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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