Polyethylene naphthalate
Polyethylene naphthalate is a polyester derived from naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid and ethylene glycol. As such it is related to poly, but with superior barrier properties.
Production
Two major manufacturing routes exist for polyethylene naphthalate, i.e. an ester or an acid process, named according to whether the starting monomer is a diester or a diacid derivative, respectively. In both cases for PEN, the glycol monomer is ethylene glycol. Solid-state polymerization of the melt-produced resin pellets is the preferred process to increase the average molecular weight of PEN.Applications
Because it provides a very good oxygen barrier, it is well-suited for bottling beverages that are susceptible to oxidation, such as beer. It is also used in making high performance sailcloth.Significant commercial markets have been developed for its application in textile and industrial fibers, films, and foamed articles, containers for carbonated beverages, water and other liquids, and thermoformed applications. It is also an emerging material for modern electronic devices.
- PEN was the medium for Advanced Photo System film.
- PEN is used for manufacturing high performance fibers that have very high modulus and better dimensional stability than PET or Nylon fibers.
- PEN is used as the substrate for most Linear Tape-Open cartridges.