Abstract
Nonisothermal crystallizing kinetics for nucleated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are combined with transient heat transfer models to predict crystalline levels throughout the process of extruding and thermoforming crystallizing PET (CPET). The analysis includes: PET molecular weight effect (through IV) Nucleant level effect Cooling of extruded sheet on chill rolls Convection in the thermoforming oven Oven radiant heater temperature Radiation interchange efficiency in the heating oven Equilibration Mold surface temperature and atmosphere Cooling time The analysis compares distributed parameter finite difference analysis with a lumped parameter method. Material‐environmental parametric studies are conducted using the lumped parameter method. The patent literature data are confirmed using an expanded version of the lumped parameter method.