Abstract: Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) produced by direct esterification of a mixture containing ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid in a mole ratio ranging from about 1.05 to about 1.35 dl/g, with at least about 325 parts of an antimony catalyst per million parts of polymer product, can be treated to reduce its acetaldehyde content and acetaldehyde generation rate and increase molecular weight to the levels required for the production of beverage bottles. After heat treatment to produce a crystallinity of at least about 10 percent, the PET can be used in molding after substantially conventional pre-drying and drying steps in air at the molding facility. The invention thus allows beverage bottle grade PET to be produced and prepared for molding without the conventional step of solid state polymerization or stabilization, saving energy, time, production costs and capital investment.

Abstract: A container comprising a blow moldable thermoplastic frame defining a volume for the storage of a fluid. The thermoplastic frame is opaque barring the transmittance therethrough of light having a wavelength in the range of between about 3500 and 5500 Angstrom units. The container is further characterized by an overwrap of a thermoplastic film disposed about the thermoplastic frame. The overwrap film is characterized by its ability to bar the transmittal therethrough of oxygen. The container is especially suited for the storage, at or near ambient conditions, of liquid food subject to spoilage by the action of light waves, oxygen and odor permeation.

Abstract: Hydrolyzable film- and fiber-forming polymers having a plurality of repeating units of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R is lower alkyl, aryl, alkaryl and aralkyl; R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each selected from H or lower alkyl with the proviso that at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3 is H; and n is an integer of 0 to 2.