PET (polyester) continues to enjoy substantial growth as a packaging material across global markets and for diverse applications. Its replacement of glass, metal, and other plastics has been quite remarkable — no other rigid plastics packaging sector has matched the growth rate of PET bottles over the last 20 years. PET is now a commodity polymer competing directly with polyolefins and styrenics in the markets for food and beverage pacakging, as well as for other products.

This unique volume provides a one-stop reference source for all aspects of PET use in the packaging industry. The discussion includes extensive coverage of blow moulding, film and sheet manufacture, environmental considerations, and more.

From the Preface: “....[PET]'s success as a packaging material is due largely to technological developments in the processes used to convert PET into flexible and rigid packs at high outputs, which is crucial for the minimisation of costs. Developments in PET technology in recent years have focused on improvements in gas barrier and heat stability — a process that will continue as new opportunities develop in the food and beverage markets. This volume is designed to inform the reader about PET, about the development of materials and technologies to improve its barrier and heat stability, about the various process technologies for converting it into rigid and flexible packs, and about environmental and recycling issues. It is the first volume to provide a comprehensive source of reference on PET packaging technologies, and it includes the latest developments...”

Target Audience: Packaging technicians and engineers; packaging designers; plant managers; packaging materials buyers, and corporate libraries.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Commercial Considerations

PET Materials and Applications

Barrier Materials and Technology

PET Film and Sheet

Injection and Co-Injection Preform Technologies

One-Stage Injection Stretch Blow Moulding

Two-Stage Injection Stretch Blow Moulding

Injection Blow Moulding

Hot-Fill, Heat-Set, Pasteurization and Retort Technologies

Environmental and Recycling Considerations

Index

Note: Design and Technology of Packaging Decoration for the Consumer Market, Materials and Development of Plastics Packaging for the Consumer Market, and Technology of Plastics Packaging for the Consumer Market are companion volumes which complement this title.