Polyalkylene terephthalates

Polyalkylene terephthalates are thermoplastic polyesters that are produced by a chemical process called polycondensation. In this process, terephthalic acid and aliphatic diols are linked together. This reaction produces water as a by-product, which must be continuously removed in order to drive the reaction forward and form the polymer.

A well-known example of polyalkylene terephthalates is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is produced by the polycondensation of terephthalic acid with ethylene glycol. This compound is widely used and is frequently employed in the manufacture of drinks bottles, textile fibres and food packaging. PET is characterised by its high strength, chemical resistance and transparency, which makes it a versatile material for various applications.