RPET
RPET is post-consumer or post-industrial recycled polyethylene terephthalate, reprocessed from flake into resin, sheet, film and fiber, with typical values of 55 MPa tensile strength, 60% elongation and 65 °C service temperature.
Reference datasheet — RPET 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.
RPET grades and fills
RPET 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Impact-modified rPET compound | Elastomer/chain-extender modified recycled PET where notched impact and melt strength of straight rPET are insufficient. | 42 | 45 | 150 | 75 Shore D |
PCR hot-washed bottle flake (clear) | Cheapest input form — washed, sorted bottle flake fed directly to extrusion or fibre lines with in-line drying/degassing. | 48 | 50 | 40 | 81 Shore D |
Post-industrial recycled rPET | Cleaner, more consistent single-source scrap for non-food packaging, sheet cores and engineering compounds. | 55 | 58 | 80 | 82 Shore D |
Strapping / high-IV extrusion grade | High-IV SSP recycled resin for oriented PET strapping, monofilament and sheet needing high melt strength. | 58 | 62 | 100 | 83 Shore D |
Flame-retardant rPET compound | For electrical/electronic parts requiring V-0 at 0.8–1.5 mm together with a recycled-content claim. | 115 | 2 | 88 Shore D | |
30% glass-fibre reinforced, heat-stabilized rPET compound | Use where recycled content must be combined with structural stiffness and >200 °C HDT (electrical housings, brackets). | 130 | 2.5 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways RPET is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FIBER | Fibre grade rPET | Supply form |
SHEET-APET | Amorphous sheet / thermoform grade | Supply form |
FG-BTB | Food-grade bottle-to-bottle rPET | Certification |
UV | UV-stabilized rPET | Grade option |
UnfilledDefault | Unfilled / natural rPET pellet | Standard supply |
What is RPET?
RPET is post-consumer or post-industrial recycled polyethylene terephthalate, reprocessed from flake into resin, sheet, film and fiber, with typical values of 55 MPa tensile strength, 60% elongation and 65 °C service temperature. It is used to hit recycled-content targets in bottles, thermoformed sheet, strapping and textiles, and is available as PCR flake, bottle-to-bottle food grade, PIR, injection, GF30, FR-V0 and UV-stabilized conditions. Limits are batch-to-batch IV and colour variation, gels and haze from contaminants, and the need for certified food-grade streams for direct contact. Virgin PET remains the choice where optical quality and IV consistency are critical. RPET has a density of 1.37 g/cm³ (0.0495 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 78°C (172 °F). RPET has a yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 2.6 GPa (0.377 Msi).
What is RPET used for?
- recycled fiber/textiles
- food & beverage bottles
- sheet/film
- strapping
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 1.5 kg CO₂/kg, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Tough — resists crack growth — 4.5 MPa·√m (4.1 ksi·√in), better than 96% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 80/100, better than 75% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 65°C (149 °F), worse than 83% of polymer grades
- Heavy — 1.37 g/cm³ (0.0495 lb/in³), worse than 76% of polymer grades
RPET properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical7
RPET has a density of 1.37 g/cm³ (0.0495 lb/in³), heavier than 76% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 78°C (172 °F).
Mechanical17
RPET has a yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 2.6 GPa (0.377 Msi).
Thermal11
RPET 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).
Electrical6
RPET 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 (80/100), worse than 52% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of RPET takes about 35 MJ of energy and emits 1.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 99% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 100%.
Manufacturability8
RPET's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability very good (70/100); formability very good (80/100).
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. RPET is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with RPET
Is RPET easy to machine?
Machines like virgin PET — sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, low feed and air cooling; stress-relieve or anneal thick stock to avoid crazing, and expect chip stringing.
Can RPET be welded?
Ultrasonic, hot-plate, vibration and RF/heat sealing all work well; solvent bonding is poor, so use cyanoacrylate/epoxy or mechanical joints for structural bonds.
Can RPET be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <50 ppm moisture at 160–170 °C for 4–6 h (IV loss is otherwise irreversible); melt 260–290 °C, cold mould (10–30 °C) for clear amorphous parts or 130–140 °C for crystallized parts; chain extenders help restore melt strength for extrusion and foaming.
RPET 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 |
|---|---|---|
| residual moisture (as received, pre-dryiMust be dried to <0.005% (50 ppm) before melt processing | 0.05 – 0.6 | 0.3 |
| colorant / dye carry-overGreen/blue bottle carry-over; limits clarity of the flake stream | 0 – 1 | 0.2 |
| PVC, PE, PP, PA and adhesive contaminantSpec limits for food-grade streams typically <50 ppm PVC | 0 – 0.1 | 0.01 |
| catalyst residues (Sb, Ti, Ge) and stabiAntimony trioxide is the usual PET polycondensation catalyst | 0.01 – 0.05 | 0.03 |
| glass fiber0 in the default unfilled grade; 15–40% in reinforced rPET compounds | ≈ 0 | 0 |
| polyethylene terephthalate (PET) from reRepeat unit C10H8O4; typical IV 0.60–0.85 dl/g depending on grade | ≥ 95 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on RPET?
Takes print, corona/flame treatment, metallization and hot stamping; not paintable without primer, and surface haze/gel specks from contaminants limit optical-grade finishes.
How much does RPET cost?
RPET is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 90% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
RPET — frequently asked
What is RPET used for?
RPET is typically used for recycled fiber/textiles, food & beverage bottles, sheet/film and strapping. In short: recycled-content PET; lower, variable IV; bottle-to-bottle food grade.
What is the yield strength of RPET?
RPET has a typical yield strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) and a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is RPET easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Machines like virgin PET — sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, low feed and air cooling; stress-relieve or anneal thick stock to avoid crazing, and expect chip stringing.
Can RPET be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (70/100). Ultrasonic, hot-plate, vibration and RF/heat sealing all work well; solvent bonding is poor, so use cyanoacrylate/epoxy or mechanical joints for structural bonds.
What surface finishes work on RPET?
Takes print, corona/flame treatment, metallization and hot stamping; not paintable without primer, and surface haze/gel specks from contaminants limit optical-grade finishes.
Can RPET be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <50 ppm moisture at 160–170 °C for 4–6 h (IV loss is otherwise irreversible); melt 260–290 °C, cold mould (10–30 °C) for clear amorphous parts or 130–140 °C for crystallized parts; chain extenders help restore melt strength for extrusion and foaming.
What is the maximum service temperature of RPET?
RPET is rated for continuous use to about 65°C (149 °F), and briefly to 110°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does RPET cost?
RPET is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 90% 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
- ASTM D7611 / D1972 — Resin identification and recycled plastics practice — ASTM (2021)
- EN 15348 — Plastics — Recycled plastics — Characterisation of PET recyclates — CEN (2014)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook Vol. 2 — Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- CAMPUS polymer datasheets — PET / rPET compounds — CWFG / CAMPUS consortium (2024)
- Food-grade rPET resin and rAPET sheet datasheets (bottle-to-bottle SSP grades) — Various recyclers/compounders (2024)
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.