The difference between plastic bottle PE and PET

To distinguish between PET plastic bottles and PE plastic bottles, we can start from the following aspects:
Firstly, observe the appearance. PET plastic bottles usually appear transparent or semi transparent, with a relatively pure color; PE plastic bottles may appear milky white or pale yellow, with a relatively opaque color.
Secondly, compare the performance. PET plastic bottles have excellent transparency and impact resistance, as well as good heat and chemical resistance; PE plastic bottles are known for their flexibility and wear resistance, but they are slightly inferior in terms of transparency and heat resistance.
In addition, consider the application scenarios. PET plastic bottles are widely used in packaging fields such as food and beverages due to their transparency, which facilitates the observation of internal conditions; PE plastic bottles are mostly used in industrial, medical and other fields, and their flexibility and wear resistance are more advantageous in specific situations.
In summary, by observing the appearance, comparing performance, and considering application scenarios, we can accurately distinguish PET plastic bottles from PE plastic bottles.
Distinguishing skills in daily life
Transparency observation: The transparency of PET plastic bottles is often better than that of PE plastic bottles, with the former being more transparent and the latter possibly appearing milky white.
Bottle mouth details: The inner wall of the PET plastic bottle mouth is usually clean and smooth, with clear threads; In contrast, the mouth of PE plastic bottles may appear rough and the threads may not be as obvious as those of PET.
Bottom imprint: PET plastic bottles often have a small dot at the bottom, while PE plastic bottles may have a line or other mark.
Digital label: Plastic bottles usually have a triangular recycling label at the bottom, which contains a number. The numerical identification of PET plastic bottles is "1", while PE plastic bottles may be "2" or "4" (where "2" represents HDPE, which is more common in daily life).
Sensory experience: When gently pinching a plastic bottle with your hand, PET plastic bottles make a crisp sound, while PE plastic bottles have a soft, waxy feel.
 
Main differences
physical property
Hardness and toughness: PET plastic bottles have a relatively hard texture, excellent strength and toughness, and good dimensional stability; PE plastic bottles, on the other hand, are relatively soft and have a texture similar to wax, but still exhibit a certain level of mechanical strength.
Transparency: PET plastic bottles have extremely high transparency, which can clearly display the appearance of the items inside the bottle; In contrast, the transparency of PE plastic bottles is relatively low, but still maintains a certain level of transparency.
Temperature resistance: PET plastic bottles have a certain degree of temperature resistance, but are mainly suitable for temperatures below 60 ℃ and cannot withstand high temperatures; PE plastic bottles, especially those made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), can maintain stable physical properties over a wider temperature range and are more suitable for temperatures below 40 ℃.
chemical PROPERTIES
Chemical resistance: PET plastic bottles have excellent gas barrier properties, demonstrating good chemical resistance; PE plastic bottles can resist most acid-base erosion, which is crucial for products that need to avoid chemical reactions with packaging materials.
Insulation performance: PE polyethylene exhibits excellent insulation performance at room temperature, insoluble in conventional solvents, and resistant to corrosion from dilute sulfuric acid, dilute nitric acid, and other acid, alkali, and salt solutions.
purpose
PET plastic bottle: With its high transparency, lightweight, and moderate strength, it is very suitable for loading gas, liquid, or solid products, especially weakly acidic tea drinks and weakly acidic or neutral fruit juice drinks.
PE plastic bottles: They are non-toxic, odorless, have excellent low temperature resistance, and high mechanical strength, making them an ideal choice for loading liquid products such as water and cleaning agents. They are also widely used for packaging food, pharmaceuticals, and other products.