PET foam is gaining traction due to its recyclability and environmental compliance, especially under EU and North American sustainability regulations.
Unlike traditional thermoset-based cores, PET foam is derived from recycled polyethylene terephthalate, often sourced from post-consumer plastics like bottles. It can also be reprocessed, reducing lifecycle environmental impact.
From an engineering standpoint, PET foam offers:
- Good shear strength comparable to mid-grade PVC
- Excellent thermal stability (higher service temperature than XPS)
- Low resin absorption, improving manufacturing consistency
Additionally, PET foam exhibits isotropic mechanical properties, meaning it performs consistently in all directions—an advantage over anisotropic cores.
This combination of mechanical reliability + sustainability makes PET particularly suitable for transportation, building panels, and industrial composites.
