PET IM
Grade
also Arnite A, Hostadur
IM = impact-modified / toughened PET
Use when snap-fits, clips or impact-loaded housings need toughness that plain or glass-filled PET cannot supply.
Values for the IM condition
Other PET grades and fills
PET is listed in 7 conditions; see the grade overview at PET.
Compare all 7 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Post-consumer recycled PET | Cost- and footprint-driven choice for sheet, strapping, fiber and non-critical mouldings; IV and colour vary batch to batch. | 55 | 60 | 25 | 83 Shore D |
TX | Pick for unlubricated sliding: bushings, wear pads and guides where low friction and long wear life beat maximum strength. | 60 | 6 | 83 Shore D | |
IMThis page Impact-modified / toughened PET | Use when snap-fits, clips or impact-loaded housings need toughness that plain or glass-filled PET cannot supply. | 100 | 105 | 5 | 87 Shore D |
Flame-retardant UL 94 V-0 grade | Choose where a UL 94 V-0 rating at 0.8–1.6 mm is mandatory, e.g. electrical connectors, coil bobbins and switch bodies. | 135 | 2 | ||
30 % glass-fiber reinforced, heat-stabilized injection grade | Use for stiff, dimensionally stable structural mouldings needing 200 °C-class heat resistance (housings, connectors, under-hood brackets). | 160 | 2.5 | 100 HRM | |
45 % glass-fiber reinforced high-modulus grade | For maximum stiffness and creep resistance in thin-wall metal-replacement parts; brittle and abrasive to tooling. | 185 | 2 | ||
30% Carbon Fiber | PET compounded with 30 wt% chopped carbon fiber for very high stiffness, low creep, low mold shrinkage and static-dissipative/conductive behavior. | 200 | 1.8 | 100 HRM |
What is PET IM?
PET IM is PET in the IM grade — use when snap-fits, clips or impact-loaded housings need toughness that plain or glass-filled PET cannot supply. PET IM has a yield strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) — stronger than 95% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 6.5 GPa (0.943 Msi). PET IM has a density of 1.48 g/cm³ (0.0535 lb/in³), heavier than 87% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 79°C (174 °F).
Advantages
- Tough — resists crack growth — 5 MPa·√m (4.55 ksi·√in), better than 98% of polymer grades
- High strength — 100 MPa (14.5 ksi), better than 95% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 6.5 GPa (0.943 Msi), better than 90% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.3%, better than 90% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 2.8 kg CO₂/kg, better than 86% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 1.48 g/cm³ (0.0535 lb/in³), worse than 87% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 65/100, worse than 86% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 15/100, worse than 79% of polymer grades
PET IM properties
Typical room-temperature values for PET IM; 27 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PET reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
PET IM has a density of 1.48 g/cm³ (0.0535 lb/in³), heavier than 87% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 79°C (174 °F).
Mechanical17
PET IM has a yield strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) — stronger than 95% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 5% and the elastic modulus is 6.5 GPa (0.943 Msi).
Thermal11
PET IM is rated for continuous service to 120°C (248 °F). It conducts heat at 0.29 W/m·K (0.168 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 80% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 65 µm/m·K (36.1 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PET IM is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 22 kV/mm (558.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹³ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), worse than 86% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PET IM takes about 82 MJ of energy and emits 2.8 kg of CO₂ — less than 83% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 25%.
Manufacturability7
PET IM's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability fair (35/100); formability poor (15/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PET IM
Is PET easy to machine?
Machines like a free-cutting engineering plastic: sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, light finishing passes and air/mist cooling give excellent surface finish and tight tolerances; watch for stress relief in thick stock (anneal before finish cuts).
Can PET be welded?
No solvent bonding — join by ultrasonic, hot-plate, IR or laser welding, or use cyanoacrylate/epoxy after abrasion/plasma treatment; mechanical fastening and self-tapping screws work well.
Can PET be formed, bent or molded?
Dry pellets to <0.02 % moisture (150 °C, 4 h desiccant) to avoid hydrolytic IV loss; melt 265–295 °C with hot mold 100–145 °C for full crystallization, or chilled mold/copolyester for clear amorphous APET sheet that thermoforms readily.
What surface finishes work on PET?
Takes machining, printing, hot stamping and vacuum metallizing well after corona/flame or plasma pre-treatment; can be laser-marked, but paint adhesion needs a primer and no plating/anodizing applies.
PET 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 / CHDM comonomerin bottle/APET copolyester grades to suppress crystallization | 0 – 3 | 1.5 |
| glass fiber0 in default unfilled grade; 15–45 % in GF variants | 0 – 45 | 0 |
| solid lubricant (PTFE/other)TX bearing grades | 0 – 20 | 0 |
| flame retardant + synergistFR V-0 grades | 0 – 20 | 0 |
| nucleant / heat stabilizer / mold releasstandard additive package | 0 – 3 | 0.5 |
| ethylene terephthalate repeat unit (–C10polycondensate of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) or DMT with mono-ethylene glycol; Sb/Ti/Ge catalyst residues at ppm level | balance |
PET IM — frequently asked
What is PET IM used for?
PET IM is typically used for precision machined mechanical components, slide bearings and wear strips, pump and valve parts, electronic structural parts, beverage bottles and food packaging film. In short: durable industrial PET.
What is the yield strength of PET IM?
PET IM has a typical yield strength of 100 MPa (14.5 ksi) and a tensile strength of 105 MPa (15.2 ksi) — stronger than 95% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 7 listed tempers.
Is PET IM easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades). Machines like a free-cutting engineering plastic: sharp positive-rake carbide, high speed, light finishing passes and air/mist cooling give excellent surface finish and tight tolerances; watch for stress relief in thick stock (anneal before finish cuts).
Can PET IM be welded?
With care — weldability is rated fair (35/100). No solvent bonding — join by ultrasonic, hot-plate, IR or laser welding, or use cyanoacrylate/epoxy after abrasion/plasma treatment; mechanical fastening and self-tapping screws work well.
What surface finishes work on PET IM?
Takes machining, printing, hot stamping and vacuum metallizing well after corona/flame or plasma pre-treatment; can be laser-marked, but paint adhesion needs a primer and no plating/anodizing applies.
Can PET IM be formed, bent or molded?
Dry pellets to <0.02 % moisture (150 °C, 4 h desiccant) to avoid hydrolytic IV loss; melt 265–295 °C with hot mold 100–145 °C for full crystallization, or chilled mold/copolyester for clear amorphous APET sheet that thermoforms readily.
What is the maximum service temperature of PET IM?
PET IM is rated for continuous use to about 120°C (248 °F), and briefly to 150°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Can FabDigit make parts in PET IM?
Yes — PET IM is available for CNC machining, sheet metal and injection molding with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Ertalyte / Ertalyte TX PET-P stock shapes datasheet — Mitsubishi Chemical Advanced Materials (Quadrant) (2022)
- Rynite PET thermoplastic polyester resin product & molding guide — DuPont / Celanese (2021)
- Arnite A (PET) grade datasheets — Envalior / DSM Engineering Materials (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PET unfilled and GF grades — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- ASTM D5927 — Standard Specification for Thermoplastic Polyester (TPES) Molding and Extrusion Materials — ASTM (2021)
- ISO 7792-1/-2 — Plastics, thermoplastic polyester (TP) moulding and extrusion materials — ISO (2012)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.