What is PET-A plastic?
PET-A stands for amorphous polyethylene terephthalate. Colloquially simply called PET, PET-A is primarily known as the material for PET bottles. PET is a cost-effective standard plastic in thermoforming, which is mainly used in the packaging and food sector. PET-A has the highest recycling rate of all polymers.
Processing and thermoformability of PET-A
PET-A can generally be processed well in thermoforming, but requires precise temperature control and high-quality raw material. In practice, the quality range of the base material tends to be wide, which can influence processing. PET-A is ideal for flat to medium product heights and standard geometries. For heights over 100 mm or complex shapes, alternatives such as PET-G, PVC, or PS should be considered.
Material options for PET-A
Flocked
Sealability
Printable
RegenerateWeaknesses and strengths of PET-A at a glance
Price
Colors
Features
- Very high transparency
- High thermal conductivity
- Resistant to: oils, salts, acids (diluted)
- Good sealability (blister packaging)
- Small minimum order quantities
- Cost-effective
- Very recyclable
Weaknesses
- Poor stretchability: limited product height
- Low temperature resistance
- Inferior surface appearance compared to PET-G
- Volatile prices
Challenges in PET-A processing
Material quality as a critical factor
The thermoformability of PET-A depends heavily on the quality of the raw material. With inferior quality base material, streaks or deformations on the blister can occur that are difficult to prevent. A remedy here is surface treatment of the thermoforming tool, for example by sandblasting the aluminum, to minimize optical impairments.
Narrow temperature tolerance
PET-A requires precisely adjusted processing temperatures and is therefore more demanding to process than PVC, for example. Even at 1-2°C too high processing temperature, stress cracking can occur, the so-called stress whitening. This appears like a white chalk line on the surface and represents an optical impairment that can no longer be remedied.
Limited stretchability
Although PET-A is suitable for a variety of thermoforming applications, it shows weaknesses with particularly high stretching. From a product height of about 100 mm or with very complicated geometries with deep draws, a switch should be made to more stretchable alternatives such as PVC, PS, or PET-G to avoid material failure or optical defects.
Facts and figures about PET-A plastic
| Group | Standard Thermoplastics |
| Structure | Amorphous |
| Density | 1.34 |
| Continuous Use Temperature Min. (in °C) | -10 |
| Continuous Use Temperature Max. (in °C) | 60 |
| Max. Temp. Long-Term (°C) | 65 |
| Abrasion Resistance | - |
| Yield Stress (N/mm²) | 55 |
| Tensile Strength (N/mm²) | 55 |
| Tensile Modulus of Elasticity (N/mm²) | 2500 |
| Elongation at Break (%) | 25 |
| Dielectric Strength (kV/mm) | 60 |
| Volume Resistivity (Ω · m) | 10^15 |
| Surface Resistivity (Ω) | 10^16 |
Applications of PET-A plastic
Food
- Food packaging
- Base inserts for Chep displays
- Inlays for advent calendars
- Blisters for advent calendars
- Inlays for food
- PET trays for fruit, vegetables, baked goods
- Confectionery inlays
- Ice cream packaging
- Transparent clamshell packaging
Electronics
- Protective caps for sensitive precision parts
- Protective packaging for small parts
- Blister packaging for accessories
Medical Technology
- Hygiene product packaging
- Shuttle packaging for laboratory supplies
- Potting inserts
- Fiber holders
- Covers for keyboards
- Potting trays for electronic parts
- Medical thermoformed blisters for pipettes
- Medical blisters
- Medication dispensers
Consumer Goods
- Product packaging
- Advent calendar inserts
- Basket inserts at point of sale
- Clamshell packaging
- Masks
- Inlay for pelvic floor trainers
- Retail blisters for small goods
Cosmetics
- Blister packaging
- Sales packaging
- Inlays for folding boxes
- Transparent presentation packaging
- Protective sleeves for cosmetic products
Industrial Solutions
- Transport trays for light components
- Turned parts trays
- Trays for bronze parts
- Protective packaging for sensitive parts
Agriculture & Horticulture
- Seed packaging (transparent, food-safe)
- Blisters for plant seeds
- Packaging for garden tools and accessories
- Protective packaging for plant cuttings
- Growing trays for seedlings (transparent for light access)
- Clamshell packaging for garden tools
- Inlays for pesticide packaging
- Transparent covers for small greenhouses
- Packaging for fertilizer portions
- Blisters for horticultural small parts (fasteners, clips)
- Point-of-sale displays for garden centers
- Protective packaging for sensitive plant labels
- Transport trays for young plants
- Clear packaging for flower bulbs
- Inlays for horticultural advent calendars
More Information about Materials
Frequently asked questions about PET-A plastic
PET-A stands for amorphous polyethylene terephthalate and is one of the standard thermoplastics. Colloquially, PET-A is often simply referred to as PET, known primarily from the manufacture of beverage bottles. In thermoforming, PET-A is a cost-effective, transparent material with a high recycled content, ideal for packaging and blister packs in the consumer and food sectors.
