Polyethylene Terephthalate Plastic and Packaging Testing

Polyethylene terephthalate plastic safety testing through physical and chemical laboratory analyses on PET and recycled PET materials to determine their characteristics and composition

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) safety and performance testing is key to many applications including fibres for clothing, containers for liquids and foods and molded automotive or electronics components. PET is known for its durability and versatility and is a polymer widely utilized in the production of bottles, pellets, and plastic products. Ensuring the safety of PET is paramount to guaranteeing the well-being of consumers and the environment. Safety testing of PET involves a thorough examination of the material's composition, potential contaminants, and adherence to safety standards.

Testing PET Bottles and Pellets
PET bottles, a common application of polyethylene terephthalate, undergo rigorous safety and performance testing to verify their integrity and safety for use. These tests assess the structural strength, resistance to pressure, and the potential leaching of harmful substances into contents. This is critical for food contact applications and our team provide expert food contact migration testing to help you assess risks. Similarly, PET pellets, the raw material for various plastic products, are tested to validate their purity, molecular weight, and any potential degradation during storage or transportation.

Ensuring Safety of Recycled PET Materials
Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (rPET) has gained traction due to its sustainability benefits. However, ensuring the safety of rPET is crucial, considering the varying sources and potential contaminants associated with recycled materials. Through our CircularAssure program we provide comprehensive testing and consultancy to confirm the suitability of rPET for reuse, verifying its purity and compliance with safety standards.

Intertek’s Expertise in PET Safety and Performance Testing
At Intertek, we specialize in analyzing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) materials employing a wide range of analytical and physical testing techniques. Whether you require assistance in troubleshooting, process optimization, or problem-solving activities related to PET processing, we have the experience and expertise to support your needs. We help drive insight using an array of techniques such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), GPC, ICP and XRF to determine the composition of materials such as PET, as part of recycled plastics analysis.

Our expert analysis of PET includes the following

• Dilute solution viscosity
• DEG content
• IPA content
• CHDM content
• OH-end group determination
• DSC analysis for Tg, Tc, Tm
• Heavy metals
• VOC analysis
• Adhesives in PET