Polyester

Polyester - This is a woven fabric for the production of which polyester fibers are used. The shape of the fibers, as well as the type of their weave, determines the appearance and characteristics of the material.

Most people try to choose clothes made from natural fabrics. The reason for this is the belief that materials made from synthetic fabric are not only uncomfortable to wear, but also harmful to well-being and health. This statement is not entirely correct.

High-quality polyester, in the production of which the most modern equipment and only high-quality raw materials were used, combines not only practicality, attractive appearance and relatively low cost, but also safety for human health.

Polyester production

Polyester is a product of oil and gas processing. The process of obtaining fibers includes the following steps:

• Isolation of components that are needed for the production of polystyrene (it is the raw material for fibers).
• Obtained by synthesizing polyester in liquid form.
• Cleaning the polyester mixture.
• The production of fibers is carried out by pressing a mass in a semi-solid state through holes of a small cross-section.
• A finish that is an improvement to the threads.
• Production of woven fabric.

Trying to give the material additional properties, chemists create combinations of polyester with other fibers, both synthetic and natural. This results in fabrics that are only slightly inferior in quality, feel and appearance to materials made from natural fibers.

The quality of polyester fabric depends on the raw materials used. Equipment and compliance with the technological process. High-quality polyester can be determined by the following indicators:

• color fastness, that is, it does not fade and does not leave marks on the skin;
• absence of unpleasant or any other odor;
• allows air to pass through, allowing the skin to breathe and avoid excessive sweating.

Polyester can be either a dense raincoat fabric or weightless lace or translucent mesh. The characteristics of the material made from polyester threads, as well as its appearance, are determined by the chemical composition of the raw materials, the shape of the fibers and the type of weave. Often pure polyester feels and looks like wool on the skin, but its properties have more in common with cotton.

The advantages of polyester are its following characteristics:

• Providing good protection from the negative effects of the environment. In other words, such fabric, at the proper level of quality, can protect the code from cold air, exposure to sunlight and moisture.
• Wear resistance.Polyester fibers are resistant to mechanical stress, as a result of which products made from them do not wear out, do not shrink after washing and do not stretch when worn. In addition, this fabric, due to its low level of elasticity, retains its original appearance for a long time due to its resistance to fading;
• Easy to care for and practical. Removing stains from polyester is not difficult, since such products can be washed in any water using regular powder without adding special products. This fabric dries quickly and practically does not wrinkle;
• Ease;
• Relatively low cost when compared with the same natural fabrics. (although it’s worth noting here that you shouldn’t buy things that are too cheap, since most likely they were made from low-quality polyester that doesn’t meet all the characteristics);
• Excellent water-repellent properties, which not only ensures waterproofness, but also prevents stains from appearing on the surface of the product. Also, due to this property, such a material is not able to absorb odors;
• Not susceptible to mold and pests.

There is also a property of polyester that can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. This property is the ability to change shape, that is, to stretch or shrink under the influence of high temperature. This feature, on the one hand, opens up wide possibilities for decorating a product made from this synthetic material, but on the other hand, careless ironing can ruin the item.

The disadvantages of polysester are:

• High density, which makes things not very pleasant to the body when worn in hot weather;
• Electrification.Synthetic fabrics can accumulate static charges, which in turn cause the material to stick to the skin, hair, small debris and dust to stick to clothing. So it is necessary to either clean the product frequently or treat it with an antistatic agent;
• It is impossible to use bleach during washing, as it can destroy the fibers, causing the item to begin to tear;
• The rigidity of the material in its purest form. To correct this, manufacturers can add softer, more flexible elastane and cotton fibers.
• May cause an allergic reaction if production technologies have been violated. So you shouldn’t buy suspiciously cheap items, since in the vast majority of cases the lowest quality polyester was used to sew them.
• The fiber does not fade, but is also difficult to dye.

Types of polyester and scope of use

Pure polyester is used very rarely; to eliminate the negative properties of this material, cotton, viscose, elastane and many others are added to polyester fibers. Thus, it is possible to obtain knitwear, micro-oil or non-woven material that has all the advantages of polyester, but with fewer of its disadvantages.

The composition of such material, as a micro-oil, contains seventy percent polyester and thirty percent viscose fibers. This fabric in appearance and most of its characteristics resembles natural silk, but in essence it is knitwear.

If we talk about non-woven materials, the most famous of them is holofiber, which perfectly retains its shape and is able to provide reliable protection from the cold.

Separately, it is worth noting the materials made from polyester threads, which are used as insulation.For example, synthetic winterizer. Such materials provide insulation from cold air and retain their shape even after repeated washing.