Is rPET OK for Hot-Fill Bottles?
Up to 50% recycle does not affect necessary properties, study finds.
Yes, as long as the recycled proportion does not exceed 50%. That’s according to a new study by Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI), Holland, Ohio. “Even at 100% rPET resin use, the performance of the bottle used in this study was still acceptable,” said Tracy Momany, v.p. of PTI’s product development group. “However, the typically thicker walls of hot-fill bottles may result in slightly more noticeable haze or yellowing than in other applications such as very thin-walled water bottles.” The study used a commercial, 500-ml, 27-g, six-panel hot-fill bottle made of virgin PET and two different rPET resins added at 25%, 50%, and 100% levels. The bottles were tested for hot-fill and topload performance, wall thickness, color, haze, crystallinity, and acetaldehyde (AA) content. All samples passed the standard performance specs for hot-fill bottles. Shrinkage increased slightly with recycled content above 50%, but the bottles remained within spec. The main drawbacks of high rPET content were aesthetic—increased yellowing and haze.
Related Content
-
Avoid Four Common Traps In Granulation
Today, more than ever, granulation is an important step in the total production process. Our expert explains a few of the many common traps to avoid when thinking about granulators
-
How to Extrusion Blow Mold PHA/PLA Blends
You need to pay attention to the inherent characteristics of biopolymers PHA/PLA materials when setting process parameters to realize better and more consistent outcomes.
-
Processing Megatrends Drive New Product Developments at NPE2024
It’s all about sustainability and the circular economy, and it will be on display in Orlando across all the major processes. But there will be plenty to see in automation, AI and machine learning as well.
