Polyester Fabric properties And Applications of Garments industry

What is Polyester Fabric?

Polyester fabric is a synthetic man-made fabric made from polyester fibers which are manufactured from a category of polymers made from oil. Polyester fiber is the most commonly used manufactured fiber worldwide. The polyester fabric is one of the strongest fabrics with many qualities that make it suitable for manufacturing apparel and home furnishing and many items for industrial purposes. It may be knit or woven to make silk-like fabrics.

What Is Polyester Fabric Made Of?

Polyester fabric is a synthetic material made from the polymerization of petroleum-derived ethylene glycol and purified terephthalic acid, which meltdown to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Manufacturers push the molten PET through a spinneret to form semi-crystalline fibers which are sometimes chemically treated before being weaved together to create polyester fabric.

Characteristics of polyester:

• Polyester fabrics and fibers are extremely strong.
• It retains its shape and hence is good for making outdoor clothing for harsh climates.
• It has high water, wind, and environmental resistance compared to plant-derived fibers.
• It is easily washed and dried.
• Polyester is very durable: resistant to most chemicals, stretching and shrinking, wrinkle resistant, mildew and abrasion resistant.
• It’s typically non-biodegradable.

Uses of Polyester Fabric:

Knitted or woven fabrics from polyester thread or yarn are widely used in clothing and home furniture, ranging from shirts and pants to jackets and hats, bed sheets, blankets, upholstery furniture, and computer mouse mats.

Industrial polyester fiber, yarn, and rope are used in vehicle tire reinforcement, fabrics for conveyor belts, safety belts, coated fabrics, and plastic reinforcement with high-strength absorption.

Outdoor apparel. Since polyester garments are both durable and moisture-resistant, it’s a common choice for outdoor clothing that needs to be able to keep you dry in inclement weather. Other outerwear are often made of polyester.

It is also used to make bottles, films, tarpaulin, sails, canoes, liquid crystal displays, holograms, filters, dielectric film for capacitors, film insulation for wire, and insulating tapes.

Wrinkle resistant: Polyester is also wrinkle resistant and is used very often in everyday clothing like pants, shirts, tops, skirts and suits. Used either by itself or as a blend, it is also stain resistant and hence very popular.

Creating insulation: By creating hollow fibers it is also possible to build insulation into the polyester fiber. Air is trapped inside the fiber, which is then warmed by the heat of the body. This keeps the body warm in cold weather. Another method to build insulation is to use crimped polyester in a fiberfill. The crimp helps keep the warm air in.

Being the most heavily recycled polymer worldwide, it is also used by climbers. Climbing suits, parkas, sleeping bags and other outdoor gear are using the new insulating polyester fiberfill products. One can also do winter windsurfing wearing dry suits lined with polyester fleece.

Polyester fabric environmental impact:

Polyester usually has a negative impact on the environment. From its production to its disposal, the use of this fabric has unfortunate environmental effects at every stage of the cycle. In order to extract the basic materials used in the production of polyester, it is necessary to obtain fossil fuels, which are limited resources that are also used for vital energy and plastic manufacturing applications. The process of refining crude oil in petroleum introduces various toxins into the environment, which can harm living organisms both in water and on land. Simply, polyester harms the environment at every stage of its production and inevitably accumulates in the world's ecosystem without any effective method to remove it. The emergence of plant-based polyester fibers may seem like a step in the opposite direction to this unfortunate situation, but it is not clear whether this alternative to the petroleum-based PET alternative will gain traction significantly enough to impact pollution in the textile market.

Disadvantages of Polyester fabric:

Lack of Breathability: The biggest complaint most people voice about polyester is its lack of breathability. Polyester fibers, which are essentially plastic, do not facilitate airflow. Many people prefer the natural, loose weave of cotton that is far more breathable.

Lack of Moisture Absorption: While polyester does wick moisture away, its lack of breathability means that it does not absorb the sweat from a person’s skin. In hot or humid weather, polyester will often cling to your sweaty skin very unpleasantly.

Flammability: While polyester has a high burn point, it does melt more easily than you might think. This can cause serious injuries. If polyester melts onto you, it will actually fuse to your skin and will require professional medical treatment.

Comfort Issues: Obviously, polyester’s lack of breathability can impact comfort. People also complain that polyester can hold a static charge, causing issues with static electricity (if you have long hair, you have probably taken off a winter coat and watched your hair stand straight out from your head as it clings to the coat!).

Conclusion:

As you have seen, the biggest advantages of polyester fabric are that it is affordable and versatile. The biggest disadvantages of polyester fabric are that it lacks breathability and can be harmful to the environment. Do you feel like you now fully understand the complex pros and cons of polyester? If you found this article helpful, please leave a comment below to let us know how you plan to use polyester fabric!