Barrier-enhancing resins and coatings for rigid PET containers

Overview

This offering centers on specialty resins and coatings designed to increase the barrier properties of PET containers. The Vitel, Purekote, and Purerad product families are suitable for diverse manufacturing processes and can be deployed as resins or formulations through co-extrusion, coating, or blending with PET. These materials are compatible with PET base resins and PET recycle streams, supporting sustainable packaging goals. Options include amorphous and semi-crystalline grades with various FDA compliances, including direct food contact, making them appropriate for food and beverage packaging applications.

Technical specifications

• Vitel resins: Amorphous and semi-crystalline options available, proven to co-extrude with PET materials, with FDA-compliant grades including direct food contact
• Purekote and Purerad coatings: Can be applied to finished PET containers to improve moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) performance
• Crosslinkers available: Can be added to improve performance characteristics
• Optical properties: High clarity and low haze maintained in finished containers
• Recyclability: Initial analysis indicates no negative impact to recyclability status when used in PET-based structures
• Flexible deployment: Materials can be supplied as resins or formulations suitable for co-extrusion, coating, or blending

Technology readiness level

The Vitel, Purekote, and Purerad materials have been primarily validated in flexible film structures globally. For rigid PET container applications, additional testing is needed to quantify MVTR improvements and confirm no adverse impacts to rigid PET recycling streams. A pilot trial is recommended that combines co-extruded Vitel resins with Purekote or Purerad coatings on rigid PET materials to measure MVTR reductions against control samples. Technical services are available to support trials, including onsite laboratory capabilities for material review and analysis. Multiple Vitel series and Purekote/Purerad materials are available to enable testing across multiple variables.