What is the difference between acrylic and polyester?

Polyester and acrylic - synthetic materials that have become firmly established in modern life. They are used to make clothes, bags, shoes, artificial wool, tents, awnings and other products. They are often mixed with natural fibers to obtain a product that is more wear-resistant, elastic and durable.

These materials have a lot in common, but there are also differences. They are based on synthetic fibers. Polyester and acrylic - the difference is that the former is made from polyethylene terephthalate, and acrylic is made from acrylonitrile, which is a product of natural gas processing.

Technologies for the production of these materials were invented at approximately the same time by DuPont. The goal was noble - to make substitutes for natural materials, which in their properties should not differ much from them. Acrylic is a substitute for wool, and polyester is a substitute for cotton and silks.

It is often impossible to distinguish natural and synthetic materials by appearance.Much more polyester is produced as it has wider applications. The scope of use of acrylic is narrower, but modern production and consumers cannot do without it.

There are many types of polyester. Its other name is polyester. It is durable, does not wrinkle, holds its shape well after heating, which makes it indispensable for pleated products. There are a great variety of fabrics made from it, they differ in density, thickness, and color.

The material does not lose color and retains its original appearance for a long time. The difference between polyester and cotton is that it has low hygroscopicity and breathability. In hot weather, polyester clothing is not very comfortable and may cause increased sweating. For people with sensitive skin, contact with the fabric may cause irritation. At the same time, polyester is excellent for making sportswear and outerwear.

Acrylic - scope, advantages and disadvantages

In terms of its properties, polyacrylic (this is another name for the material) is similar to polyester, but products from it are made by others. The fact is that acrylic fibers are very voluminous and twisted. Therefore, knitted items are made from it - sweaters, pullovers, cardigans, which in appearance resemble woolen ones.

They are not prickly, unlike wool, and are light and fluffy. Acrylic yarn is also produced for knitting various products at home. Things can be easily washed at low temperatures (30-40 degrees), do not shrink or wrinkle, and dry quickly. In terms of their thermal conductivity properties, they are close to wool. Among the disadvantages of the material, low breathability can be noted; pellets quickly form on the products, which worsens their appearance.

Mixed fabrics are the best solution

To make things comfortable to wear, retain their original appearance for a long time, withstand numerous washes well and not wrinkle, they are often made from mixed fabrics. In cotton, wool or silk add synthetic fibers or use different types of synthetics.

Wool with the addition of 30-60% acrylic is a good option for both sewing and knitting. For those who are afraid of synthetics, lit is better to choose a material where the percentage of chemical fibers is no more than 30. In this case, this is an excellent combination, where the positive properties of tissues appear, and the negative ones are smoothed out.

The main difference in these two types of materials is that things made of polyacrylic are warm and voluminous. A polyacrylic sweater or cardigan will provide great warmth during the cold season. More diverse clothes are made from polyester, suitable for different temperature conditions - dresses and jackets, swimsuits and tracksuits, outerwear and even underwear.