SEM picture of a bend in a high surface area polyester fiber with a seven-lobed cross sectionClose-up of a polyester shirt
Fabric Supplies Store Discover a vareity of fabrics at great prices.

Polyester

Polyester is a category of polymers, or, more specifically condensation polymers, which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. Usually, polyester refers to cloth woven from polyester fiber. more...

Home
Chenille
Chiffon
Corduroy
Cotton
Denim
Felt
Flannel
Fleece
Lace
Linen
Lycra
Nylon
Organza
Other Fabric
Polyester
Rayon
Satin
Sequined Fabric
Silk
Suede & Ultrasuede
Synthetics & Blends
Taffeta
Tulle
Velvet & Velour
Wool

Polyester clothing is generally considered to have a "less natural" feeling to it compared to natural fibers. Polyester fibers are often spun together with fibers of cotton, producing a cloth with some of the better properties of each.

Although polyesters do exist in nature (e.g., in the cutin of the plant cuticle), polyester generally refers to the large family of synthetic polyesters (plastics) which includes polycarbonate and above all polyethylene terephthalate (PET). PET is one of the most important thermoplastic polyesters.

Polyester is combustible but due to its thermoplastic nature, it tends to shrink away from the flame source and often self-extinguishes.

Applications

Polyester is the most widely used manufactured fiber in the United States. Woven fabrics are used for apparel and home furnishings. These include bed sheets, bedspreads, curtains and draperies. Polyester used in knitted fabrics include shirts and blouses. Fiberfill is also used to stuff pillows, comforters and cushion padding. One such fabric is Crimplene.

Polyesters are used to make bottles, films, liquid crystal displays, holograms, filters, dielectric film for capacitors, film insulation for wire and insulating tapes.

Liquid crystalline polyesters are among the first industrially used liquid crystalline polymers. In general they have extremely good mechanical properties and are extremely heat resistant. For that reason, they can be used as an abradable seal in jet engines.

Thermosetting polyester resins are commonly used as casting materials, fiberglass laminating resins, and non-metallic auto-body fillers. In such applications, polymerization and cross-linking are initiated through an exothermic reaction involving an organic peroxide, such as methyl ethyl ketone peroxide or benzoyl peroxide.

Polyester is also widely used as a finish on high-quality wooden products like guitars, pianos and vehicle/yacht interiors (Burns Guitars, Rolls Royce and Sunseeker are examples of companies that use polyester on their products). The thixotropic properties of the sprayable form of polyester make it ideal for use on open grain timbers as it can quickly fill the grain and has a high build film thickness per coat. The cured polyester can then be sanded and polished to a high-gloss, durable finish.

History

Terylene was the first polyester fiber and was produced in England. It was brought to the U.S. in 1951 by DuPont under the trade name Dacron.

The first synthetic polyester, glycerine phthalate, was used in the First World War for waterproofing. Natural polyesters have been known since around 1830. The world's largest supplier of unsaturated polyester resin is Reichhold. Reichhold Website

Read more at Wikipedia.org


Suraline Brown Polyester Gabardine Fashion Fabric 2 Yds $9.99 New 5 yd Gold Metallic Sheer Knit Polyester Fabric $19.99
New 10Yd Navy Blue Polyester Lamour Bridal Satin Fabric $24.99 New 5 Yds Pink Polyester Sheer Chiffon Fabric $12.99
New 5 Yd White Polyester Crepe Back Satin Fabric $14.99 3 Spools Polyester Sewing Serger Thread 3000 yard New $8.99
One Yard Cut Doll skin Flesh Fabric 100% polyester knit $3.95 Dark Dark Navy Satin Backed Polyester Fabric 5 Yds 53" $5.00
Deep red Knit fabric~2 yards~60"~polyester~ easy care $7.00 600D Polyester Coated Fabric 60" Black 5 Yards $35.00
Polyester 2-way Stretch Children's Floral Fabrics 3pcs $5.99 Webbing Polyester 1" Aztec Print 11 Yds Belt Weight $8.50
1 5/8 yd Polyester Purple Plaid $4.99 2 2/3 yds Polyester Dramatic Plaid Primary Colors $9.99
Dazzle Polyester Lt Wt 3.5oz 60" White 10 Yds $21.55 Multi color plaid Wool / polyester Fabric $2.00
72 Assorted Spools Of Polyester Thread $24.99 Lavender Polyester Satin Fabric- By The Yard 58" Wide $2.99
25 Vintage Fat Polyester Necktie Wide Poly Neck Tie Lot $9.99 3 yd 60" Vintage Knit Polyester retro geometric pattern $6.99
20C All Purpose Polyester Sewing Serger Thread 600M $12.99 Webbing Polyester 1" Aztec Print 20 Yds 1/8" Thick $9.99
3 3/4 Yards Bright Purple 95% Polyester 5% Lycra Fabric $3.95 Vintage Polyester Knit Lt .Brown w/white 2 1/2 yds 62" $5.99
60 All-Purpose Spun Polyester Sewing Serger Thread 600M $36.99 2 yards Dr Winterfleece 100% polyester 60 inches wide $4.99
Black & White Pinstripe Polyester Suiting Fabric 60"3Y $12.99 13 Yds.100% Polyester Fabric 6Yds, Great Retro Fabric $12.00
Over 12 Yds Polyester Fabric Width 60"+ 5 Pieces Retro $12.00 Polyester satin blend craft sew fabric 9 1/2 yards lot $12.99
Large Spool Spun Polyester Sewing Serger Threads Quilt $36.95 New 5 yds Pink Paisley Polyester Satin Fabric Sale! $11.99
Nice Polyester Fabric That's Plad 4 Yards 32 Inches's $11.99 Cute Safari Patch Polyester Fabric 100% Polyester $11.99
Tex18 Textured Polyester Sewing Thread~Royal Blue#31502 $7.25 New 2 yds x 58" wd Bratz Petz striped fleece/polyester $19.99
New 5 yds Ivory Polyester Crepe Back Satin Fabric $11.99 Suraline Navy Blue Polyester Gabardine Fabric 2 Yards $9.99
multicolor polyester print 54" 3 yards $14.99 Light Blue Polyester Knit $3.99
New 1 1/4 Yd. Black Polyester Fleece Sewing Fabric/$2 $2.00 New 2 Yd. Polyester Sewing/Quilting Fabric/Must See! $3.00
Flame Retardant Polyester, 2-1/2 yrds x 60" wide $10.99 75 yds Burgandy Df Polyester Satin Ribbon 3/8" Wedding $4.99
Fleece Fabric 100% Polyester Novelty 3 yds x 60" $9.90 Polyester Lining 60" wide 1 yard choice of color $4.50
Brown Leopard Polyester Fabric, 2 yds x 60",wrinklefree $9.99 60 " chiffon choice of color from chart polyester 1yard $5.75
Polyester Pongee 45" wide choice of color 1 yard $3.00 2 yd. New Ohio State Buckeyes Cotton/Polyester Fabric $22.00
Vintage Novelty Fabric Apples Polyester Pink Purple $4.99 Suraline Cranberry Polyester Gabardine Fabric 2 Yds $9.99
Pretty Black & White Polka Dots ~ Polyester Fabric~1 Yd $2.99 Kaufman Sky Blue Polyester Fabric 10 Yds $20.00
Disney The Wiggles 100% Polyester Fabric 2yds Free Ship $14.95 24 yds 1+1/2 inch wide Ecru Flat Lace Polyester ~ New $2.99
600D Polyester Coated Fabric-10 Yrds $19.00 #414 Webbing Polyester 1" Black Reflective 19 Yds $9.99
3.5oz Polyester Mesh Fabric 62" White 2-1/2 Yds $9.99 Vintage Lace white 5+ yards 100% Polyester $3.99
Light Pink Polyester Satin Fabric- By The Yard 58" Wide $2.99 Green And White Stripe Polyester Fabric $3.99
lot of - 96 - All Purpose Polyester Thread. Black/White $9.99 Black & White Dots Polyester Fabric 45" 3 Y $9.99
White & Black Pinstripe Polyester Suiting Fabric 60"3Y $9.99 Yellow Polyester Satin Fabric- By The Yard, 58" Wide $2.99
Vintage Polyester Knit Beige w/speckles, 1 3/4 yds 63" $2.99 2 Yard Cut Doll skin Fabric 100% polyester knit flesh $12.00
Polyester Satin Fabric 3 Yards To Sew Dress U Pic Color $8.85 Polyester Velour-Brown-7 yd (24Oz/Yd) $6.99
Lime Green Polyester Satin Fabric- By The Yard 58" Wide $2.99 Baby Blue Polyester Satin Fabric- By The Yard, 58" Wide $2.99
Polyester Velour-Black-15 yd (14Oz/Yd) $13.99 Polyester Machine Embroidery Tan Thread # 16 $1.95
2yd Polyester Knit fabric Golden Disco 2W stretch $9.95 White Polyester Check Print Fabric $5.99
4 yds moose bear wolf polyester fleece fabric sleepwear $9.99 30 Personalized Polyester Woven Fabric Labels Iron on $9.95
Polyester lining fabric, silky, dk. navy, 60"w.5 yards $9.99 Polyester lining fabric, silky, brown, 60"wide, 5yds. $9.99
1 yard cotton polyester blend knit fabric off white crm $1.99 1- 7/8 yards polyester fabric shiny green on green flat $2.99
New 5 yds Black Pucker Polyester 4 Way Stretch Fabric $14.99 2 yards polyester fabric red w/ white & black flowers $2.99
Vintage Jersey Fabric Stretch Polyester Blue Pink Teal $9.99 2 yards polyester fabric lt yellow w/ pink & blue flrws $2.99
25 Yards of Fabric Variety Cotton Polyester T shirt $7.99 Vintage Polyester Fabric Grey White Sailboats Nautical $9.99
Polyester Velour-Copper-18 yd (25Oz) $16.99 Polyester Velour - Wheat- 10 yd (24 oz) $9.99
Webbing Polyester 1" Black 25 Yds Med Weight $9.99 Suraline Brown Polyester Gabardine Fabric 12 Yards $47.99
Red Polyester Satin Fabric- By The Yard 58" Wide $2.99 40D Polyester Mini Ripstop Lining Fabric 60" Gray 10 Y $22.50
3 1/8 yards Sheer Floral Polyester $9.99 Black And White Gingham Polyester Check $6.00
Leopard Animal Print Polyester Lycra Diy 1 Yd 28" $4.99 Black Shiny Satin Type Fabric Polyester 9+ Yards $5.00
Navy Gabardine 100% Polyester Fabric By The Yard $2.00 Special Occasion Polyester Crisp Fabric~Royal Blue 4 yd $7.90
Click to see more Polyester items
Prices current as of last update, 09/05/08 10:54am.


See also...