Poly(ethylene terephthalate) PET and copolyesters have become materials of choice for many new applications in the household, chemical, electronic, automotive, food, beverage, medical, and pharmaceutical markets. That is why several of the world's largest and fastest growing national and international corporations have teamed up with the University of Toledo's Polymer Institute to explore new research possibilities as members of the PET/Polyester Industrial Consortium. The consortium's mission is to discover new applications as well as processing and property improvements for the versatile polyester materials. Research investigations include interrelationships among material properties, fabrication processes, and end-use performance.

The research programs are carried out at the Polymer Institute, part of the University of Toledo's College of Engineering. A number of polyester research projects are currently underway and are scheduled for completion within the next two years. New projects are continuously being developed with the direction of consortium members.

In addition to benefiting the industrial community in terms of research, the consortium also trains young scientists and engineers in cutting edge polyester technology. Companies thus benefit from discoveries, new material applications, and also from the fresh pool of able young researchers who help to develop these results.

Consortium members share in funding a core of research programs focused on PET and copolyesters. Funds are used for conducting research and for direct support of graduate students and professional staff engaged in specific research programs at the Polymer Institute. Results are shared equally with all members through regular written reports and oral review meetings.