Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is a thermoplastic polymer resin used to make fibers for textiles, plastic containers and other materials. Of these, fiber production accounts for about 60% of production, and bottles about 30%. The polymer has a formula (C10H8O4) and is solid at room temperature.
Glossary
Polymers
The plastics used in everything from food packaging to children’s toys are polymers, but the term encompasses a much wider group of materials than that. Other polymers include polystyrene, and the thickeners in shampoo which give them their gel-like consistency. The technical definition of polymer also includes natural materials such as wool, silk, natural rubber, and cellulose.