HomePET Knowledge Base PET Resin WK-881 vs. WK-851: Which Is Best for Carbonated Beverage Bottle Production?

PET Resin WK-881 vs. WK-851: Which Is Best for Carbonated Beverage Bottle Production?

2025-07-04

The global carbonated beverage market is growing steadily, increasing demand for packaging materials that combine strength, safety, and efficiency. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resin is the leading choice for carbonated beverage bottles due to its lightweight, recyclability, and excellent barrier properties. Choosing between specialized resins like WK-881 and WK-851 is key to optimizing production and product quality.

Global Carbonated Beverage Market Growth Drives Demand for PET Resin Packaging

The global carbonated beverage market is witnessing steady growth. According to Precedence Research, the market was valued at approximately USD 478 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach over USD 700 billion by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 4% over the forecast period.

In emerging markets such as India, the growth trajectory is even steeper. Custom Market Insights reports that the Indian carbonated beverage market is expanding at a CAGR exceeding 6%, driven by rapid urbanization, increasing disposable income, and evolving consumer preferences.

This expanding market drives increasing demand for packaging materials, with PET resin recognized as the most cost-effective choice to date. According to the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) and PlasticsEurope, PET plastic bottle accounts for over 60% of global plastic beverage packaging. Its lightweight nature reduces package weight by up to 30% compared to glass and other materials, significantly lowering transportation costs and carbon footprint.

Moreover, PET boasts recycling rates exceeding 50% in leading markets such as Europe and North America. Alongside excellent mechanical strength, superior gas barrier properties, and high processability, PET resin empowers manufacturers to enhance production efficiency while complying with stringent product safety and sustainability standards.

What type of PET resin is suitable for carbonated beverage (CSD) bottle production?

When selecting a PET plastic raw material for carbonated beverage (CSD) bottle production, the material must be tailored to accommodate the unique properties of the liquid it contains.

Carbonated beverages exert significant internal pressure—typically around 0.6 MPa—due to dissolved CO₂ gas, which demands a resin with high mechanical strength and excellent resistance to deformation under pressure. Additionally, the liquid's carbonation and flavor are sensitive to gas permeation; therefore, the PET resin must exhibit superior gas barrier properties to minimize CO₂ loss and prevent oxygen ingress, thereby preserving product freshness and shelf life.

The PET plastic chips should have an intrinsic viscosity (IV) generally between 0.85 and 0.90, ensuring sufficient molecular weight for durability and rigidity while maintaining processability for blow molding. Uniform crystallinity and rapid heat absorption characteristics are essential to achieve even heating during preform conditioning, ensuring consistent wall thickness and structural integrity in the final bottle.

Furthermore, compliance with stringent food contact safety standards—including China’s GB 9685, EU Regulation No 10/2011, and US FDA 21 CFR 177.1630—is critical to ensure the resin is safe for direct contact with consumable liquids.

In summary, PET resins like Wankai New Materials' WK-881 and WK-851, designed with these liquid-specific demands in mind, provide optimal performance for manufacturing carbonated beverage bottles that maintain product quality and safety throughout their lifecycle.

How to Make a Decision Between PET Chips WK-881 and WK-851 for Carbonated Beverage Bottle Production

Selecting the appropriate PET resin is critical to ensuring both product quality and manufacturing efficiency in carbonated beverage bottle production. Wankai New Materials offers two specialized bottle-grade PET resins—WK-881 and WK-851—each engineered to meet specific processing and performance needs.

PET pellets WK-881 features an intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 0.87 ± 0.015, optimized for molecular weight to deliver excellent mechanical strength, rigidity, and dimensional stability. This resin is particularly well-suited for conventional blow molding operations where consistent bottle integrity under high internal CO₂ pressure is paramount. WK-881 provides uniform wall thickness and robust resistance to deformation, making it ideal for standard production lines focusing on reliability and durability.

In contrast, PET granules WK-851 possesses a slightly higher intrinsic viscosity (IV) of 0.88 ± 0.015, which enhances melt strength and molding performance. Its advanced copolymer modifications confer superior infrared fast-heat absorption characteristics, enabling more rapid and uniform preform heating. This feature significantly improves blow molding stability and wall thickness uniformity, particularly beneficial for high-speed, automated production environments. WK-851's thermal responsiveness facilitates increased throughput and energy efficiency without compromising bottle quality.

Both PET plastic raw materials comply with stringent food safety regulations, including China's GB 9685 and GB 4806.6, the European Union's Regulation No 10/2011, and the U.S. FDA's 21 CFR 177.1630, ensuring their suitability for global carbonated beverage packaging.

Decision Considerations:

Choose WK-881 when prioritizing robust mechanical strength, dimensional stability, and consistent performance on conventional blow molding lines.
Choose WK-851 when production speed, thermal efficiency, and optimized energy consumption are critical, especially in high-throughput, automated facilities.

Ultimately, the selection depends on specific manufacturing parameters, equipment capabilities, and desired production outcomes. Consultation with technical experts and pilot trials are recommended to tailor resin choice to operational requirements.

Conclusion

Selecting the right PET resin is a critical decision that directly impacts the quality, safety, and production efficiency of carbonated beverage bottles. Both WK-881 and WK-851 from Wankai New Materials are engineered to meet the rigorous demands of the carbonated beverage industry, offering reliable mechanical strength and compliance with global food contact regulations.

WK-881 is well-suited for conventional production lines emphasizing durability and dimensional stability, while WK-851 is optimized for high-speed, energy-efficient operations with advanced thermal responsiveness. Ultimately, the choice between these PET resins should be guided by specific manufacturing requirements and operational priorities, with expert consultation and pilot testing recommended to ensure optimal results.