How Are Plastic Bottles Made?
URL: https://www.btechpackaging.com/news/how-are-plastic-bottles-made-67734832.html The Makings of Plastic Bottles. PET is a form of polyester. It is a polymer primarily derived from petroleum hydrocarbons and is the result of a reaction between monomers ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. In the making of PET plastics, terephthalic acid is combined with Methanol to produce Dimethyl Terephthalate and water. This product is then combined with Ethylene Glycol at a temperature of 305 degrees Fahrenheit to create another substance, known as Bis(2-hydroxethyl) terephthalate and methanol. In the final step, a polymer is formed while another molecule is released. This condensation polymerization process of the Bis(2-hydroxethyl) Terephthalate occurs in a vacuum at 530 degrees Fahrenheit, producing chains of PET and ethylene glycol, which is constantly removed during the polymerization process and used to make additional PET. When the PET mixture reaches the right thickness, it is ...