Method of producing disposable articles utilizing regrind polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a crack-proof, and resilient article of the PET type that is produced from about 40% to about 90% regrind PET. The article is characterized in that it has an intrinsic viscosity between 0.54 and 0.68. The present invention is also directed to a method for recycling regrind PET for use in the production of a clear, crack-proof, and resilient article includes the steps of: (1) regrinding scrap thermoplastic PET upon isolation from the thermoformed articles into regrind PET; (2) blending the regrind PET with virgin PET to form a blend wherein the percentage of regrind PET in the blend ranges from about 40% to about 90% and the percentage of virgin PET in said blend ranges from about 60% to about 10%; (3) passing the blend of regrind PET and virgin PET through an extruder wherein no more than 10% of said regrind PET in the blend has been recrystallized, the extruder having a throat wherein the temperature ranges from about 550.degree. F. to about 650.degree. F., a vacuum for removal of steam, and having a die that is set a temperature for extruding sheets of thermoplastic PET; (4) extruding the thermoplastic sheet of PET; and (5) thermoforming the disposable article out of the extruded thermoplastic sheet; the disposable article having an intrinsic viscosity from 0.54 to 0.68.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.