Polytrimethylene terephthalate

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Polytrimethylene terephthalate, or PTT, has been a commercially available polymer for nearly 50 years. It is produced by a method called condensation polymerization or transesterification. The two monomer units used in producing this polymer are: 1,3-propanediol and terephthalic acid. Similar to polyethylene terephthalate, PTT is used in the production of polyesters.

PTT's value as a commercial polymer has improved only lately, with the development of more economical and efficient methods to produce propane diol (PDO), the main raw material used for PTT synthesis. DuPont is currently experimenting with the synthesis of PDO via bioplastic routes, i.e. using corn as the base material for PDO production. These developments will allow PTT to effectively compete against PBT and PET, two polyesters that have been far more successful than PTT to date.