Re: At what temperature does PET plastic melt and does it produce toxic fumes?

Joanna asked: At what temperature does PET plastic melt and does it produce toxic fumes?

All thermoplastics are technically recyclable, PET is more practical than many other plastics. PET plastics are excellent candidate for thermal recycling since they are composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with only trace amounts of catalyst.

PET plastics melt at 260^o C ( 500^o F)

PET is one of the safest plastics on the market nonetheless, it is made from ingredients derived from petroleum and natural gas. Since as I noted above the main components in PET plastic are carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with only trace amounts of catalyst, when melted or burned they have been found to release carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, methane and ethanol.

I don't believe that hazardous amounts of these products would be released during heating, but I would give the standard admonition "Use With Adequate Ventilation"