceptable
Acetic acid (glacial) Excellent
Citric acid (10%) Excellent
Hydrochloric acid (10%) Excellent
Hydrochloric acid (36%) Limited use
Hydrofluoric acid (40%) Limited use
Nitric acid (10%) Excellent
Nitric acid (70%) Unacceptable
Phosphoric acid (10%) Excellent
Phosphoric acid (85%) Acceptable
Values marked * are estimates.
ANSYS, Inc. provides no warranty for this data.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Page 3 of 5
Sulfuric acid (10%) Excellent
Sulfuric acid (70%) Limited use
Durability: alkalis
Sodium hydroxide (10%) Limited use
Sodium hydroxide (60%) Unacceptable
Durability: fuels, oils and solvents
Amyl acetate Limited use
Benzene Excellent
Carbon tetrachloride Excellent
Chloroform Excellent
Crude oil Acceptable
Diesel oil Excellent
Lubricating oil Excellent
Paraffin oil (kerosene) Excellent
Petrol (gasoline) Excellent
Silicone fluids Acceptable
Toluene Limited use
Turpentine Limited use
Vegetable oils (general) Excellent
White spirit Acceptable
Durability: alcohols, aldehydes, ketones
Acetaldehyde Excellent
Acetone Limited use
Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) Excellent
Ethylene glycol Excellent
Formaldehyde (40%) Excellent
Glycerol Excellent
Methyl alcohol (methanol) Excellent
Durability: halogens and gases
Chlorine gas (dry) Excellent
Fluorine (gas) Unacceptable
O2 (oxygen gas) Unacceptable
Sulfur dioxide (gas) Excellent
Durability: built environments
Industrial atmosphere Excellent
Rural atmosphere Excellent
Marine atmosphere Excellent
UV radiation (sunlight) Fair
Durability: flammability
Flammability Highly flammable
Durability: thermal environments
Values marked * are estimates.
ANSYS, Inc. provides no warranty for this data.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Page 4 of 5
Tolerance to cryogenic temperatures Unacceptable
Tolerance up to 150 C (302 F) Acceptable
Tolerance up to 250 C (482 F) Unacceptable
Tolerance up to 450 C (842 F) Unacceptable
Tolerance up to 850 C (1562 F) Unacceptable
Tolerance above 850 C (1562 F) Unacceptable
Geo-economic data for principal component
Annual world production, principal component 1.88e7 tonne/yr
Reserves, principal component 1.23e8 - 1.35e8 tonne
Primary material production: energy, CO2 and water
Embodied energy, primary production * 78.4 - 86.4 MJ/kg
CO2 footprint, primary production 2.59 - 2.86 kg/kg
Water usage * 126 - 140 l/kg
Material processing: energy
Polymer extrusion energy * 5.82 - 6.43 MJ/kg
Polymer molding energy * 18.7 - 20.6 MJ/kg
Coarse machining energy (per unit wt removed) * 0.864 - 0.954 MJ/kg
Fine machining energy (per unit wt removed) * 4.36 - 4.82 MJ/kg
Grinding energy (per unit wt removed) * 8.25 - 9.11 MJ/kg
Material processing: CO2 footprint
Polymer extrusion CO2 * 0.437 - 0.483 kg/kg
Polymer molding CO2 * 1.4 - 1.55 kg/kg
Coarse machining CO2 (per unit wt removed) * 0.0648 - 0.0716 kg/kg
Fine machining CO2 (per unit wt removed) * 0.327 - 0.361 kg/kg
Grinding CO2 (per unit wt removed) * 0.618 - 0.684 kg/kg
Material recycling: energy, CO2 and recycle fraction
Recycle
Embodied energy, recycling * 26.8 - 29.6 MJ/kg
CO2 footprint, recycling * 1.45 - 1.6 kg/kg
Recycle fraction in current supply 17.3 - 19.1 %
Downcycle
Combust for energy recovery
Heat of combustion (net) * 23 - 24.2 MJ/kg
Combustion CO2 * 2.24 - 2.35 kg/kg
Landfill
Biodegrade
Toxicity rating Non-toxic
A renewable resource?
Environmental notes
PET bottles take less energy to make than glass bottles of the same volume, and they are much lighter - saving fuel in
delivery. Thick-walled bottles can be reused; thin-walled bottles can be recycled - and are, particularly in the US.
Recycle mark
Values marked * are estimates.
ANSYS, Inc. provides no warranty for this data.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) Page 5 of 5
Supporting information
Design guidelines
There are four grades of thermoplastic polyesters: unmodified, flame retardant, glass-fiber reinforced and mineral-filled.
Unmodified grades have high elongation; flame retardant grades are self -extinguishing; glass-fiber reinforced grades (like
Rynite) are some of the toughest polymers but there are problems with dimensional stability; and mineral-filled grades are
used to counter warping and shrinkage although some strength is lost. The PET used in carbonated drink containers is able
to withstand pressure from within, it is recyclable and lighter than glass. The limits of the material's permeability to oxygen
is overcome by sandwiching a layer of polyethylvinylidene-alcohol between two layers of PET giving a multi-layer material
that can still be blow molded. Polyester can be optically transparent, clear, translucent, white or opaque; the resin is easily
colored.
Technical notes
Polyesters are made by a condensation reaction of an alcohol like ethyl alcohol (the one in beer) and an organic acid like
acetic acid (the one in vinegar). The two react, releasing water, and forming an ester. PET, PBT and PCT are not
cross-linked and thus are thermoplastic. The polyesters that are used as the matrix polymer in bulk and sheet molding
compounds are thermosets
Typical uses
Electrical fittings and connectors, blow molded bottles, packaging film, photographic and X-ray film, audio/visual tapes,
industrial strapping, capacitor film, drawing office transparencies, fibers. Decorative film, metallized balloons, carbonated
drink containers, ovenproof cookware, windsurfing sails, credit cards.
Tradenames
Arnite, Eastabond, Eastapak, Ektar, Grilpet, Impet, Kodapak, Melinar, Petra, Plenco, Polyclear, Rynite, Selar, Techster,
Valox
Links
Legislation and Regulations
Nations of the World
ProcessUniverse
Producers
Reference
Values marked * are estimates.
ANSYS, Inc. provides no warranty for this data.
