R-PET - polyethylene terephthalate
Many of our new POWERTEX textile products are called r-PET, but what does that mean?
R-PET stands for polyethylene terephthalate derived from recycled PET bottles.
PET is the same as polyethylene terephthalate, which is the preferred material for plastic bottles. PET is a type of plastic commonly used in the production of carbonated beverages, water bottles, food containers and various other consumer products. PET provides very good barrier properties for alcohol and essential oils, generally good chemical resistance, and a high degree of impact resistance and tensile strength.
How to turn bottles into fiber? 
To turn PET bottles into fiber that can be used in textile products, the recycling process usually involves the following steps:
Collection and sorting: Used PET bottles are collected from various sources, such as recycling bins and waste collection centers. They are then sorted to remove contaminants and non-PET materials such as caps, labels and other plastics.
Cleaning and shredding: sorted PET bottles are thoroughly cleaned to remove any residues such as labels, adhesives and food debris. After cleaning, the bottles are mechanically shredded into small pieces, usually referred to as "flakes" or "chips."
Melting and extrusion: PET flakes are melted at high temperatures to form molten plastic. This molten PET is then extruded through a spinning nozzle to form long, thin strands or fibers, which are similar to those used in traditional textile production.
Drawing and cooling: Extruded strands are drawn and rapidly cooled to solidify the material. This process helps orient the polymer chains in PET, increasing the strength and durability of the resulting fiber.
Cutting and finishing: After cooling and solidifying, the strands are cut into shorter staple fibers or spun into continuous fibers, depending on the desired product. The fibers may undergo additional processes such as crimping and texturing to improve their texture and appearance.
Spinning and weaving: recycled PET fibers are then spun into yarns or threads that can be used in weaving or knitting machines to create textile products such as fabrics, clothing and other goods.
Manufacturing end products: Recycled PET threads can be used to make a variety of textile products, including clothing, bags, upholstery and webbing. These products can have similar properties and quality to those made from virgin PET, but with less environmental impact due to the use of recycled material
