We meet him every day. Some like it, others hate it outright. What is polyester? How is it created? It has more advantages, or maybe disadvantages? You may have heard once about it being bad for the environment - is it true? We will try to answer these and other questions orbiting the polyester in this blog post. We invite you to read!

Polyester - what is this material?

Let's start with a little chemistry. Polyesters are polymers obtained from monomers (compounds with low molecular weight). They have many applications in industry, including textiles. About how polyester is formed, we write further.

As for the material itself, it belongs to the most common - you will come across it in any clothing store, as well as in fabric stores. You will also find it in most women's wardrobes. It can be independent - 100% polyester or as an addition to other materials e.g. cotton fabrics. Interestingly, this synthetic fiber has properties somewhat similar to cotton.

Pure polyester - what is the material? Polyester fabrics have their pros and cons (which we will discuss later in the text). The fact is, however, that poor quality polyester may not be the most pleasant to wear. Therefore, if you plan to sew from this material, for example, a dress or a shirt, reach for high-quality polyester material. For example, you will find it in our online store.

A few words about the history of polyester

You already know more or less what polyester is. Now we would like to briefly introduce you to its history. Few people realize that this material has accompanied humanity for almost 80 years (as of the date of publication of this text). So let's look at where polyester actually came from in the clothes we wear today, in the 21st century.

The first experiments on synthetic materials were conducted as early as the 1930s. However, it was not until 1941, during World War II, that PET , a type of thermoplastic polymer, was patented in Manchester. Two British chemists are responsible for this: James Tennant DIckson and John Rex Whinfield. Some time later, other versions of polyester were also developed by chemists from America and the Soviet Union.

At first he did not enjoy great popularity. He won it a little later, in the 1970s,when he even became known as a wonderful material (which does not need to be ironed) and reigned alongside shoes on platforms, bell pants and other elements characteristic of this era. His golden years, however, did not last long. Over time, polyester lost its reputation and began to talk about it as uncomfortable, and in addition cheap and shoddy. While this may indeed have been the case in the past, for modern, high-quality polyester materials, such an opinion is harmful.

Today, attention is drawn to the fact that its production harms the environment, because polyester is produced from non-renewable oil. For this reason, it is often wrongly demonized,and yet polyester can be recycled... On the other hand, cotton, often placed in opposition to this artificial material, is in many cases also not the best solution for the planet. Its production often requires the use of a large amount of pesticides, as well as water. It is said that irrigation of cotton fields is the main cause of the decline of the Aral Sea.

Obtaining polyester

We have already answered a question often searched by Internet users: polyester - what is this material? We also promised to discuss how this material is made. We translate below.

Polyester production takes place during the synthesis of certain esters, alcohols and acids. These well-known concepts of chemistry, however, say little to the average citizen. Simply put, polyester is made from petroleum subjected to one of three chemical reactions. Initially, it takes the form of small petals,which are melted at high temperature. From dridding and drying threads, fibers are obtained. Later, they can be stretched, as well as give them the desired appearance.

As we mentioned earlier, polyester can also be recycled. The question of whether polyester is a good material or is actually so harmful to the planet is left to individual assessment.

Advantages and disadvantages of this material

You already know what polyester is and you know its history. We have already mentioned that it has both its advantages and disadvantages,which makes some like it and others hate it. Let us look at both.

Polyester for athletes and more

Is polyester a good material for athletes? It turns out that yes - it is gladly used when sewing sports clothes. If the material is of high quality:

• it allows the body to breathe freely,
• well wicks away sweat without the formation of wet stains,
• effectively protects against wind and rain.

Nowadays, polyester in clothes has a wide application - underwear, raincoatings, fleece... Finding it is really not difficult. It is worth remembering that nowadays this material does not resemble in any way this demonized, uncomfortable polyester of the 70s.

Don't be afraid of polyester!

You would like to say what a material - polyester! It can have many applications - from airy dresses, through warm fleece, to water- and windproof coats. We hope that from our article you will learn a lot of useful information about polyester. We also invite you to shop in our online store, where you will find a lot of fantastic materials, not only polyester.