Polymers & elastomers · Engineering thermoplastics
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a representative unfilled polymer family record for early material selection, processing comparison and property-range screening.
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01
Overview
- Material class
- Polymers & elastomers
- Category
- Engineering thermoplastics
- Family
- PET
- Product forms
- Pellet/resin, Sheet, Rod/tube, Film or profile (family dependent)
Composition
| Constituent | Min | Max | Typical | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PET | 100 | Generic family identity; additives and grade-specific modifiers vary |
02
Properties and conditions
Engineering properties
| Property | Value | Unit | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.33–1.40 | g/cm³ | Representative generic grade; verify supplier, condition and test method |
| Tensile strength | 50–80 | MPa | Representative generic grade; verify supplier, condition and test method |
| Elastic modulus | 2.0–3.0 | GPa | Representative generic grade; verify supplier, condition and test method |
| Indicative continuous service temperature | 80–120 | °C | Representative generic grade; verify supplier, condition and test method |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.15–0.45 | W/m·K | Representative generic grade; verify supplier, condition and test method |
| Water/moisture response | Grade dependent | — | Representative generic grade; verify supplier, condition and test method |
Conditions
Unfilled generic reference
Condition carried forward from the Phase 1 record.
03
Processing and use
Processing
- Drying requirements, mould temperature and shrinkage depend on polymer family and grade.
- Fillers, plasticizers, impact modifiers and flame-retardant packages can materially change the listed ranges.
Applications
- Housings and covers
- Guides, bearings or wear components
- Electrical and fluid-handling parts
Selection considerations
- Do not treat a polymer-family record as a supplier-grade datasheet.
- Check creep, moisture, chemical compatibility, fire performance and temperature together.
04
Standards and related materials
Standards and designations
| System | Designation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ISO 1043 | PET | Polymer-family abbreviation; grade and additives must be stated separately |
Other names
- PET-P
05
Sources and context
Sources
- Ensinger — thermoplastic materials and stock-shape referencesManufacturer or public reference
- U.S. Department of Energy lightweight materials programApplication reference
Confirm the applicable specification, product form and condition before using values for design or procurement.
Supply and sustainability
Widely supplied as pellets and semi-finished stock; grade-specific availability varies by region and certification.
Mechanical recycling potential and recycled-content availability depend strongly on polymer purity, additives, colour and contamination.
Strategic context
Important for lightweighting, corrosion resistance, electrical insulation and scalable manufacturing.