PET Full Form

PET full form is Polyethylene Terephthalate in English. It is a type of plastic that is clear, tough, tensile and shatterproof and is commonly used in the manufacturing of plastic bottles, film packaging, fabrics, molded parts of automotive etc. In its real state, PET is very flexible and colorless in nature. However, depending on the method of processing, it can be rigid or semi-rigid. PET is very much similar to Polybutylene Terephthalate chemically. Polyethylene Terephthalate is used in different packaging applications.

What is PET Full Form?

The full form of PET is Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which is an aliphatic polyester. It consists of a semi-crystalline substance form when stable. It is used in everyday items and can be recycled easily. It is used in packaging, textiles, in molding the parts for automotive and electronics. Moreover, it shows resistance to moisture, alcohols and solvents.

Polyethylene terephthalate or PET belongs to the classification of polyesters. Most common applications include rigid and flexible packaging as it is very light in weight. PET is considered among those plastics which are an important part of everyday life and used in various items. The polymer used in packaging, fabrics, manufacturing of the molded parts for automotive, electronics and many more. Also, PET is one of the most recycled thermoplastics as well as the process is easy.

What Are the Key Properties of PET?

PET resins are mainly used in manufacturing bottles, containers and packaging tapes. It proves to be an excellent hindrance material, preventing the transfer of chemicals which makes it most acceptable for the food and cosmetics industry. PET resin is commonly used as a thermoplastics as it offers many benefits such as:

• Its strength and stiffness are higher.
• It is light-weight and strong in nature. Therefore, it can be transported easily without any damage.
• It has gas and moisture barrier properties.
• It is a good electrical insulator agent.
• It can be used over a wide range and difference of temperatures, from minus 60 to 130 degree centigrade.
• It has a higher heat distortion temperature (HDT) capacity.
• It can  be used as a  better alternative for glass in some applications as it is shatter-resistant.
• It is approved by the FDA as a safe material to be used in food items and beverages.

What Are the Chemical Properties of PET?

PET is resistant to few substances such as alcohols, oils, greases and diluted acids. However, it is significantly less resistant to aromatic hydrocarbons and diluted alkalisolution. Besides so many advantages, there are also some limitations of Polyethylene Terephthalate which are given below:

• The impact strength of PET is less.
• Its crystallization rate is slower than PBT, so its moldability is less than PBT.
• It is affected by boiling water.
• It is delicate to strong bases and alkalis.
• It has poor burning behavior.

PET can be mixed with other thermoplastics and thermosets to improve its performance and efficacy and also to utilize it for many different purposes. The common purpose of producing its blends is to refine the factor of cost-effectiveness and enhance its properties such as mechanical strength, flame retardancy, ability to process etc.

Uses of PET Products

PET products are used in various sectors and in various industries widely. Polyethylene terephthalate is the maximum used thermoplastic and is used in almost every plastic product which is used in our daily lives. Few of the key areas where PET can be used are:

• For production and manufacturing the water bottles and carbonated soft drinks bottles like coca cola, Pepsi bottles etc.
• To make packaging trays
• In the production of PET film to use in tape application
• To make the cosmetic jars, microwave containers and other such packaging items especially made of plastic
• To construct mesh fabrics required in printing, filter oil, filter cloth, woven belt etc.
• To manufacture wiper arms, gear housing, engine cover etc.
• To make polyester fabrics that are flexible in nature, firm and resistant to shrinkage as compared to cotton
• Besides this, the recycled PET can be used for various other purposes and production such as to make carpets, tote bags, comforter fill, film sheet, strapping etc.

Advantages of PET

There are several advantages in using PET material, especially when it's being used for packaging. PET does not break easily and edibles stored in it taste good because it is made of pure substance. The key advantages of polyethylene terephthalate are listed below:

• It is very strong and lightweight substance and hence easy and convenient to transport
• PET can be recycled and is efficient to microwave radiation
• PET is approved as safe substance for contact with foods and beverages by the FDA, Health Canada, EFSA and other health agencies
• PET Chemical Properties
  • Remarkable resistance power to alcohols, aliphatic hydrocarbons, oils, grease and diluted acids
  • Average resistance to diluted alkalis, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons

How is PET Made?

The formation and structure of PET is convenient in nature due to its flexible chemical and physical properties. Polyethylene terephthalate which is written as PET / PET is generally used to manufacture the packaging material for food products such as fruit and drinks containers. The physical properties of Polyethylene terephthalate are- that it is lightweight, transparent and also available in different colors. As PET is a member of the ester family, therefore, it is also known as polyester. It is a recyclable thermoplastic polymer with good strength, ductility (can be beaten into sheets) , stiffness, and hardness. Therefore, it can be processed through various substances such as vacuum forming, injection molding, compression molding and blow molding.

Polyethylene terephthalate can also be recycled back to its original elements as well as into polyester fibers. These polyester fibers are used in the manufacturing and process of synthetic carpets, synthetic clothing and various other textile products. PET fibers are wrinkle-free in nature and less expensive than other substances. Therefore the PET is often mixed with natural fibers. In its wider application, PET is also used for the manufacture and fabrication of microwavable trays and for the packaging of microwavable meals especially in the containers for cosmetic products and pharmaceutical products.

Other PET Full Form

Another full form of PET is the Performance Evaluation Tool. This is a common term used in the IT full form of which is the Information Technology industry.