PET film, also known as polyester film or polyethylene terephthalate film, is a versatile and widely used packaging material. PET film possesses excellent mechanical, optical, and barrier properties, making it suitable for various applications in packaging, electronics, industrial, and graphic arts industries.
Thanks to its stiffness, transparency and temperature resistance, PET film helps your pouches keep a premium appearance on shelf while protecting inks and graphics in multi-layer laminations. It is widely used as the printing and outer layer of laminated flexible packaging structures.
Polyethylene Terephthalate
| Density | 1.4 g/cm³ |
| Usage Temperature | -60℃ ~ 250℃ |
| Common Thickness | 12μm, 15μm, 23μm |
NIAITE offers various PET film types to meet different packaging requirements.
PET film offers comprehensive performance for both food and non-food packaging applications.
PET film exhibits superior transparency and gloss. It can be manufactured in extremely thin layers, providing high clarity. When used as a printing layer in packaging bags, the ink presents a better visual effect, resulting in more vibrant colors. Often, the lack of substrate transparency can lead to color misalignment after adjusting the ink to the correct shade. PET's high transparency effectively addresses this issue, ensuring optimal printing results.
PET film boasts outstanding mechanical properties, with the best toughness among all thermoplastic plastics. Its tensile strength and impact resistance are significantly higher than those of general films. Additionally, it has good stiffness and dimensional stability, making it suitable for secondary processing such as printing and paper bag manufacturing.
PET film has excellent mechanical strength, making it ideal for standing pouches and bags that need good rigidity. Its dimensional stability ensures consistent pouch shape and excellent registration during printing and lamination processes.
PET film features excellent heat and cold resistance, along with good resistance to chemical substances and oils. Its temperature resistance can reach up to 250 degrees Celsius. After high-temperature oven printing, PET film is less prone to stretching, resulting in higher accuracy in overprinting.
While PET film has many advantages, it also has some limitations to consider.
Due to its intolerance to strong alkalis, special attention is required when packaging powdery substances or products with high pH levels.
PET film may generate static electricity, leading to unfavorable usage effects. As of now, there is no specific method to address static electricity, so caution should be exercised when packaging powdery substances.
PET film serves various roles in flexible packaging structures depending on its position in the lamination.
When PET is used as the outermost layer, it is typically employed as the printing layer. The transparency and temperature resistance of PET film makes it highly suitable for use as a printing layer, ensuring vibrant colors and excellent print quality.
When PET is used in the middle layer of the structure, it provides the bag with increased stiffness and a more appealing appearance. With an oxygen transmittance rate of ≤120cm³/(m²∙24h∙0.1Mpa), it also enhances the overall barrier properties.
RCPP will melt at a high temperature of 150 degrees and is not suitable for high-temperature microwaving or ovens, but PET has a temperature resistance of up to 250 degrees. When food packaging is intended to go directly into the microwave or oven, bags typically opt for PET/HSPET or Coated Paper/HSPET.
Our jelly is typically packaged using PET sheets, and the sealing lid film requires one with the same material for proper sealing. Therefore, we have opted for HSPET (Heat Sealing PET) to ensure proper seal integrity.
Beyond flexible packaging, PET film has diverse practical applications across various industries.
Used for sealing boxes and fixing tasks in various industries, providing strong adhesion and durability.
Protective films for electronic products to guard against static electricity, dust, and moisture damage to electronic components.
Due to its high light transmittance and electrical insulation properties, PET serves as encapsulation material for solar cells.
Provides good breathability and moisture retention for dressings and substrate materials in medical applications.
Utilized in manufacturing automotive interior materials such as roof liners and door panels, providing durability and aesthetic appeal.
Used in construction materials as a covering film for protecting external walls and roof sections from weather and environmental damage.
As technology continues to advance and innovate, the applications of PET film across various sectors are continually expanding and deepening.
Below are some common structures where PET is used in flexible packaging laminations.
High barrier structure combining PET with aluminum foil and PE for coffee, nuts and high barrier products.
Standard structure for many food and non-food pouches where transparency and stiffness are needed.
Cost-effective barrier solution using metalized film instead of foil, suitable for snacks and powders.
For high-temperature applications like microwave and oven-ready packaging, providing excellent heat resistance up to 250°C.
Commonly used for packaging items like bread, combining the natural look of paper with PET's heat resistance.
Enhanced barrier structure with metalized PET for improved oxygen and moisture barrier properties.
Consider PET film for your packaging when these factors are important.
When you need high stiffness and good pouch standing performance for premium shelf appearance.
When high-quality printing and scratch resistance are important for brand visibility and protection.
When your product requires heat resistance during filling or sterilization (combined with other layers).
When you need enhanced barrier properties for oxygen, moisture, and aroma retention.
Common questions about PET film properties, applications, and selection for flexible packaging.
PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) film is a versatile packaging material known for its excellent mechanical strength, high transparency, and superior barrier properties. Its main advantages include excellent stiffness for standing pouches, high temperature resistance (up to 250°C), superior print quality, and good dimensional stability. PET is widely used as the printing layer in flexible packaging structures.
PET-based packaging is ideal for products requiring premium appearance, high barrier protection, and heat resistance. Common applications include snacks, sauces, coffee, pet food, retort products, and items requiring microwave or oven heating. PET's transparency and gloss make it perfect for products where visual appeal is important.
Regular PET is typically used as a printing or barrier layer in multi-layer structures, while HSPET (Heat Sealing PET) has been specially treated to enable direct heat sealing. HSPET is commonly used for high-temperature applications like microwave and oven-ready packaging, as well as for sealing lids on products like jelly containers where the same material is needed for proper sealing.
Yes, PET is recyclable and is one of the most commonly recycled plastics. However, in multi-layer flexible packaging structures, recyclability depends on the overall structure. We offer recyclable PET options and can design mono-material structures using recyclable PET for improved environmental performance.
Common PET film thicknesses include 12μm, 15μm, and 23μm. The selection depends on your specific application requirements, barrier needs, and cost considerations. Thinner films (12-15μm) are often used for lightweight packaging, while thicker films (23μm) provide enhanced stiffness and barrier properties for premium applications.
Explore our flexible packaging solutions that utilize PET film for superior performance and appearance.
Premium pouches with excellent stiffness and print quality using PET.
Convenient dispensing pouches with PET barrier protection.
High barrier coffee packaging with PET/AL/PE structure.
Transparent snack pouches with PET for premium appearance.
Sauce pouches using white PET for optimal barrier and appearance.
High-temperature resistant packaging using PET/HSPET structure.
MPET rewind film for puffed foods and snacks.
Durable pet food pouches with PET barrier protection.
Do not find what you are looking for?
Contact Us for Custom SolutionsContact our team with your product requirements, barrier needs, and packaging specifications.
Our experts will recommend the optimal PET structure (PET/PE, PET/AL/PE, PET/HSPET, etc.) for your application.
We'll produce your custom PET-based packaging and ship it to your location worldwide.
Get a professional consultation and custom quote within 24 hours. Offering low MOQ, rapid sampling, and global distribution.
