Polyester: History, Definition, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Polyester: History, Definition, Advantages, and Disadvantages

Polyester is the third most widely used commodity plastic. It is used extensively for clothing, food packaging, and automotive components. Polyester is characterized by excellent mechanical strength, chemical resistance, wear resistance, and electrical insulating properties.  It has a melting point of 246 °C. Polyester is made up of terephthalic acid and ethane-1,2-diol.

Polyester can be processed into fibers using extrusion but can also be injection molded to produce parts with an exceptional surface finish.

This article will discuss what polyester is, who invented polyester, as well as its advantages, disadvantages, and common uses.

Polyester… It’s What’s For Living

Whether it’s for fashion, performance, design, or interiors (home, carpet/rug), polyester has evolved into the most versatile fabric and fiber in the world. Polyester is a man-made product that is constantly changing and improving. Although it is not a natural product such as cotton or wool, it does offer many advantages over these materials.

Where did Polyester come from?

Polyester is a synthetic polymer commonly called PET, short for polyethylene terephthalate, used in carpet and for rugs. Essentially, it is a type of plastic. It was first invented in the mid-1900’s and became known for its resilience, and it’s wrinkle free characteristics, in the seventies. I still remember wearing what my mom called “leisure suits” and silk flower shirts to church. Well, polyester has certainly changed and improved since then, as it is now becoming the preferred performance fabric for high end and specialty apparel.

Advantages of Polyester:

The fibers are durable and lightweight

It is very wrinkle resistant

It dries very quickly making it ideal for outerwear

Polyester fiber take dyes (colors) easily

It retains its shape well

It is highly stain resistant making it very easy to clean

Very economical price compared to other synthetic fiber such as Nylon

Disadvantages of Polyester:

Prone to static buildup

Tends to hold odors compared to natural fibers

Pile retention for carpet/rugs is poor when compared to Nylon

Polyester is less breathable than natural fiber such as cotton

Breathability appears to be the main issue regarding polyester. There have been a few solutions to help remedy this. First has been the introduction of fiber blends such as poly-cotton, obviously a blend of polyester and cotton to take advantage of the wear ability of polyester and the natural breathability of cotton. And second, through modern technology and new age manufacturing, steps have been made to improve wicking properties which is exceptional characteristics for leisure wear and workout apparel.

Polyester has also made a huge leap in carpet and rug development. As it is much more economical than Nylon since it is recyclable it has quickly become the preferred substrate for this industry. It’s low cost and dyeability, along with its natural resistance to staining has made it as popular as Nylon. When initially introduced it could not compete with Nylon as far as pile retention. New developments and modern technology have rectified this issue. Polyester now has as much market share in the carpet and rug industry as Nylon.

In conclusion, polyester with its current development and ongoing improvements has become the go to fiber for many applications for high performance needs in apparel, general textiles and the carpet and rug industries. Along with being a very eco-friendly substrate it appears that polyester is here to stay.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Cotton and Polyester Fabrics

It’s important to us that garment decorators know the advantages and disadvantages of cotton and polyester fabrics, and of course the cotton/polyester blended fabrics.

There are pros and cons to both types. Knowing those facts will help you narrow down which fabric type is best for your clients.

Cotton is the most widely used natural fabric for apparel manufacturing across the world. Being a natural fiber, cotton is a renewable resource and is biodegradable.

Natural fibers, as opposed to synthetic like polyester, tend to be more expensive and isn’t the best option when trying to keep costs down for promotional items.

The greatest advantages of cotton is it’s breathability. In hot weather, it’s a great option for keeping your body cool. Even though it may hold moisture longer than polyester, in hot weather, this actually becomes a way to keep your body cool.

When choosing this fabric for your next order, keep in mind the end use of  the apparel.

Are you decorating for athletes who need a breathable, flexible fabric? Or are you decorating for electricians or welders who need a fabric that will not melt to their skin if it comes in contact with sparks? You will find that cotton is the best option for these professions.

As we mentioned, cotton can hold it’s fair share of moisture, which can be a problem for heat-applied transfers. The reason is because moisture is released as steam as the heat press raises it to a high temperature.

Not removing enough of the moisture will cause the adhesive to not attach to the fabric fibers properly. Your solution is to pre-press your fabric a little longer than normal to ensure all moisture is removed from the fabric before applying your transfer.

Advantages of Cotton

Natural fibers free of chemicals

Breathable – Great option for hot weather

Hypoallergenic and does not irritate skin

Burns as opposed to melts like polyester

Our best-selling transfer type for cotton is Goof Proof.

Disadvantages of Cotton

Expensive

Natural fibers wear down faster

Holds moisture longer (can be an advantage in hot weather)

Prone to shrinking

Polyester, being a synthetic fiber, is a less expensive option and has many benefits that cotton does not. It has strong fibers that do not wear down as quickly, while being flexible and resistant to wrinkles and shrinking. Unlike cotton, polyester dries quickly which makes it perfect for colder weather and sports where you don’t want moist fabric against your skin.

Polyester is very popular among athletes for it’s moisture-wicking properties, strong fibers, and light weight feel. For heat printers, taking precaution when decorating polyester is a must.

It is usually temperature sensitive, so low temperature heat transfers like Elasti Prints are needed to reduce or prevent scorching.

Polyester also has a tendency to cause dye migration between the fabric dye and the decoration.

Advantages of Polyester

Strong

Flexible

Dries quickly

Resists wrinkles and shrinking

Inexpensive

Disadvantages of Polyester

Tends to stick to perspiring skin

Not as breathable

Temperature sensitive

Subject to dye migration

So what is the answer? Cotton or poly?

Cotton/Polyester blends are the best of both worlds. Take the breathability and natural feel of cotton and mix it with the strong, flexible and more cost effective properties of polyester.

No wonder a 50/50 shirt is the most popular choice among garment decorators. A nice 50/50 cotton/poly shirt like Port & Company Core Blend Tee PC55 or Gildan DryBlend 50/50 t-shirt 8000 will offer you a great quality t-shirt with the benefits of both cotton and polyester fabrics.