Sekisui Licenses Foamed PET Resin Patent To Eastman Chemical

Sekisui Plastics Co. (Tokyo) has granted Eastman Chemical a license to use its patent concerning the manufacture of foamed food containers utilizing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin. Application is limited to food receptacles. Contract duration is 10 years from January.

Because food containers made from foamed PET can be used in microwave ovens and oven ranges, market acceptance is growing, particularly in North America. For this reason Eastman, the world's largest PET resin manufacturer, will use Sekisui's foaming technology to mount a full-scale campaign for these containers in North America, Europe and elsewhere.

Foamed PET resin technology was first successfully introduced by Sekisui Plastics about five years ago. Subsequently, heat resistance up to 220° C has been achieved.