16 Polyester Manufacturers in 2024

This section provides an overview for polyester as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 16 polyester manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked polyester companies as of August, : 1.MMI Textiles, 2.Wayne Mills Co. Inc., 3.Sarla Flex.

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What Is Polyester?

Polyester is a general term for polymers formed by ester bonds.

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a typical example. By changing the alcohol or carboxylic acid that forms the ester bond, the properties of the resulting polyester can be changed. It is used in various applications, but typical examples include materials for clothing, bedding, and curtains.

Uses of Polyester

Typical applications for polyester include polyethylene terephthalate (PET) for PET bottles, polyester fibers, and cable protectors for electronic devices and automotive parts. Polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT) is also used as a polyester fiber.

Another type of polyester is unsaturated polyester, which has unsaturated bonds in the molecule. FRP is used in a wide range of industries, including aircraft and other transportation components, construction materials, sporting goods, and space-related components, such as rockets.

Production Process of Polyester

Figure 1. Production process for polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

There are two methods of polyester production: direct polymerization, in which a divalent alcohol and a divalent carboxylic acid are dehydrated and condensed to form an ester bond. The second method is ester exchange, in which a dicarboxylic acid ester and a divalent alcohol undergo an ester exchange reaction. 

Various polyesters can be made by changing the divalent alcohol and divalent carboxylic acid used in the dehydration-condensation process, and their physical properties also change, resulting in different applications. For example, polyethylene terephthalate with two alcohol carbons is used as a material for fleece and other clothing, while polybutylene terephthalate with four alcohol carbons has high durability and stretchability and is used for sportswear and swimwear.

Polyester has different properties depending on their molecular structure. Their common characteristics are high strength, abrasion resistance, and elasticity. On the other hand, its disadvantages are that it is easily electrified and has low heat resistance.

Other Information on Polyester

1. Differences Between Polyester and Nylon

Nylon is a polymer similar to polyester, but its chemical structures are very different. Polyester is formed by ester bonds, while nylon is formed by amide bonds.

Polyester fibers are characterized by their firmness, elasticity, resistance to wrinkling, and resistance to acids and alkalis. In contrast, Nylon fibers are lightweight and dry quickly. Polyester fibers are similar in appearance and feel to cotton and wool, and are used in women's and men's clothing. Nylon fibers, on the other hand, are used for innerwear and stockings as well as a material for automobile airbags.

2. Unsaturated Polyester

Figure 2. Three-dimensional crosslink formation reaction of unsaturated polyester

Unsaturated polyester is a thermosetting resin and differs from thermoplastics, such as PET, PEN, PBT, and PTT in this respect. Specifically, a mixture of polyester resin having unsaturated bonds in the molecule and vinyl monomer is made into a final product by three-dimensional cross-linking of the polyester resin with the vinyl monomer through heating.

3. Physical Properties and Applications of Unsaturated Polyesters

Figure 3. Comparison of physical properties of thermosetting resins

Unsaturated polyesters are particularly excellent in moldability due to their low viscosity during molding. When composited with glass fiber or carbon fiber, its toughness increases, so it is used for automobile bodies, ships, and other applications requiring strength. The weak point is that the ester bonds in the main chain are hydrolyzed by alkali, resulting in a decrease in molecular weight and low alkali resistance.

What kind of material is polyester?

Polyester is a synthetic material &#; which means the material isn&#;t made from naturally occurring fibres like cotton, silk or wool.

Polyester is short for polyethylene terephthalate &#; often shortened to PET. It&#;s made from a chemical reaction between petroleum, air, and water.

First produced in and is now one of the world&#;s most popular textiles. It took off in the clothing industry because it was durable and cheap to produce.

The company is the world’s best polyester fiber manufacturers supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.

Is polyester natural or synthetic?

Polyester is a synthetic material which means it is manufactured &#; not something that occurs naturally.

Is polyester a plastic?

The most common form of polyester &#; polyethylene terephthalate (PET), is a plastic derived from petroleum. The same type of plastic that water bottles are made from.

Is polyester a good fabric?

Polyester has many desirable qualities that make it a popular choice for clothing.

It&#;s strong and lightweight. And it can be further strengthened when blended with materials like cotton. It resists wrinkles and is easy to look after at home.

Though, despite the positive qualities polyester is not a sustainable material. It has irreversible, negative effects on the environment.

Why is polyester so bad for the planet?

Burning fossil fuels

Making polyester is bad for the planet because coal and petroleum are used in the manufacturing process. Coal and petrol are fossil fuels &#; non-renewable sources that are highly limited in supply. Once it&#;s gone, it&#;s gone.

When fossil fuels are burned carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. AKA greenhouse gases &#; they trap heat in the atmosphere causing global warming.

It&#;s not biodegradable

Polyester isn&#;t biodegradable. So you&#;re left with a material that doesn&#;t decompose at the end of its life. At best, it&#;ll stick around for another 20 years. At worst, hundreds of years.

Microfibers and microplastics are released

Each time you wash synthetic materials like polyester &#; small fibres are released. And because polyester is a type of plastic &#; a lot of these fibres are too.

These fibres are called microplastics &#; which categorises any piece of plastic less than 5mm in size. Microplastics pollute waterways across the world and cause huge problems.

It&#;s estimated that over a third of all the plastic in our waters come from washing synthetic clothing.

A great way to minimise the microplastics released is to wash your synthetic clothes in a Guppyfriend wash bag. Designed specifically to stop microplastics from entering our rivers and oceans.

Is polyester better than cotton?

The main difference between cotton and polyester is that cotton is a natural fibre while polyester is synthetic. Natural fibres have their own set of strengths and qualities. Polyester is less breathable than cotton. Which can make you feel humid, sweaty or uncomfortable.

If you have sensitive skin you may get reactions to wearing synthetic materials. But generally, it&#;s not too common.

Polyester is faster drying than cotton &#; and for that reason, it&#;s often used for workout gear and sports clothing.

A quick summary &#; cotton is natural, breathable, absorbent, and can be sustainable. Polyester is synthetic, not breathable, repels water, and isn&#;t sustainable.

Is polyester fabric cheap?

Polyester is one of the cheapest materials on the market. That is why it dominates the fast fashion space. Polyester was first introduced to drive the cost of products down.

That being said &#; like all materials, there are different levels of quality. You will still see polyester used by higher-end brands. Some of the better quality polyesters can have a completely different feel to the polyester you&#;re familiar with. It feels more like silk than polyester.

The general quality of polyester has increased over the years. Brands have found better ways to work with polyester. And machinery improvements have made it easier to get the most out of polyester.

Alternatives to polyester clothing

There are many sustainable alternatives to polyester. Ditch virgin polyester and look for natural or recycled alternatives. Natural materials like cotton, hemp or linen are good options. And it&#;s always best to go organic which uses less water and energy and completely free from toxic chemicals.

Related material guides: Is hemp the ultimate sustainable material?, guide to organic cotton, and all about linen.

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