Improving the Performance and Sustainability of PET with POLYSORB® isosorbide

Introduction

As a copolyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) lends itself to the incorporation of alternative comonomers to access modified performance profiles. Isosorbide is a plant starch-derived bicyclic diol with considerable potential for this application.

POLYSORB® Isosorbide manufactured on an industrial scale by Roquette has a carbon footprint of just 0.09 kg CO2/kg of product and the ability to enhance the performance of PET in areas of recognized weakness.

In this article, we discuss how SK chemicals (Seongnam-si, South Korea), a global leader in the field of eco-friendly materials, has capitalized on the potential of isosorbide (POLYSORB®) to commercialize new polymers (ECOZEN®) that deliver high performance in areas where PET has limitations. 

Conclusion

With a secure, high purity, industrial-scale supply of isosorbide now in place at Roquette, polymer manufacturers are free to exploit the potential of this plant-based  performance chemical as a comonomer. SK chemicals has already done just that.

New PEIT grades optimized for specific applications such as hot fill and cosmetic packaging illustrate how incorporating isosorbide can address the widely recognized limitations of PET, producing valuable polymers that fit easily into established recycling and re-use channels. 

Learn more by downloading this highly documented article.