Abstract: Apparatus for producing an ovenable shaped article of polyethylene terephthalate wherein the polyethylene terephthalate is heated to a temperature in which it is in a thermoformable plastic state, formed as a sheet, locally cooled to form a skin on the surface of the sheet whale maintaining the sheet as a whole in the thermoformable plastic state and vacuum forming the shaped article within cavities on a rotating drum. The cavities are additionally provided with controlled heaters to heat the shaped article to impart thereto a degree of crystallinity of at least about 20% and the sheet is laterally and longitudinally tensioned after removal from the drum to prevent distortion.

Abstract: As an article of manufacture, an ovenable shaped article formed of polyethylene terephthalate having a degree of crystallinity of at least 20%, said crystallinity being substantially uniform over the whole of the shaped article, and a process and apparatus for making same.