Polyester - The Journey From Polymer To Fabric!

One of the most popular fabric, Polyester is a generic term for any garment or fabric manufactured using polyester yarns or fibres. It is a simplified term for a synthetic, man-made polymer, most commonly known as a form of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). They are made by combining ethylene glycol with terephthalic acid. This the scientific terms that are associated with Polyester fabric.

Majorly, such fabric is used in shirts, pants, fashion garments, evening wear, and suits. They are also widely used in upholstery for sofas, cushions, curtains, pillows, etc. From creating monomers to polymers, reaching the extruding and spinning process and finally achieving the desired finishing is the complete production process of creating polyester clothing.

Need of Polyester in Fabric Industry

It's such a common apparel option because these fibres are either thermoplastic or heat sensitive. This means the fabrics, which are 100 per cent polyester, can be used to give permanent folds, and laser-cut decorative shapes and patterns to the clothing. They're also incredibly stain-resistant, so perfect to clean. Polyester clothing appears to be smooth and almost silky to touch, and to produce the fabric, the fibres may be woven or knitted, but knitted maximizes their versatility. This is a naturally bright fabric, which can be easily adjusted for different uses.

Essentially, polyester can be used to produce anything which can be made from cotton. The fashion uses of this fabric are infinite, from daily shirts and trousers to glamorous evening wear.

What are the Types of Polyester?

If one wants to know more details of Polyester fabric then, it is important to first know that there are 3 types:

• PET: The most common form of polyester on the market is ethylene polyester also known as PET.
• Plant-Based: The principal advantage of polyester produced from plants is that this fibre is biodegradable. However, plant-based polyester costs more to manufacture, and maybe less durable than its synthetic counterparts PET or PCDT.
• PCDT: While PCDT isn't as common as PET, it's more elastic, making it suitable for some purposes. PCDT Polyester is often more durable than PET, which means that this fabric is also used for heavy-duty applications such as upholstery and curtains.

Cotton & Polyester Blends

Cotton and polyester go hand in hand. Cotton is natural, comfortable to wear, absorbent and environmentally friendly. Polyester fabric, on the other hand, is a synthetic, which even though is not breathable, repels water and is easy to clean. But note that you can see cotton and polyester blended together to create fabrics that display properties which cannot be accomplished with either fibre alone. Taken separately, each has its own pros and cons. The more you know, the better decisions you can make when choosing a fibre to fit your requirements.

Dimple Ahuja is a freelance writer whose passion lies in the realm of real estate. With over 12+ years of experience in the real estate industry, she has had the opportunity to work closely with real estate developers and home buyers.