Polyethylene Terephthalate Is A Non-Toxic Plastic, Mostly Used For Manufacturing Medical Devices
Polyethylene Terephthalate |
Polyethylene Terephthalate is an extremely common plastic. It
is used in water bottles, clothing, baby wipes and many other items. The material
is also a major component of many textiles. It can be melted or injected into
molds to create a variety of shapes. It can also be used as a thin film that
can protect products from light, heat and moisture.
The
material is a linear thermoplastic composed of repeating units of ethylene
glycol and terephthalic acid. It can be spun into fibers for synthetic fabrics,
formed into containers for liquids and food, thermoformed into manufacturing
parts, or combined with glass fiber to make engineering resins. Polyethylene
Terephthalate
is the most common plastic of the polyester family and is one of the most
widely-used materials in the world. It is a strong, stiff plastic with good
electrical insulating properties and excellent mechanical strength,
transparency, gas barrier properties and stability over a wide temperature
range.
It
is not as brittle as other polyesters and it is capable of forming a high
degree of crystallinity in thin films. It can be modified by replacing some of
the 1,4 terephthalate units with isophthalic acid, modifying the chain
architecture, or adding a small amount of neopentyl glycol dibenzoate to
promote crystallization. The plasticizer can also affect the thermal behavior
of the material, increasing elongation and hardness at lower temperatures or by
decreasing melt viscosity at higher temperatures.
Polyethylene Terephthalate is a non-toxic plastic and has been
used in the manufacture of children's toys and medical devices. It is soluble
in acetone, alcohol and methanol and is resistant to acids and alkali. However,
it is prone to hydrolysis and degrades into microplastics and nanoplastics in
the presence of ultraviolet radiation. It can also leach phthalates, antimony,
and other heavy metals from its surroundings.
Despite
its useful properties, the manufacturing of Polyethylene Terephthalate generates a number of toxic pollutants.
The process is energy intensive and produces large amounts of carbon dioxide
and other greenhouse gases. It can also be contaminated with harmful substances
that can be absorbed by plants and animals. In humans, PET can be absorbed by
the liver and kidneys and accumulate in tissues. It can also reduce the
migration and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells in bone marrow.
Indorama
Ventures proposed to acquire a Vietnamese PET converter NN, in January 2022.
This acquisition is aiming to strengthen their position in the in the packaging
sector in Asia-Pacific market.
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