APET
APET is clear, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate extrusion sheet (GB/T 16958), supplied unfilled with a typical tensile strength of 55 MPa and about 250% elongation in the standard condition.
Reference datasheet — APET is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
APET grades and fills
APET is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
coextruded sheet with PE sealing layer | Choose for heat-sealed food trays needing a peelable or weld-seal PE inner layer. | 46 | 48 | 200 | 76 Shore D |
Flame-retardant sheet | Niche electronics-tray/insert sheet where a flammability rating is contractually required. | 47 | 48 | 80 | 82 Shore D |
Carbon-loaded conductive black sheet | Opaque black conductive tray sheet for IC/PCB handling where 10^3–10^5 Ω surface resistivity is specified. | 49 | 50 | 60 | 83 Shore D |
Post-consumer recycled content sheet | Choose for recycled-content targets and cost; expect slight haze/tint and lower ductility batch-to-batch. | 51 | 52 | 150 | 81 Shore D |
Pigmented opaque sheet | Pick for light-protective or branded trays where transparency is not needed. | 52 | 52 | 150 | 82 Shore D |
Anti-fog coated / additive sheet | Use for chilled fresh-food trays and lids where condensation must not blur the view window. | 54 | 55 | 240 | 82 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways APET is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
AS | Antistatic (surface/internal) sheet | Coating |
FG | Food / medical contact grade | Certification |
STDDefault | Clear virgin amorphous sheet | Standard supply |
What is APET?
APET is clear, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate extrusion sheet (GB/T 16958), supplied unfilled with a typical tensile strength of 55 MPa and about 250% elongation in the standard condition. Engineers choose it for thermoformed clamshells, blister packs and trays because it stays optically clear, forms at low sheet temperature and die-cuts without cracking; it is stocked as roll and cut sheet in food-grade, anti-fog, antistatic, ESD, coloured, flame-retardant, PE-coated and rPET conditions. Limits are low heat resistance (the sheet crystallizes and hazes when heated), poor solvent bonding and hydrolysis in hot alkaline wash. Where the pack must be ovenable, use CPET. APET has a density of 1.34 g/cm³ (0.0482 lb/in³), heavier than 74% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 78°C (172 °F). APET has a yield strength of 54 MPa (7.83 ksi) and a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 60% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 250% and the elastic modulus is 2.3 GPa (0.334 Msi).
What is APET used for?
- thermoformed clamshell packaging
- blister packs
- food trays
- protective covers
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 5 MPa·√m (4.55 ksi·√in), better than 98% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 92/100, better than 97% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.9 kg CO₂/kg, better than 85% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 250%, better than 79% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 83% of polymer grades
APET properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
APET has a density of 1.34 g/cm³ (0.0482 lb/in³), heavier than 74% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 78°C (172 °F).
Mechanical17
APET has a yield strength of 54 MPa (7.83 ksi) and a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 60% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 250% and the elastic modulus is 2.3 GPa (0.334 Msi).
Thermal11
APET is rated for continuous service to 65°C (149 °F). It conducts heat at 0.2 W/m·K (0.116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 70 µm/m·K (38.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
APET is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 20 kV/mm (508 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is very good (78/100), worse than 61% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of APET takes about 84 MJ of energy and emits 2.9 kg of CO₂ — less than 81% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 30%.
Manufacturability7
APET's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability excellent (92/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. APET is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with APET
Is APET easy to machine?
Die-cuts, steel-rule punches and CNC routers work well with sharp positive-rake tools and air blast; avoid heat build-up which locally crystallizes and whitens the cut edge.
Can APET be welded?
Excellent heat, impulse, HF and ultrasonic sealing; solvent bonding is poor, so use hot-melt/PSA or mechanical snap-fit for secondary joining.
Can APET be formed, bent or molded?
Dry sheet 4 h at 60–70 °C before extrusion/regrind; thermoform at 120–160 °C sheet temperature with fast quench moulds (10–25 °C) to keep the part amorphous and clear.
APET chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| isophthalic acid (IPA) comonomercrystallization retarder that keeps the quenched sheet amorphous/clear | 1 – 4 | 2 |
| diethylene glycol (DEG, in-situ) | 0.8 – 1.6 | 1.2 |
| Sb2O3 / Ti polycondensation catalyst res | 0.02 – 0.03 | 0.02 |
| additives (slip, AF coating, pigment, an | 0 – 3 | 0.3 |
| polyethylene terephthalate (TPA + MEG reIV typically 0.72–0.84 dL/g for sheet extrusion | ≥ 95 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on APET?
Accepts corona-treated flexo/screen/UV offset printing, hot stamping and in-mould labels; no plating, and hot alkaline cleaning must be avoided (hydrolysis).
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to APET in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Similar grades
- GB/T 16958
How much does APET cost?
APET is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
APET — frequently asked
What is APET used for?
APET is typically used for thermoformed clamshell packaging, blister packs, food trays and protective covers. In short: clear thermoforming PET sheet; amorphous, not ovenable; food-contact packaging sheet.
What is the yield strength of APET?
APET has a typical yield strength of 54 MPa (7.83 ksi) and a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 60% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is APET easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Die-cuts, steel-rule punches and CNC routers work well with sharp positive-rake tools and air blast; avoid heat build-up which locally crystallizes and whitens the cut edge.
Can APET be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Excellent heat, impulse, HF and ultrasonic sealing; solvent bonding is poor, so use hot-melt/PSA or mechanical snap-fit for secondary joining.
What surface finishes work on APET?
Accepts corona-treated flexo/screen/UV offset printing, hot stamping and in-mould labels; no plating, and hot alkaline cleaning must be avoided (hydrolysis).
Can APET be formed, bent or molded?
Dry sheet 4 h at 60–70 °C before extrusion/regrind; thermoform at 120–160 °C sheet temperature with fast quench moulds (10–25 °C) to keep the part amorphous and clear.
What is the maximum service temperature of APET?
APET is rated for continuous use to about 65°C (149 °F), and briefly to 80°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does APET cost?
APET is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 71% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- GB/T 16958 PET — SAC (2008)
- ISO 527 / ISO 178 / ISO 75 plastics test methods — ISO (2019)
- APET clear thermoforming sheet technical data (typical extruder datasheets) — sheet extruders (Klöckner Pentaplast / Octal / ) (2024)
- ASM Handbook Vol. 2 Engineering Plastics — PET — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS plastics — amorphous PET datasets — CWFG (2024)
- PlasticsEurope Eco-profile: PET (bottle grade) and sheet extrusion — PlasticsEurope (2017)
- APET (2026)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.