Polyester. What is this material and what is its application

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

In those days when various polymers and plastics began to be actively introduced into everyday life, it seemed to people that with their help they would be able to solve almost all problems that were impossible for natural materials. Such scientific-technical-chemical euphoria lasted from the late forties to the seventies, until mankind was convinced that cotton, linen or wool for clothes is still in most cases better than any synthetics. However, these decades were not in vain, many very valuable and useful qualities of polymers created the conditions for their wide application in various fields of human activity.

One of the most common synthetic materials is polyester. What kind of product is this, for the production of which products is it used now? To answer these questions, one must first understand the chemical and mechanical properties of this polymer.

As a material, polyester is a multimolecular chain of polyesters. During the synthesis of this polymer, strong bonds are formed, making it extremely strong. When applied to garments, this means its high tear and wrinkle resistance. Is it good? Of course, for some toilet items, these qualities are simply irreplaceable, as is the ability to resist moisture. But everything has a downside. The low hygroscopicity and rigidity of this material make it uncomfortable in relation to the skin. However, it is impossible to say about polyester that it is a completely unsuitable fabric for tailoring, just its scope is limited.

Polyester has different commercial names in different countries. The composition of raw materials can be combined, for example: "wool 65%, lavsan 35%". This word, foreign at first glance, is actually an abbreviation in which the Academy of Sciences is the Academy of Sciences, and the letters "L", "A" and "B" mean the laboratory of macromolecular compounds. In the US, this material is produced under the name "Dacron".

In engineering, this polymer is widely used due to its special properties. For example, for the production of packaging materials that require increased strength, 100% polyester is used. What are these properties? The strength of a strapping tape for tightening bales, which have a significant straightening force when compressed, is only slightly inferior to the tear resistance of a metal tape, while the polymer is much lighter and, importantly, cheaper than iron. The strength of polyester threads determines their use in cases where the seam must be very reliable, and the ropes woven from them can withstand enormous loads.

In the worldaircraft industry and vehicle construction, the last decades have also seen an active expansion of the scope of application of composite polymer materials. Any part, for the manufacture of which plastic is used instead of duralumin, reduces weight and increases corrosion resistance. For military aviation, this polyester has another important property: scientists have established, by studying polyester, that it is a radio-conductive material. This property makes it possible to make radar fairings from it, and the silhouette of the aircraft becomes less visible to the air defense systems of a possible enemy.