What is rPET?
While many people have seen and know that PET stands for a type of polyester called polyethylene terephthalate, not many people are familiar with the term rPET. So, what changes when a little “r” is added to PET to become rPET? Adding the little “r” to rPET means the PET has been recycled and is now known as recycled polyethylene terephthalate rPET.
rPET Applications
PET is a thermoplastic widely known for being used in beverage bottles, food containers, and other packaging materials. rPET is used in the same industries and types of products but makes the products more eco-friendly or environmentally friendly.
Manufacturing of rPET
rPET is manufactured by melting, filtration, and polymerization of collected PET products. Once the PET is melted, it is filtered to remove impurities and contaminants. The melt is then polymerized to create rPET resin which is used to manufacture new plastic products.
Testing rPET
After the rPET is used in new plastic products, it must be tested to ensure the quality and safety of rPET. There are various testing procedures, industry standards, and regulatory requirements for the rPET. These include:
- Chemical composition analysis
- Contaminant analysis
- Color and appearance testing
- IV (Intrinsic Viscosity) testing
- Melting Point analysis
- Thermal Stability testing
- Mechanical Properties Testing
How Contract Laboratory Helps with rPET Testing
Contract Laboratory routinely helps researchers manufacturers and distributors with their Plastics and Polymer Testing and Research and Development. Below is an example of a Laboratory Request for rPET Testing:
- Polymer Laboratory needed for recycled PET (rPET) intrinsic viscosity IV testing according to international standards.
- Europe Polymer Laboratory needed for comprehensive testing of rPET (Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate) resins including food migration as per the following list: – Overall migration Limit (i) in food (mg/kg) (ii) of food contact surface (mg/dm2) – Specific migration Limit – Terephthalic acid (mg/kg) – Acetaldehyde content (mg/kg) – Isophthalic acid (mg/kg) – Dimethyl Ester (mg/kg) – Ethylene Glycol (EG) (mg/kg) – Limonene ppb – Benzene ppm – Residual ethylene or propylene monomer content mg/kg – Diethylene Glycol (DEG) (mg/kg) – Intrinsic Viscosity:(dL/g) – Metallic Migration Content in food (i) Magnesium (Mg) (mg/kg) (ii) Aluminium (Al) (mg/kg) (iii) Cobalt (Co) (mg/kg) (iv) Germanium (Ge) (mg/kg) (v) Antimony (Sb) (mg/kg) – Haze 3mm thick Plaques (%) – PVC ppm – moisture % – Metal (aluminum and Steel) for 1kg) ppm – Fines % – Toluene ppm – Chloroform ppm – Phenylcyclohexane ppm – Benzophenone ppm – Lindane ppm – Colour
- Polymer Laboratory needed for Acetaldehyde and limonene analysis of recycled rPET resin (pellet) including Migration (SMl and OML), decontamination, heavy metal, and micro tests for rPET resin or only perform can be analyzed? For all tests, I would like to test according to EU regulations EU 10/2011 and EU 2022/2016 (Recycled PET materials as food contact materials).
- PCR sample testing against performance KPIs (IV, MFI, Izod, Flex modulus, other ASTM tests, etc) for various recycled plastic resins (rPET, rHDPE, rPP, etc)
Visit our Plastics and Polymer Industry Section to learn more about how Contract Laboratory helps.
If your company is manufacturing products such as beverage bottles and food containers out of rPET, rPET testing is important, especially for contaminants and impurities. Contract Laboratory can help with your rPET Testing, simply Submit a Laboratory Request for rPET Testing
