Thermoplastic
PETG
Clear, tough, easy to form, and safe for food contact.
Published values for unfilled grades at 23 °C unless stated. Confirm against the supplier datasheet for the grade you specify.
What it is
PETG sits between acrylic and polycarbonate. It is clear, considerably tougher than acrylic, cheaper than PC, and it thermoforms at low temperature with minimal drawing defects, which makes it the default for vacuum-formed clear packaging and guards.
Its weakness is heat. Above 65–70 °C it softens, so it is not suitable for anything near a heat source or an autoclave.
Where it is used
- Vacuum-formed clear guards, covers, and trays
- Retail packaging and blister components
- Medical device packaging
- Printed prototypes needing better toughness than PLA
- Point-of-sale display fabrication
Processing notes
Dry 4 hours at 65 °C. PETG hydrolyses if molded wet and loses strength permanently.
Melt 230–260 °C, mold 15–30 °C. Cold tools preserve clarity by preventing crystallisation.
Forms at 130–150 °C with very little pre-drying compared with PET, and draws deeply without whitening.
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Design notes
Keep away from heat sources. Design for a 60 °C service ceiling.
Radius formed corners generously; sharp corners thin the material to the point of failure.
Solvent bonds well and prints reliably, so prototype and production geometry can match closely.
Grades and variants
- Extrusion sheet grade, the standard for thermoforming
- Injection grade, higher flow
- FDA food contact certified grades
- Flame retardant grades for guarding
- Anti-fog coated sheet for enclosures
Specifying this material?
Send your CAD and target volumes. We come back with a price, a lead time, and any material or design notes that would reduce either.