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PET
Plastics
What Are PET Plastics
Learn about the common plastic used In water bottles:
PET
by Todd Johnson
PET Plastics are some of the
more commonly discussed plastics when searching for solutions for drinking
water.
Unlike other types of
plastics, polyethelene terephthalate is considered safe and is
represented on water bottles with the number "1", indicating it is a
safe option.
These plastics are a type of
thermoplastic polymer resin, useful in various applications including in
synthetic fiber production, in containers containing food and in thermoforming
applications. It does not contain polyethylene - despite its name.
The History
John
Rex Whinfield, along with James Tennant Dickson and others who worked for the
company Calico Printers Association, initially patented PET plastics in
1941.
Once created and found to be
highly effective, production of products using PET plastics became more popular.
The first PET bottle was
patented years later in 1973. At that time, Nathaniel Wyeth created the first
official PET bottle under this patent. Wyeth was the brother of a well-known
American painter named Andrew Wyeth.
Physical Properties
A
number of benefits come from the use of PET plastics.
Perhaps one of the most
important characteristics of it is its intrinsic viscosity. It absorbs water
from the surroundings, which makes it hydroscopic as well.
This allows the material to be processed using
a common molding machine and then dried.
· It has an excellent level of wear
resistance compared to other plastics.
· It has a high flexural modulus (making
it flexible.)
· It has a superior level of stability
making it versatile and strong.
· It has a low coefficient of friction
making it useful in various applications in which other plastics are not.
· The plastic's chemicals do not leak into
the fluid or food stored within it - making it one of the most important
products for food storage.
The plastic's chemicals do not leak into the fluid or food stored within it -
making it one of the most important products for food storage.
These physical properties make
it an advantageous option for manufacturers who need safe plastics for use with
food products or for continuous use.
Uses in Everyday Life
There
are both industrial- and consumer-related uses for PET plastics. The following
are some examples of the most common uses for polyethylene terephthalate:
It is commonly used in bottles and other plastic containers. This includes soda
bottles, bakery products, water bottles, peanut butter jars and even in frozen
foods packaging.
· It is used to hold cosmetics. Since it
is easy to mold, manufacturers can create very specific shapes for a variety of
cosmetic products.
· It is commonly used for the storage of
chemicals, including household cleaners.
Why do manufacturers turn to PET plastics when they could choose other types of
materials that may be more readily available?
PET plastics are durable and
strong. Most applications can be used repeatedly (recycling is a possibility
with these products).
In addition, it is
transparent, making it quite versatile for various applications.
It is resealable; because it
is easy to mold into any shape, it is easy to seal.
It is also unlikely to
shatter.
Moreover, perhaps most
importantly in many applications, it is an inexpensive type of plastic to use.
Recycling PET Plastics Makes Sense
RPET
plastics are a similar form to PET. These are created after the recycling of
polyethylene terephthalate.
The first PET bottle to be
recycled occurred in 1977.
As a main component in many
of the plastic bottles used today, one of the most common discussions about PET
plastics is recycling it.
It is an estimate that the
average household generates about 42 pounds of plastic bottles containing PET
annually.
When recycled, PET can be
used in numerous ways for various applications, including use in fabrics such
as t-shirts and undergarments.
It
can be used as a fiber in polyester-based carpeting. It is also effective as a
fiberfill for winter coats and for sleeping bags.
In industrial applications,
it can be very effective for strapping or in film and can be useful in the
creation of automobile products including fuse boxes and bumpers.
Todd Johnson
· Regional Sales Manager for Composites One, a
distributor of composite materials.
· B.S. in Business Management
from University of Colorado Boulder's Leeds School of Business
· Business Development Manager for Ebert
Composites Corporation
Experience
Todd Johnson is a former writer for ThoughtCo, who wrote about
plastics and composite materials for 2-1/2 years between 2010 and 2013. He is a
Regional Sales Manager at Composites One, a composite materials distributor in
San Diego, CA. Johnson provides support to the Greater San Diego manufacturers
of fiber reinforced and polymer products. He regularly attends composite
industry trade shows including JEC, ACMA, SME, and SAMPE. In 2008 he presented
at the Global Pultrusion Conference in Baltimore, MD. Previously, Todd spent
six years as the Business Development Manager for Ebert Composites
Corporation.
Education
B.S., Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support
Services - the University of Colorado-Boulder's Leeds School of Business;
attended Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.
Todd Johnson
ThoughtCo and Dotdash
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named Publisher of the Year by Digiday, a leading industry publication.https://www.thoughtco.com/what-are-pet-plastics-820361
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