Polyester – the most important thing in brief

With the advent of artificial materials, synthetics have become serious competitors to natural fabrics. In terms of their properties, items made of polyester , viscose or polyamide are in many ways superior to or at least not inferior to items made from natural raw materials.

For some qualities, clothes made of 100% synthetic textiles are not always suitable for wearing. Therefore, cotton or wool threads are often added to the composition, producing mixed fabrics.

Among modern types of synthetics, the material made from polyester fibers – polyester – is the most common.

In different countries it is known, for example, as lavsan, dacron, tesil or terylene. Despite the difference in name, polyester is a product obtained by a similar technology using substances contained in oil.

The main differences between fabrics are in the type of fibers used and the methods of weaving the threads.

When was the material invented?

British chemists first learned about polyester in the early 1940s. The invention of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was the result of many years of research that lasted about ten years. The creation of a new synthetic substance opened up broad prospects for the textile industry, packaging technologies, and plastics production.

In practice, the use of polyester fabric began only in the 60s, when it was used for mass production of packaging.

Polyester fabric is composed of melted polyethylene terephthalate or its derivatives.

The first polyester clothing in the world began to be produced in the 70s, about 30 years after receiving a patent for the invention of the synthetic substance. In the Soviet Union, polyester appeared in 1949 under the name ""lavsan"". Its primary use was associated with the industrial production of film and plastics. Only after more than 20 years did they begin to produce artificial fabrics from polyester fibers. Soon, consumers were able to appreciate what polyester is in clothing , how comfortable, practical and durable the synthetic material is.

Composition and properties

In the classic version, polyester fabric consists exclusively of polyester threads. Depending on the manufacturing technology, the fibers differ in shape, thickness, texture. These characteristics affect the appearance and tactile properties of the finished fabric. Therefore, in some cases, polyester items look and feel like wool, while in others, the clothes resemble cotton or soft silk items.

The density of the fabric depends on the shape of the threads. If triangular-section fibers are used, the material is coarse and denser. Therefore, it is used for furniture upholstery or in the manufacture of bedspreads. Light, almost transparent fabrics are made from hollow threads.

To give the fabric additional qualities, polyester threads are combined with natural or other synthetic fibers.

You can objectively evaluate polyester - is it good or bad - by the properties of the textile during use. Such qualities of the material include:

resistance to fading under the influence of sunlight;

lack of conditions for the appearance of moths and other pests;

resistance to acids and weak alkalis;

resistance to various types of contamination.

In addition, polyester clothing is highly durable and has a density of 1.38–1.4 g/cm3.

Application areas

A wide range of textures, a combination of good consumer qualities, and the appearance of synthetics have determined its widespread use. Polyester fabric is used to sew curtains, drapes, and bed linen. With an additional Teflon coating or in pure form, polyester is used to make umbrella domes; textiles also serve as the basis for multi-component awnings. Durable, waterproof material reliably protects against precipitation.

Positive qualities

Any fabric made from natural or artificial materials has its positive and negative qualities. Polyester is no exception , the pros and cons of which should be studied in advance. This will allow you to consciously select the composition of the textile and properly care for your clothes. The advantages of polyester fabric include:

high strength, density and lightness at the same time;

chemical resistance to acids and solvents, except for acetone, ethyl acetate and a number of other substances;

simple, undemanding care;

resistance to various influences: the fabric does not fade, does not pill, is hydrophobic, resistant to dirt, and unattractive to insects;

dries quickly, almost does not wrinkle.

Despite the large number of advantages, synthetics also have a number of limitations. Polyester items are washed at temperatures up to 40˚C, ironed with a slightly warm iron and treated with an antistatic agent from time to time.