PlasticsWhat is PETG and what is it used for? Transparency and easy thermoforming
If you need a clear sheet that can be bent, thermoformed or laser cut without complications, PETG is the answer. This guide explains what PETG copolyester is, what makes it so easy to fabricate and what it is used for in displays, shields, guards and thermoformed parts.
What is PETG?
PETG (glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate) is a transparent amorphous copolyester, with high surface gloss, 88% light transmission and good impact and break resistance: in the unnotched Charpy test it does not break.
Its great advantage is ease of fabrication: it thermoforms even in heavy thicknesses and without pre-drying, allows cold bending and laser cutting, and offers excellent chemical resistance. We carry it in clear extruded sheets from 0.5 to 15 mm; versions in colors, with engraving, and with UV treatment are also available on request.
Why choose this material?
Compared with metal parts or other plastics, it offers several advantages:
| Advantage | What does it mean? |
|---|---|
| Clear and glossy | 88% light transmission and high surface gloss; attractive presentation |
| Easy to thermoform | No pre-drying, even in heavy thicknesses; ideal for formed parts |
| Cold bending and laser cutting | Allows custom parts to be made with simple processes |
| Good impact resistance | Unnotched Charpy: does not break; elongation at break greater than 200% |
| Chemical resistance | Withstands cleaning and contact with common products |
Technical properties
Reference values taken from our data sheet; they may vary depending on manufacturing and application conditions:
| Property | Unit | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Density | g/cm³ | 1.27 |
| Light transmission | % | 88 |
| Tensile strength (yield) | MPa | 53 |
| Elongation at break | % | > 200 |
| Modulus of elasticity | MPa | 2,200 |
| Flexural strength | MPa | 79 |
| Charpy impact (unnotched) | — | Does not break |
| Deflection temp. (HDT/A) | °C | 72 |
| Service temp. (long-term) | °C | 60 |
Quick comparison
| Feature | PETG | Polycarbonate (PC) |
|---|---|---|
| Forming | Excellent thermoforming, no pre-drying; cold bending and laser cutting | Easy to form and turn |
| Impact resistance | Good (does not break in unnotched Charpy) | Exceptional (158 J) |
| Light transmission | 88% | 90% |
| Service temperature | Up to 60 °C | −50 a 100 °C |
| Typical use | Displays, display stands, covers, trays | Guards, partitions, domes, shielding |
Available package sizes
| Material | Available forms | Colors | Supply |
|---|---|---|---|
| PETG Copolyester | Plates 1/64" – 19/32" (0.5 mm – 15 mm) | Clear | Extruded |
If you need a particular size, tell us which one and we will gladly source it for you.
Where is it used?
Some of the most common applications of this material in industry:
- Industrial guards
- Protective shields
- Glazing
- Molded parts
- Vending machines
- Amusement machines
- Construction components
- Furniture
- Displays and exhibitors
- Point-of-sale advertising material
- Signage
- Transparent covers and guards
How to choose?
- Fixtures, displays and POP materials: PETG, for its clarity, gloss and ease of forming.
- Guards, covers and thermoformed trays: PETG, which forms without pre-drying and can be laser cut.
- If the part will take heavy impacts or run above 60 °C: choose polycarbonate.
- For outdoor use: ask for UV-treated PETG.
In summary
- PETG is a transparent copolyester with 88% light transmission and high gloss
- Thermoforms without pre-drying, cold bends and laser cuts
- We carry it in plates from 0.5 to 15 mm, with options for colors, engraving and UV treatment
- It is the choice for display fixtures and thermoformed parts; for strong impact or high temperature, polycarbonate
Why buy your engineering plastics at NAT MAC?
We have more than 54 years of experience in the industry and ISO 9001 certified quality. We carry all ten families of engineering plastics (nylon, polyethylene, acetal, Teflon, polycarbonate, PEEK, PETG, PET, polypropylene and thermosets), each with its own data sheet, and we help you choose the right material for your part, your load and your working environment.
- Material cut to the size you need
- Data sheets with verified properties for each grade
- Advice on choosing the right plastic for your load, temperature and environment
- Stock in bars, plates and bushings with delivery throughout Mexico
- Backed by ISO 9001 certified quality
Tell us what part you'll make, the conditions it operates in and the sizes you need, and we'll recommend the right material. Request your free quote.
Sources: NAT MAC Engineering Plastics data sheets and catalog; TecnoQuim (material data sheets); ISO 527-1, Determination of tensile properties; ISO 868, Shore hardness.
