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Background:
Polyester is a synthetic fiber derived from coal, air, water, and petroleum. Developed in a 20th-
century laboratory, polyester fibers are formed from a chemical reaction between an acid and
alcohol. In this reaction, two or more molecules combine to make a large molecule whose
structure repeats throughout its length. Polyester fibers can form very long molecules that are
very stable and strong.
Polyester is used in the manufacture of many products, including clothing, home furnishings,
industrial fabrics, computer and recording tapes, and electrical insulation. Polyester has several
advantages over traditional fabrics such as cotton. It does not absorb moisture, but does absorb
oil; this quality makes polyester the perfect fabric for the application of water-, soil-, and fire-
resistant finishes. Its low absorbency also makes it naturally resistant to stains. Polyester clothing
can be preshrunk in the finishing process, and thereafter the fabric resists shrinking and will not
stretch out of shape. The fabric is easily dye-able, and not damaged by mildew. Textured
polyester fibers are an effective, non-allergenic insulator, so the material is used for filling
pillows, quilting, outerwear, and sleeping bags.
References:
1. Chattopadhyay, R., (1997), Spun Yarns from micro denier fiber, Man-made textiles in
India; May 1997, Vol. 40 Issue 5, p193, 6p
2. Das, B., Das, A., Kothari, V.K., Fanguiero, R. and Araujo, M.D., (2009) Moisture Flow
through Blended Fabrics –Effect of Hydrophilicity, Journal of Engineered Fibers and
Fabrics Volume 4, Issue 4, http://www.jeffjournal.org
3. http://www.ntcresearch.org/current/FY2005?S05-CD04
4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299857149_Giving_Functional_Properties_to_
Fabrics_Containing_Polyester_Fibres_from_Poly_Ethylene_Terephthalate_with_the_Pri
nting_Method