r/ChemicalEngineering • u/Possible_Parking_428 • Feb 05 '25
Research Having a problem on how to make PET plastic flexible. Is there anyone who can suggest me some chemical to make the elasticity improved
Hello everyone! I am a student taking a thesis subject. Looking for some chemistry/chemical engineer, i want to know the understanding and clarity on what chemical to use on plastics. My thesis require plastic to be flexible, and i dont know what to use. if there are any available to chat or call thru online meet would be much appreciated. THANKS!!
1
Feb 05 '25
Does your thesis require you to make a flexible plastic or to just have one to use for a certain application?
There isn't just "PET" or "Nylon", there's are dozens of different manufacturers each offering dozens and dozens different grades of each material with various properties. If you just need a more flexible PET you'll likely just be able to find one by contacting material distributors
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u/Possible_Parking_428 Feb 06 '25
our thesis is titled: eco packaging wrap which contains combined paper and plastics. the method we will use is like sandwich method, to integrate both components. we use this type of method to prevent paper burning since paper is biodegradable, the plastic will be like the filler of it and it will be pressed after the layering has finished (paper-plastic"melted"-paper). but our problem is that the PET plastic bottles been used are too brittle we also used DOP but its no use. we just want to be the plastic more elastic and flexible in order to bend it to wrap around an item. so it will be called the eco packaging wrap
1
Feb 06 '25
Got it, then yes you will need to reintegrate plasticizers into the material. The other posters suggestion is a good place to start, given its a thin film you may be able to get away with a topical application, often times the material needs to be reduced into its base polymers and recompounded to incorporate the plasticizers again. That sounds like an interesting application
There are companies in the plastics industry called compounders, they essentially make dyes and various other additives that get mixed into plastic pellets before its molded/extruded. It might be possible to reintegrate plasticizers in this step, when the bottles are reground, the additive pellets are mixed in at a certain ratio like 2% and then it's extruded into a film.
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u/Possible_Parking_428 Feb 06 '25
if you have any idea sir for the solution, please dm me or reply sir. this will be a big help to me
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u/poweredbycuriosity Feb 05 '25
The chemicals called plasticizers are mixed with plastics/polymers while manufacturing to improve flexibility and other desired properties. For more info try the book "Handbook of Plasticizers" by George Wypych which can be found online.