Polyethylene terephthalate

PET-G Plastic

PET-G (Polyethylene terephthalate Glycol-modified) is a modified PET with maximum transparency and excellent thermoformability. It is ideal for visible parts, high-quality blister packaging, and applications with sharp contours and is more cost-effective than PC or PMMA with comparable optical quality.

What is PET-G plastic?

PET-G is the abbreviation for Polyethylene terephthalate Glycol-modified and is a refined PET, which stands out for very high definition and transparency in thermoforming. Therefore, PET-G is often processed for visible parts and high-gloss blisters. However, the lack of UV resistance prevents the use of the thermoformed part in permanent outdoor applications.

Processing and thermoformability of PET-G

The "G" in PET-G stands for Glycol. Glycol is added during polymerization in the production of PET-G and prevents the material from crystallizing under heat. This means: when the PET-G film is heated on the thermoforming machine, the material remains crystal clear even at high forming temperatures. Therefore, PET-G is also referred to as a plastic with maximum transparency and is often used for visible parts.

Material options for PET-G

Kunststoff Eigenschaften_SiegelfähigkeitSealability
Kunststoff Eigenschaften_VerschweißbarWeldable
Kunststoff Eigenschaften_SterilisierbarSterilizable
Kunststoff Eigenschaften_BedruckbarPrintable

Weaknesses and strengths of PET-G at a glance

  • Price

  • Colors

  • Features

    • Maximum transparency
    • Good stretchability
    • Very sharp contours possible
    • Resistant to: oils, salts, acids
    • More affordable for visible parts than ABS, PC, PMMA
  • Weaknesses

    • No UV resistance
    • Very low dielectric strength
    • Very brittle
    • Very high density: heavy weight
    • Fluctuating market capacities
    • Long procurement time

Advantages of PET-G over PET-A

Compared to PET-A, PET-G has better low-temperature behavior and significantly improved thermoforming properties. Glycol provides better stretchability and formability of the material. Therefore, PET-G is used for demanding thermoformed parts when PET-A is no longer sufficient. Excellent formability makes very sharp contours and edges in the thermoformed part possible.

Facts and figures about PET-G

GroupStandard Thermoplastics
StructureSemi-Crystalline
Density1.27
Continuous Use Temperature Min. (in °C)-40
Continuous Use Temperature Max. (in °C)63
Max. Temp. Short-Term (°C)70
Max. Temp. Long-Term (°C)65
Impact Strength (KJ/m^2)10
Abrasion Resistance-
Tensile Strength (N/mm²)50
Tensile Modulus of Elasticity (N/mm²)1720
Elongation at Break (%)54
Flexural Strength (N/mm²)70
Ball Indentation Hardness (N/mm²)97
Dielectric Strength (kV/mm)16
Volume Resistivity (Ω · m)>10^15
Surface Resistivity (Ω)> 10^16

Applications of PET-G plastic

Automotive

  • Flange covers
  • Interior trim parts
  • Engine covers
  • Visible parts in the interior
  • Transparent protective covers

Electronics

  • Blisters for electronics
  • Protection for display devices
  • Protective films for busbar mounting
  • Display covers
  • Sight windows for controls
  • High-quality product packaging

Medical Technology

  • Medical blister inserts
  • Blister trays
  • Slide blisters
  • Sterilizable packaging
  • Protective packaging for medical instruments
  • Hygiene packaging

Consumer Goods

  • High-quality product packaging
  • Visible packaging for premium products
  • Covers with optical requirements
  • Display packaging

Mechanical Engineering

  • Containers with sight window
  • Plastic containers for precision parts
  • Thermoformed sleeves
  • Outer sleeves with transparency requirement
  • Protective covers for sensitive components

Industrial Solutions

  • Transport trays for sensitive parts
  • Precision trays with visibility
  • High-quality packaging solutions
  • Protective packaging for precision parts

Cosmetics

  • Premium blister packaging
  • High-gloss sales packaging
  • Visible packaging for cosmetic products
  • Display packaging at point of sale

Agriculture & Horticulture

  • Transparent growing trays with sight window (growth monitoring)
  • High-quality seed packaging with crystal-clear optics
  • Visible packaging for premium garden tools
  • Transparent protective covers for greenhouse small parts
  • Display packaging for garden centers (point of sale)
  • Clear-view containers for plant accessories
  • High-quality blisters for horticultural precision tools
  • Transparent inlays for plant lamp packaging
  • Visible packaging for irrigation system components
  • Premium packaging for garden electronics

Robotics

  • Transparent protective covers for control units (sight windows)
  • Sight windows for robot controls
  • Transparent housings for sensors (light transmission)
  • Protective covers for display panels
  • Clear-view housings for camera modules
  • Precision trays for sensitive electronic components
  • Transparent cable management with visual control
  • Protective packaging for high-quality robot components
  • Display covers for HMI (Human-Machine-Interface)
  • Transparent inlays for maintenance kits

Aerospace & Defense

  • Transparent protective packaging for sensitive avionics
  • Precision trays for optical components
  • Visible packaging for instruments and sensors
  • Transparent inlays for maintenance and repair kits
  • Protective covers for displays and indicating devices
  • High-quality packaging for precision parts
  • Transparent containers for small parts sorting
  • Sight window housings for electronic modules
  • Blister packaging for spare parts
  • Clear-view transport boxes for sensitive measuring instruments

Frequently asked questions about PET-G plastic

What is PET-G plastic?

PET-G stands for polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified and is a modified PET material. The addition of glycol ensures that PET-G remains crystal clear when heated and can be deep-drawn with particular precision. The plastic is known for its maximum transparency and sharp contours. Ideal for visible parts, displays and blister packaging.

What is PET-G plastic used for?
What distinguishes PET-G from PET-A?
What advantages does PET-G offer in thermoforming?
Is PET-G food safe?
What are the weaknesses of PET-G plastic?
How well does PET-G thermoform?
How is PET-G manufactured?
What is the temperature resistance of PET-G plastic?

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