Gas permeability of PET, PE and PVC

To improve their development in packaging, thermoplastics must innovate and enhance their performances in terms of characteristics, ease of processing, productivity and recycling. Such improvements include  

The bottle and container sector stimulates manufacturers and researchers who study and innovate in several directions  

Thermoplastic foams - mainly polystyrene, PVC, polyethylene and polypropylene -account for roughly 50% of all plastic foams, the other 50% being polyurethane, a thermoset material. For all uses added together, EPS accounts for more than 90% of all thermoplastic foams, followed by PVC with a few percent, and polyethylene and polypropylene. 

Packaging is not the main market for foams and statistics distinguish this sector only for EPS, where it accounts for roughly 30% of all EPS applications for a typical industrialized country. The annual growth rate varies according to the country but is, more or less, in line with the average for plastics growth. 

Let us quote some examples of applications without claiming to be exhaustive  

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