New PET resins improve clarity at lower cost

The growing use of PET by the food and drinks industries is being driven by the plastic's recycability and its convenience in relation to glass and metal. Eastman claims its Vorcalor CB11E and 9921W resins offer improved processing in preform and bottle production, which lowers energy use and costs. Vorcalor's reheat performance can produce energy savings of up to 60 per cent against competing products, the manufacturer claims. The fast reheat rate enables high speed blowing at a low cost to produce clear, glossy bottles, that are suitable for carbonated drinks, bottled water and juices, claims Eastman. Vorcalor CB11E's viscosity of IV 0.82 improves stress crack resistance and reduces creep, claims the manufacturer. This makes it suitable as the base resin for blending with lower IV, and post-consumer recycled resin (PCR) in bottle-to-bottle recycling, claims Eastman. With a viscosity of IV 0.80, Vorcalor 9921W has a fast injection speed, which can lead to shorter cycle times, claims the manufacturer. Eastman also claims its Aqualor resin is the first and only reheat-enabled PET for still-water bottles. Reheating preforms for blowing bottles uses up to 30 per cent less energy than competing products, Eastman claims. The low viscosity of 0.72 IV allows fast injection speeds, long lifetime of preform moulds, and the ability to add imprints in bottles, claims the manufacturer. Aqualor combines improved preform and bottle processing with bottle clarity, gloss and definition of imprints, the company claims. Bottles made of Aqualor contain low levels of acetaldehyde (AA), while possessing a high barrier against carbon dioxide loss and against the ingress of oxygen and other unwanted substances. Eastman manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide. Eastman claims to be the world's largest producer of PET for packaging. The company also manufacturers chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide.