subject: What Are Pet Preforms And Why They Play An Important Role In Manufacturing [print this page] PET or polyethylene terephthalate preforms are widely used for bottling and packaging purposes. These types of items have barrier properties against main elements such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, making them excellent choices as containers for mineral waters, carbonated drinks, food trays, jars and even energy drinks.
The Structure
PETs are thermoplastics which are in the form of transparent and crystalline materials. They are made from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol. Commonly, they come in white colors with bluish resins although some manufacturers made it a point to offer PET containers in varied tints, styles and forms according to the requests of their customers.
The Benefits
PET preforms have a lot of benefits. Their good tensile strength makes them a top choice when it comes to being used as containers for carbonated beverages and mineral waters since it prolongs the shelf life of these substances. They also have low water absorption and they provide just the right amount of stiffness and hardness. This makes them excellent containers not just for liquid substances, but also for other purposes such as trays for ovens, foils and tins.
PET does not have any taste nor does it affect the quality of the substances placed inside it. Because of the injection molded structure, it does not have any leaks or edges by which substances can leak out from it. Lastly, it is environmental friendly since it is recyclable and remolded for reuse. In some cases, it is recycled into fibres which are integrated as substitutes to silk, cotton and even wool.
The Downsides
PET preforms are flammable and it continues to burn even when it is brought away from fire. This is however remedied with the addition of additives to reduce its flammability properties.
Different Colors And Tints According To Substances
Water.The clarity of the PET preform should be clear enough to complement water substances. Some companies would usually prefer sparkling and crystal clear containers. Also popular are blue-colored preforms to highlight the bluish shade associated with water.
Carbonated drinks and juices. These would usually include clear containers although some carbonated beverages and juices have artificial coloring to add up to their package. Colored preforms such as light red, green and yellow are also popular choices. Opaque preforms are also widely used according to the packaging preferences of clients. For juices and acidic substances, preforms are usually heat set to resist temperature and prevent any chemical changes to the entire structure.
