PEF
Polyethylene Furanoate
PEF stands for Polyethylene furanoate. It is a fully bio-based polyester, typically made through the polycondensation of furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and bio-based ethylene glycol. Compared to traditional petroleum-based polyesters (such as PET), PEF exhibits significant advantages in gas barrier properties, mechanical strength, thermal stability, and sustainability, and is considered a highly promising environmentally friendly polymer material.
Excellent gas barrier properties:
PEF's barrier properties against oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water are significantly higher than those of PET. Its oxygen barrier property is approximately 10 times that of PET, carbon dioxide barrier property approximately 6-10 times that of PET, and water resistance twice that of PET. This gives PEF a significant advantage in food and beverage packaging, effectively extending the shelf life of products.
Excellent Mechanical Properties:
PEF has high tensile strength and modulus, and its rigidity is superior to PET while maintaining good toughness and impact resistance, making it suitable for high-performance packaging and engineering plastics applications.
Thermal Stability:
PEF's glass transition temperature (Tg) is approximately 85-90°C, higher than PET (approximately 75°C), and its melting point (Tm) is 235°C. This provides superior heat resistance and allows for use in high-temperature applications such as hot-fill packaging.
Bio-based source and Sustainability:
PEF's primary raw material, FDCA, can be derived from renewable biomass resources such as corn and straw, reducing dependence on petroleum resources. Compared to PET production, PEF production emits 43.8% less carbon per ton, offering a carbon footprint advantage. Furthermore, PEF is recyclable and compatible with PET recycling systems. It can be recycled independently or blended with PET for reuse, aligning with the development of green chemistry and the circular economy.
