FAQ

- What do you mean when you say that PET-M “complies” with the PETCORE protocol?

“Compliance” with the PETCORE protocol means that PET-M has passed recyclability tests according to the protocol issued by an organization called PETCORE and the results satisfy criteria established by the PETCORE protocol. These standards are applicable for both RPETs and for any brands of virgin PET. “Compliance” with the PETCORE protocol is totally different from the organization PETCORE “endorsing” our PET-M technology and/or material. PETCORE endorsement requires a series of steps which PTP has not initiated yet. However, we plan to obtain PETCORE endorsement in the future.

- Is it true that up to 100% of PET-M can be used in pre-form production?

From an industrial production perspective, PET-M resin is not different from any standard bottle-grade PET resin. Our experience shows that bottles made of 100% PET-M can be successfully used for still waters, CSDs and alcohol beverages, exactly as virgin PET is currently used. Stretch-blowing abilities and barrier and burst resistance properties of PET-M bottles are comparable with those of any virgin PET bottles, despite lower IV index as measured by standard methods. The only limiting factor is the color quality of bottles made of clear PET-M. While production of colored pre-forms does not have any color-related limitations on the PET-M content, we recommend that, for clear pre-forms, our customers use from 20% to 40% of PET-M in a blend with virgin PET. Unfortunately, color distortion is a major issue for all PET recycling technologies. There are many theories on the source of yellow color in clear RPET resins. None of these theories is universally accepted But we join other PET recyclers in stating that extensive washing generally improves quality of clear RPET.

- Is it enough just to pour your modifier into post-consumer flakes in order to achieve a food grade quality of PET-M?

We can hear quite often that people are misinterpreting our statements by saying that we claim that we achieve PET decontamination solely by the use of our modifying agent. Such statements are definitely FALSE! Modifying agent is just one component of the PET-M process. PET-M technology decontamination process includes several steps:

• Washing of the flakes is the initial decontamination step
  
• Hot air used during drying then removes certain part of the contaminants.
• Residual contaminants are decomposed inside the extruder where we apply high temperatures (up to 290°C)
• Modifying agent neutralizes contaminants during the drying of the material and in the molten polymer as well
• Degassing and vacuum pumping removes contaminants and degradation products from the melt because the twin screw extruder creates more polymer surface for degassing;
• Molten polymer is filtrated through a fine screen (52 micron) of the screen exchanger.

- What do you mean when you say that your process is less “sensitive” to the quality of washing? Do you mean that the quality of the washing process is not important to you at all?

Quality of grinding/washing process is very important, especially for minimizing color distortion effects. Our process is less sensitive to the presence of polyolefin residuals since the modifying agent allows for integration of the polyolefin residuals into the matrix of PET. Our main message regarding the process of washing is that any recycler using PET-M process can reduce production costs by using cheaper washing technologies/equipment and achieve the same result as with the most expensive washing methods required by other technologies.

- What makes “PET-M technology” so different from other PET recycling technologies?

There are several differences in the process and in the final product. First of all, our process impacts post-consumer PET chemically, by “integration” of the active silicon molecules into a PET matrix, while majority of other processes use vacuum extraction as a method of “cleaning” PET flake or pellets. We also apply vacuum, but later in the process and with much less energy consumption. Our final product (PET-M resin) has slightly different molecular structure than conventional PET and somewhat different properties. However, the difference in properties remains within the limits established for bottle-grade PET resin. We describe PET-M as a new PET material which has its own CAS number, registered trade mark and other traditional attributes, while it is fully food-safe and it can be channelled through any post-consumer PET collection stream and recycled through any PET recycling process.

- What are typical PET-M production costs?

Production costs may vary depending on the location of the production line. In order to simplify calculations for our potential clients, we have developed a MS Excel spreadsheet where customers can calculate their costs according to the regional commodity prices by simply inserting the right numbers. Some indices in the spreadsheet will remain constant. There is an option to calculate production costs for capacities of 1 (one) ton/hour and 2 (two) tons/hour. Our experience shows that capacity of 2 tons/hour is more economically efficient. The spreadsheet calculations are done assuming the “worst case scenario”. You can download the spreadsheet by clicking here.

- How can you guarantee quality of the end product (bottle), while IV of PET-M is lower than 0.8 dl/g?

Specific explanation is required to clarify insignificance of the low values of Intrinsic Viscosity (IV) for PET-M. IV (Intrinsic Viscosity) is not the exact parameter reflecting true mechanical properties of the material. It is enough to mention that IV is normally detected in a “solution”, while a “melt” is used during the process. The IV index is just a convenient proxy that has become popular due to its relative ease of measuring. Intrinsic Viscosity (IV) values can be reliably used as a measure of viscosity of conventional polyester. However, if molecular structures of 2 esters are different, correlation between IV and a true melt viscosity will be different. For instance, a low IV PEN has a higher melt viscosity than Virgin PET (ref. BP). The same phenomenon is expected for PET-M. Molecular structure of PET-M is different from Virgin PET since the modifying agent forms Si-bridges. Numerous testing of PET- M has proven that barrier, molding and blowing properties of PET-M with IV of 0.68 dl/g are at least as good, if not better than those of virgin PET with IV of 0.80 dl/g.

- What is the percentage of production waste during the modification process?

Modification technology is a practically waste-free process, i.e. you can get 1000 kg of crystallized pellets from 1000 kg of washed flakes.

- What are the guarantees of permanent supply of the Modifying Agent and its price stability?

We assure uninterrupted supply of the modifying agent as part of the terms and conditions of each contract. We fix price for the Modifying Agent for the first 3 years. After that period, we limit any price increases to adjustments for inflation and commodity price changes.

- What is the effect of using 100% of PET-M on moulding and blowing equipment?

PET-M resin application does not influence packaging production equipment at all. We produce pre-forms using HUSKY and ASB Nissei molding equipment. We use 100% of PET-M and also mixtures of virgin Polyester in different proportions (15%, 25%, 30%, 50%). Settings and parameters of the process remain constant.

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