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Polyester (polyethylene terephthalate) is derived from a chemical reaction involving petroleum, air, and water. This artificial fiber is comprised of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) and monotheluene glycol (MEG). Polyester is thermoplastic, meaning it can be melted and reformed. The Polyester Dollhouse updates with new content every Tuesday, so take the time out of your Monday to show us a little support and get first look at what we've got to offer tomorrow. For those of you who have signed up already, thank you so much for allowing Polyester to continue growing and celebrating our community. No Show 3d Printed White Invisible Polyester Sublimation Blank Socks, Find Complete Details about No Show 3d Printed White Invisible Polyester Sublimation Blank Socks,Blank Socks,Sublimation Blank Socks,100%polyester Blank Sublimation Socks from Men's Socks Supplier or Manufacturer-Yiwu Sinowisdom Textile Co., Ltd.

In some of our recent comparisons we have focused on the different types of fabric technologies that are most commonly used in making jackets. We have looked at Gore-Tex, DryVent, OutDry and similar others.

As you know, most jackets are made mainly of two particular materials, which are Polyamide (Nylon) and Polyester.

Today we will focus on these two fabrics and take an in-depth look at their composition, their performance and how (and why!) they are used in different jackets.

Let's first start with each separately, Polyamide being the first.

Contents:

1. Polyamide (Nylon)

Polyamide, also known as Nylon by most, is the first synthetic fiber that was developed and it dates all the way back to 1930. Later, in 1939 it was further worked on and then patented as the nylon we know today.

At first it was used for making parachutes and ropes during World War II and it wasn't until the 1940s that it found use in the clothing market.

Polyamide is a polymer, which means that the fibers are made of several molecules linked together, creating a long chain.

It is created as a liquid at first, which is then spun and dried into single fibers. The process is a bit longer and takes a lot more resources, time and it also costs quite a bit, which is why jackets that are made of this material tend to be a bit pricier.

Because of how polyamide fabrics behave in regards to moisture and abrasions, nylon has considerable resistance against both. It absorbs very little moisture overall and it is also quite durable to abrasions and damage from oils and several other chemicals.

In regards to temperatures, polyamide is not very insulating, which makes it unsuitable to wear during cold winters, unless the jacket is made of mixed layers, which we will discuss below. In case it gets wet, it will remain so for some time, all the while feeling colder.

This is why it is quite suited to wear in warmer temperatures, since it has this tendency to remain cool when moisture is present, such as perspiration from the body.

Lastly, because polyamide fibers were originally made as an alternative to silk, the fibers are quite soft and flexible, which makes nylon jackets very comfortable to wear and especially to move around in.

2. Polyester

Also a polymer, polyester was first developed in 1941 and then patented in 1945 by the same company that patented polyamide.

One of the main qualities of polyester is the hydrophobic nature of it, which means that these fabrics 'hate' water and will not absorb any of it.

Maybe you have heard of fleece and its ability to let water seep through rather than getting absorbed into the fabric. It is also quite renowned for how quickly it dries. Well, it so happens that fleece is a fabric made of 100% Polyester and it demonstrates this hydrophobic quality perfectly.

Read also:Fleece vs Cotton: Comparison and Differences

On the other hand, polyester is oleophilic, which causes issues down the line, such as it holding onto certain smells, most commonly body odor. This, even after it being laundered.

Because polyester does not get soaked per se, but rather it allows moisture to move through the fabric, it makes wicking of perspiration quite easy and it also helps with insulation, since it does not draw excess temperature from the body to dry.

Polyester is stretch-resistant, meaning that it won't lose its shape overtime. It also shows an anti-pilling effect.

Pilling is what happens when fabric fibers roll up and form small balls on the surface, which does not really affect performance or durability, but it is not very pleasant to look at and will make the cloth look old and worn out.

Of course, the higher the quality of the polyester used, the lesser the risk of pilling and vice versa.

Read next:Polyester vs Acrylic Fabric: Comparison and Differences

3. Comparison and Differences: Polyamide (Nylon) vs Polyester

Performance and Composition

In regards to performance and composition, Polyamide is a lot more flexible and comfortable overall, because as we said, it was made to behave like silk. However, with recent technological advancements, polyester does not fall far behind.

What once was a stiff and stretch-resistance polyester fabric, nowadays there are soft, flexible and extremely comfortable ones available.

Weather Resistance and Durability

As mentioned above, both nylon and polyester are quite resistant against moisture and rain, but they behave differently.

While polyamide tends to behave slightly hydrophobic, polyester is more so, making it the better one when it comes to moisture resistance. It also causes moisture to wick away from the body quicker and it dries much faster than polyamide.

Polyamide, on the other hand, tends to absorb more water than polyester, which makes it slower to dry and also less insulating since it requires a lot more body heat to dry out.

In terms of durability, then Polyamide has the upper hand as it is the stronger of the two. It is also quite stretchable in comparison to Polyester, which tends to be anti-stretch.

Show The Polyester Fabric By The Yard

Taking long-term wear into consideration, polyester is anti-pilling, more so than polyamide, which means a newer-looking jacket in terms of appearance.

Read also:Polyester vs Spandex (Lycra, Elastane): Differences and Comparison

Care and Maintenance

Caring for either of these fabrics is a breeze as they are machine-washable and do not require much time or effort to maintain.

Polyester might benefit from fabric softeners once in a while, in order to keep the fibers soft.

Read next:How To Wash Polyester Jackets and Outdoor Gear: A Guide

Now, there is something that bears mentioning, which is each fabric's oleophilic tendency. What that means is that the more oleophilic a fabric is, the more it will hold onto body odor.

Nylon is not oleophilic, which is why it does not have any odor issues as any that might catch onto the fabric, is completely washed away. Polyester, however, is and that is exactly why even after several washes, once the jacket warms up, you can pick up a faint smell that won't go away.

This is also why Polyamide is oil-resistant, whereas Polyester is not.

But, this is not to say that Polyamide makes it through this part with flying colors, as it has a tendency to get damages with sun exposure, especially white fabrics, which tend to turn yellowish. A little bit of bleach can go a long way, in this case.

As for ironing, low heat should be perfectly fine as it won't melt either fabric.

Further reading:How To Iron Polyester: A Step-by-Step Guide

4. Use in Jackets

Image: pinterest.com

In regards to why either fabric, or even both, are used in certain jackets, the answer to that is in their specific qualities.

For example, softshells which are designed for agility, movement and comfort, are made of Polyester and lined with fleece on the inside. This guarantees insulation, as well as moisture wicking.

Because polyester is less likely to wet out overall, even after the DWR finish has started to wear off, it provides better weather protection and is a lot more breathable than polyamide. This is the reason why you will find it more commonly used in breathable membranes and jackets that are intended for physically-demanding sports.

On the other hand, in jackets that are intended for durability, with mild weather-protection, polyamide is the fabric of choice.

Due to its tendency to get wet more so than polyester, polyamide is not a great choice for low temperatures as it tends to remain cold, not providing adequate insulation. That's why you will come across it in windbreaker and rain jackets, especially those treated with DWR coating.

As for fabric technologies, unless certain materials are used, such as in the case of Gore-Tex, most of the other options available rely on either polyester or nylon, depending on the purpose of the membrane, while some utilize both in order to provide a well-rounded experience.

Polyester, in most cases, refers to the trade name for polyethylene terephthalate or PET. It is the most used thermoplastic polymer in the world. In fact, it makes up about 18% of the world's polymer production. The textile industry uses the term polyester a lot. It is used to make clothing fibers and packaging of the textile products. The other popular use of Polyester is in making plastic PET bottles. Polyester is a transparent semi-crystalline material which also happens to have a high barrier to moisture. It also has a favorable strength-to-weight ratio.

Shaw Polyester Carpet

Polyester or PET has good chemical resistance and does not react with foods and liquids. It is also a shatter-proof material and hence can replace glass when used to make containers. Being a thermoplastic material, it has a melting point of 260^oC. It can be heated to that temperature, cooled, and then reheated again without any significant degradation. The ability of polycarbonate to liquefy via reheating makes it a good fit for injection molding. On the commercial front, it is widely available and reasonably priced.

History of Polyester

The earliest record of polyester creation dates back to 1940 when DuPont wanted to make textile fibers using polyester. Meanwhile, in England, PET was patented by a couple of employees of the English company Calico Printers Association Ltd. DuPont trademarked its creation with the name Mylar and received registration in the year 1952.

Meanwhile, in the Soviet Union, PET was manufactured at the Institute of High-Molecular Compounds in the year 1949. This institute was part of the USSR Academy of Sciences. And finally, the PET bottle was patented by Nathaniel Wyeth in 1973. So, overall, polyester and PET has had a very global evolution.

Today, the global production for polyester is almost 80 million tons per annum.

Manufacturing of Polyester

Polyester can be produced via two processes, one is using ethylene glycol and dimethyl terephthalate, and the second is using ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid.

In the first scenario, dimethyl terephthalate and ethylene glycol are allowed to react in the presence of a basic catalyst at a temperature of about 150^oc to 200^oc. Methanol is distilled out and then excess ethylene glycol is distilled with the help of vacuum. This process of producing polyester is also known as the transesterification process. It involves two steps and the chemical reactions of those two steps are as shown below:

First step

C₆H₄(CO₂CH₃)₂ + 2 HOCH₂CH₂OH → C₆H₄(CO₂CH₂CH₂OH)₂ + 2 CH₃OH

Second step

n C₆H₄(CO₂CH₂CH₂OH)₂ → [(CO)C₆H₄(CO₂CH₂CH₂O)]_n + n HOCH₂CH₂OH

In the second scenario, ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid are allowed to react at high temperature and moderate pressure in a process known as esterification. Water is removed via distillation during the process. The chemical reaction for this process is as follows:

n C₆H₄(CO₂H)₂ + n HOCH₂CH₂OH → [(CO)C₆H₄(CO₂CH₂CH₂O)]_n + 2n H₂O

Sometimes, polyester or PET suffers from degradation in the above processes. If that happens, then certain copolymers or stabilizers are used.

Advantages of Polyester

Polyester is available in different grades depending upon the application where it is to be used. It is available as a homopolymer and a version created by modification with copolymers. When used in textiles and for making fabrics, it is known as polyester. When used in packaging, it is known as PET. It was also known as PET-P at a point in time. Whatever its name, polyester has many advantages such as:

• Polyester is transparent and has good transmissivity
• Polyester is low cost and readily available
• Polyester is resistant to moisture and has low water absorption
• Polyester has great electrical properties
• Polyester has good chemical resistance to water as well as organic material
• Polyester can be recycled and broken down into a resin form
• Polyester has good heat and aging resistance

Applications of Polyester

Clothing: Polyester is quite well-known for making garments and clothing items. It has a good moisture barrier and is a great material for making sports and weather-resistant clothing. It is also used in combination with cotton to produce wrinkle-free clothing. It is more resistant to tears than cotton or other materials that are also used to make clothes.

Home Improvement: Polyester is used extensively in making furniture and upholstery. It is also used to make carpets, as it is available in a fiber form. Ropes used in domestic applications are often made using polyester.

Packaging: Polyester and PET are both used extensively in packaging applications. The most ubiquitous of those applications is the PET bottle. It is used to pack a wide variety of beverages, from soft drinks to juices. Food products are also packed using PET jars. Certain types of trays (egg boxes) are made using polyester. Certain types of packaging films are also made using polyester.

Tapes: PET is used as a carrier for magnetic tapes and also in pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes because of its high mechanical strength.

Food: Crystallizable PET can withstand high oven temperatures and freezing temperatures. Hence, it can be used to make trays and packaging for frozen dinners.

Renewable Energy: PET films are used as substrate material for thin-film solar cells.

Polyester Prototypes using CNC, 3D printer machines, and injection molding

CNC machines

Polyester is a great material for use with CNC machines. It comes in sheet stock and works well with a machining process that involves a mill or lathe. It is transparent and shatter-proof, all of which translates into great machinability. Polyester used with CNC machines is normally transparent, but it can be colored as well. Sometimes, additional processing of the polyester is required after it has been used with a CNC machine in order to remove any tool marks and scuffs.

3D Printing

Polyester is also available in a filament form which can be used with 3D printers to create prototypes using computer-aided design files. As polyester is a thermoplastic which can be melted and then cooled without degradation, it is used with 3D printers. It is a great material for 3D printing because polyester is flexible and tough. Polyester also gives out less odor while 3D printing that ABS and PLA.

Injection Molding

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Polyester is available in pellet form which is ideal for use with an injection molding machine. As polyester is a thermoplastic, the pellets can be melted and liquefied. The liquid polyester can then be injected in a mold with pressure. One precaution that needs to be taken with polyester is that it must be dry before use since the material is hygroscopic. Shrinkage for PET or polyester is very low, which is another desirable quality.

Disadvantages of Polyester

• Polyester might be recyclable, but it is not bio-degradable. Hence, there is always the issue of accumulation of vast quantities of polyester and PET.
• PET is at times susceptible to the process of oxidation. If a food item such as wine or beer is stored in a PET container/bottle, then the oxidation might actually degrade the taste of the beverage. Storing any food/drink item long term is not recommended with PET containers.
• Polyesters can be affected by hydrolytic degradation. Hence, they must be dried using a dehumidifier before processing.
• Polyester is not a carbon neutral material. It is made from hydrocarbons and hence it fossil fuel dependent. It is also affected by the price of oil.

Properties and Specs