Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-12-30 Origin: Site
BOPET, a highly superior and cost-effective material
In the modern industrial material system, it is quite challenging to find a material that possesses both high performance and high cost-effectiveness. Some materials have excellent performance but their raw material costs are extremely high, while others are inexpensive but have obvious performance shortcomings. However, there is one material that can meet both high performance and very low prices. That material is BOPET. With its three core advantages of "low raw material cost, wide application scenarios, and excellent comprehensive performance", it has become the "value king" across dozens of industries such as packaging, electronics, construction, and automobiles.
The "discount" of BOPET does not merely refer to the low final price; rather, it reflects the cost advantages throughout the entire production chain, including easy access to raw materials, mature production processes, and low unit performance costs. Moreover, its "excellence" is reflected in the comprehensive performance indicators across various dimensions, such as mechanical properties, heat resistance, barrier properties, and optical properties, and it has achieved a perfect balance between performance and cost through the bidirectional stretching process. Since its industrialized production in the 1960s, BOPET has maintained a core competitiveness of "good quality and reasonable price", resulting in a continuous increase in global production. In 2024, the global production capacity exceeded 12 million tons, with China accounting for over 60% and becoming the world's largest producer and consumer. Suzhou Ocan Polymer Materials Co., Ltd. has extensive experience in the production and sales of BOPET. As a company with 20 years of production experience, Suzhou Ocan Polymer Materials Co., Ltd. exports BOPET to overseas markets and has received consistent praise from overseas customers.
1.1 The core raw materials of BOPET are sourced from a wide range of suppliers and their prices are stable.
The core raw material of BOPET is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) chips. The production raw materials of PET chips are terephthalic acid (PTA) and ethylene glycol (EG). Both of these raw materials are major products in the petrochemical industry, featuring wide sources, sufficient production capacity, and stable prices.
As bulk chemical products, although the prices of PTA and EG are affected by fluctuations in the crude oil market, due to sufficient production capacity and intense competition, the price fluctuations are much smaller than those of niche chemical raw materials. The stability of raw material prices provides BOPET production enterprises with predictable cost control space.
With the promotion of environmental protection policies, the research and development of bio-based PTA and EG is accelerating. Bio-based PET chips made from plant straws and waste oils have achieved small-scale production. In the future, as technology matures, bio-based raw materials will further reduce the raw material costs of BOPET and enhance its environmental attributes.
1.2 BOPET possesses a mature and efficient production process with low energy consumption.
The production process of BOPET has been optimized over more than half a century. The bidirectional stretching technology is mature and highly automated, with high production efficiency and low energy consumption, which further reduces production costs. BOPET has a mature production process. The entire core production process of BOPET has achieved high automation and continuous production. The annual production capacity of one production line can reach 3 to 10 thousand tons. The production efficiency is much higher than that of other high-performance films.
Moreover, the energy cost during the BOPET production process is relatively low. In addition, the scraps and waste generated during the BOPET production process can be crushed, re-ground, and reused for production. The recovery rate can reach 20% to 30%, and the performance loss of the recycled PET chips is small, which can be used to produce mid-to-low-end BOPET films or other PET products, further reducing raw material waste and production costs.
2.1 The packaging industry is the largest application field for BOPET, and it is also the most cost-effective application field.
BOPET has a wide range of applications and is known as the "universal film" that permeates all industries. The "excellence" of BOPET is not only reflected in its performance, but also in its unparalleled breadth of applications - from daily consumer food packaging to high-end manufacturing electronic components, from infrastructure building materials to photovoltaic components in the new energy field. BOPET penetrates every corner of modern industry and daily life, becoming a truly "universal film". This extensive application scenario not only expands its market demand, but also further reduces costs through large-scale production, forming a virtuous cycle.
Most of BOPET is applied in the packaging industry, accounting for more than 60% of its total consumption. With the combination advantage of "low cost + high performance", it becomes the preferred cost-effective choice for high-end packaging. BOPET is applied in various sub-scenarios of food packaging, such as snacks, high-temperature steaming food, fresh food, and oil-based food. For example, chips and cookies use BOPET/PE composite packaging. The outer layer BOPET provides high strength and high barrier properties, preventing food oxidation and moisture absorption, extending the shelf life by 3 to 12 months, while the packaging cost is only 60% to 70% of aluminum foil composite packaging; high-temperature steaming food uses heat-resistant BOPET and CPP composite to make steaming bags, which can withstand 121℃ sterilization and have a shelf life of up to 6 to 18 months, with costs much lower than glass bottles and metal cans. Cold fresh meat and seafood use high-barrier BOPET vacuum packaging, with a preservation period extended to 3 to 14 days, and the cost is far superior to traditional packaging methods of cling film + foam box.
In the cosmetics industry, the labels on shampoo bottles and cosmetic containers are made of BOPET film, which has the characteristics of water resistance, scratch resistance, and strong weather resistance. The printed colors are bright and do not easily fade, and the cost is only 1.2 to 1.5 times that of paper labels, but the service life is extended by 3 to 5 times. For facial mask bags and essence packaging, BOPET/PE composite film is used, which protects the active ingredients from oxidation. The cost is less than 50% of that of glass packaging. In the pharmaceutical field, BOPET is used as the backing material for blister packaging (PTP), combined with PVC/PP blister packaging, to prevent drugs from absorbing moisture and oxidizing, meeting the strict standards of the pharmaceutical industry, and the cost is much lower than that of aluminum foil backing materials.
For pesticides, fertilizers, coatings and other chemical products, BOPET/PE composite packaging is used to prevent leakage and volatilization. The cost is lower than that of traditional metal bucket packaging, and it is lightweight and easy to transport. In the logistics field, the strength of BOPET packaging straps is 2 to 3 times that of PP packaging straps, with low breakage rate, suitable for bundling heavy goods, and the price is only 1.5 to 2 times that of PP packaging straps. The overall usage cost is lower. The BOPET wrapping film has excellent tensile performance and can tightly wrap the goods to prevent displacement during transportation. The cost is comparable to that of PP wrapping film, but the protective effect is better.
2.2 BOPET is also widely applied in new industries.
The electronic and electrical industry has strict requirements for material performance. However, BOPET, with its "mid-to-high-end performance + mid-range price" advantage, has accounted for 15% to 20% of the application in this field, becoming a cost-performance balancer in the high value-added sector. With the rapid development of infrastructure investment and the new energy industry, BOPET, relying on its low cost and high performance, has reached a 10% to 15% application ratio in the construction and new energy fields, becoming a low-cost solution in these areas. The application of BOPET is also continuously penetrating into multiple industries such as automobiles, healthcare, textiles, and printing, further expanding its market demand.
The BOPET products of Suzhou Ocan Polymer Materials Co., Ltd. are mostly applied in the packaging and printing fields. They have extensive experience in the use of BOPET. The BOPET products of Suzhou Ocan are also exported to multiple overseas countries. Their quality and price are the best, and they have received unanimous praise from customers.
3.1 It possesses extremely strong mechanical properties, achieving a perfect balance between strength and toughness.
The biaxial stretching process of BOPET enables the molecular chains to be orderly arranged in two directions, giving it excellent mechanical properties with a perfect balance between strength and toughness. The tensile strength of BOPET is higher than that of ordinary PET. The tensile strength of BOPET reaches 150-250 MPa, which is approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of that of ordinary steel, far exceeding PE, PP and other common plastic films, and even surpassing some metal materials (such as the tensile strength of aluminum foil is about 100-150 MPa). This high tensile strength feature enables it to withstand large mechanical stresses in fields such as packaging, construction, and electronics, and is less likely to break or deform.
The elongation at break of BOPET ranges from 10% to 30%, and its tear strength is 3 to 5 times that of unstretched PET film. It has outstanding impact resistance. During transportation and usage, it can withstand external forces such as collisions and compressions, reducing the damage rate. For instance, the tear strength of BOPET express bags is 2 to 3 times that of PE express bags, effectively protecting the packages from damage. BOPET exhibits slow performance degradation and long service life under repeated folding, stretching, and other cyclic stress conditions. For example, the BOPET covering film in flexible circuit boards can withstand tens of thousands of bending and folding operations while maintaining good insulation performance; the BOPET substrate in building films can withstand long-term exposure to wind and sun in outdoor environments without aging or cracking.
3.2 Excellent optical performance, transparent and aesthetically pleasing, suitable for high-end applications
The optical properties of BOPET are excellent. It has high transmittance, low haze and good gloss, which can clearly display the appearance of the product and is suitable for scenarios such as high-end packaging and box windows. The transmittance of ordinary BOPET film can reach 90% to 93%, with a haze of ≤1%; the transmittance of optical-grade BOPET is even over 95%, with a haze of ≤0.5%, approaching the light transmission effect of optical glass. This high transparency enables it to clearly display the product shape in food packaging, enhancing the product's appeal; and it can ensure the light transmittance in display panels, ensuring clear and bright display effects.
BOPET has excellent glossiness and printing adaptability. The surface of BOPET film is smooth and flat, with a glossiness of 80% to 90%. After printing, the colors are bright and the patterns are clear, perfectly reproducing the design effect. For example, cosmetic mask bags use BOPET/PE composite film, and the printed patterns are exquisite and the colors are rich, enhancing the high-end texture of the product; outdoor billboards use BOPET as the base material, and the colors do not fade after printing, with a prominent visual effect.
The optical stability of BOPET is strong. Under long-term exposure to sunlight or high temperatures, the transmittance and haze of BOPET change very little, ensuring stable optical performance. For example, the BOPET backsheet used in photovoltaic modules retains a transmittance rate of over 85% after being exposed to outdoor sunlight for 25 years, guaranteeing the power generation efficiency of the solar cells. The BOPET substrate used in building films does not show phenomena such as yellowing or fogging under long-term exposure to sunlight, maintaining good light transmission and heat insulation effects.
3.3 The environmental friendliness and processing performance of BOPET, being green and sustainable, with flexible processing capabilities.
Furthermore, BOPET also demonstrates outstanding performance in terms of processing adaptability. BOPET can achieve functional expansion through various secondary processing techniques such as printing, compounding, coating, aluminum plating, die-cutting, heat sealing, etc., to meet the personalized needs of different industries. For instance, BOPET coated with silicone oil can be used as a release film for the production of electronic components; BOPET after aluminum plating can be used as a light-blocking packaging material for products sensitive to light; BOPET after compounding can achieve heat sealing and high barrier functions, and is suitable for various packaging scenarios.
Furthermore, BOPET also demonstrates outstanding performance in terms of processing adaptability. BOPET can achieve functional expansion through various secondary processing techniques such as printing, compounding, coating, aluminum plating, die-cutting, heat sealing, etc., to meet the personalized needs of different industries. For instance, BOPET coated with silicone oil can be used as a release film for the production of electronic components; BOPET after aluminum plating can be used as a light-blocking packaging material for products sensitive to light; BOPET after compounding can achieve heat sealing and high barrier functions, and is suitable for various packaging scenarios.
BOPET, as an "excellent and cost-effective" high-performance film material, with its core advantages of low raw material cost, wide application scope, and excellent comprehensive performance, has become the "value king" across dozens of industries such as packaging, electronics, construction, automotive, and healthcare. Its wide raw material sources and mature production processes give it an unparalleled price advantage; the balanced performance in all dimensions brought by the biaxial stretching process enables it to meet the high-performance requirements of multiple industries; and its wide application scope and flexible processing performance further expand its market demand, forming a virtuous cycle.
Suzhou Aokai Polymer Materials Co., Ltd.'s BOPET, with its outstanding cost-performance advantage, is an ideal choice for replacing traditional materials, reducing production costs, and improving product quality; in the future, BOPET will continue to play an important role in modern industrial production and daily life, and become one of the key materials driving the sustainable development of the global economy.
