PETG resins are thermoplastic polyester engineering resins .PETG is sort of plastic without nitrogen, sulphur and halogen components and without the need for stabilisers and plasticisers. PETG meets the needs of the consumers by having heavy gauge sheet for a higher clarity resin to be less expensive, than polycarbonate and significantly tougher than polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). Two monomers, modified ethylene glycol and purified terephthalic acid are combined to form the polymer called polyethylene terephthalate. PET was discovered and patented in England in 1941. PET is the Most Widely Recycled Plastic in the World. Physical Properties. • Appearance : Colorless solid pellet • Boiling Point : Not applicable • Softening Point : Greater than 82? • Specific Gravity : 1.27 / 23? • Solubility in Water : Negligible • Odor : No apparent odor. • Vapor Pressure (at 20¡E) : Negligible • pH : Not applicable Applications • Besides packaging, PETG is also used in thick sheets for various applications, particularly signs and displays and for credit cards. • PETG is used for the credit cards. PETG credit cards should become increasingly popular, due to its environmental properties, durability and ease of use. • It is applied in packaging of food and cosmetics like Perfumes caps, Cosmetics cream jars, Cosmetics bottles, Nail enamels, Lip glosses and Mascaras. • PETG fluorescent resin matrix can be used to enhance daytime visibility of a roadway marker. • Specialty plastic materials, including PETG copolyesters and cellulosic polymers, have been used in machine guards and shielding for many years. These materials are versatile, easily handled and exhibit the remarkable toughness and strength required for guards and shielding. Characteristics: • Clarity – clear transparent (glass-like) • Strength – copolymerization keeps it from crystallizing and reduces cracking • Resistance to heat – heats fast and stretches well • Expensive material often “co-extruded†Adverse effects of PETG resins Glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), and polystyrene (PS)) leach endocrine disrupting chemicals that most commonly exhibit estrogenic activity (EA). BPA is only one of many hundreds of chemicals having EA or anti- EA used to manufacture HC plastic products. Chemicals having EA or anti-EA have been reported to have significant adverse effects on many behavioral and physiological processes such as sperm counts, uterine and ovarian functions, aggressive behaviors, and some types of cancers. These adverse effects sometimes occur at very low (picomolar to nanomolar) concentrations, especially on fetal or developing mammals (including humans). Products produced from these resins represent the best commercial opportunity, and the greatest potential reduction in chemicals having EA. PETG has a tendency to absorb atmospheric moisture, which cause degradation during processing. This results in decrease of molecular weight of the resin and in reduced properties of the final products. In order to avoid this degradation, PETG should be sufficiently dried before processing. Processing method PETG can be processed through traditional methods such as extrusion moulding, injection moulding, blow moulding, suction moulding and profile extrusion. PETG has good secondary processing behavior and no additives need to be added in processing. Leading Markets of PETG Worldwide demand for PETG is estimated at 0.2 million metric tons per annum .The consumption of PETG in China is around 30000 metric tons a year. The use of PTEG is increasing in given fields. • Construction • Food & Beverage • Manufacturing • Medical • Packaging • Point-of-Purchase / Displays • Retail • Thermoforming PETG is produced by Eastman at Hartlepool in the UK, at Kingsport, TN in the USA and at Gebeng in Malaysia. Eastman Chemical, produces under the brand name Spectar (the grade for thick sheet) and Eastar (the general grade). Liaoyang Petrochemical Cooperation Limited in China started up of its 100 kilo ton per annum PETG pilot project in October 2012. SK Chemical in Korea, produces a glycol modified PET, under the trade name Skygreen mainly sold in Japan. Bonset America Corporation is going to introduce new production line which will be the first glycol-modified polyester (PETG) shrinkable film manufacturing line in South American continent and be up in stream in 2014. The production capacity of new PETG film production facility is in excess of the currently anticipated market demand in South America for next several years. The company has opened its manufacturing facility in Canelones, Uruguay in December, 2012 as the very first high quality heat shrinkable manufacturer in South America with one PVC heat shrink able film production line. Recycling of PET is gaining importance in the PET supply chain. Currently, more than two-thirds of recovered PET is used in textile applications, whereas bottles and sheets represent less than one-third of recycled product. Most of recycled PET is sourced from bottle and fiber scrap recycling and goes into end uses such as polyester staple and fiberfill (60–70%), strapping and bottles. China is the major world supplier of recycled PET, followed by Europe. During the next five years, production of recycled PET is expected to increase at an average annual rate of 12%.
