Polyester fiber is 80 years old!

In honor of the 80th anniversary of the production of fiber-forming polyethylene terephthalate, the plant of nonwovens «Thermopol» will hold a series of seminars «Fossil Textiles», based on the strategic study of the same name. This research has been conducted for several years by a technological group of employees of the company "Thermopol". Experts note the great importance of hydrocarbon processing in the domestic market, citing as an example a wide range of nonwovens Holofiber, which have been actively introduced into all industrial sectors for many years.

Technical textiles are playing an increasingly important role in the global textile industry. An important place in its raw material component is occupied by polyesters, from which various fibers are created. The main raw materials for the manufacture of polyesters, which takes place in several stages, are hydrocarbons, and one of the main suppliers of hydrocarbons to the world market is Russia. Unfortunately, our country does not produceprimary polyester fibersin full cycle, so it has to import them. Today, the issue of technical textiles in Russia is still unresolved, despite the fact that the further growth of the most dynamically developing industrial sectors depends on it.

The first synthesis of polyester was produced by Carothers in 1930 at the Dupont Laboratory (USA). However, the fiber-forming composition of PET was obtained only in 1939 by John Winfield and James Dixon from the English company Calico Printers. The patent application was filed in 1941. Subsequently, the patent was classified and published only in 1947. In Soviet Russia, similar work has been carried out at the Academy of Sciences since 1949. So at the factory in Mytishchi, the fiber "lavsan" appeared. Industrial production of polyester fiber began in Kursk in 1960. The next production was launched in Mogilev in 1971, and a continuous line for the production of PET with its direct molding from melt into threads and fiber was launched in 1975.

Nowadays, the topic of polyester microfiber has become particularly relevant. At the same time, experts agree that when used in the production of nonwovens, more than 60% of microfibre significantly reduces the performance of canvases and finished products for a number of parameters, such as migration, fire resistance, preservation of properties during washing, weight gain of clothing, etc. That is why, even80 years after the first experiments with polyester fiber, the industry continues to experiment and create new, more advanced chemical fibers, as well as non-woven materials from them.

CommentsElena Mezentseva, chief technologist of the plant "Thermopol": "The most progressive method today is considered to be the formation of an isotropic medium from fibrous polyester and other chemical components, in accordance with which, for example, produces high-quality nonwoven fabrics in Russia TM Holofiber.

The first seminar for partners from the cycle «Fossil textiles» will be held at the stand«Thermopol»within the framework of the international exhibition «Tekstillegprom» on February 20, at VDNH.

Photo: "Thermal floor"