Dacron synthetic chemical fibers

Whinfield and W. Dickson, working at the Calico Printers Association (2,3). Other polymers pioneered by these workers included poly(l,3-propylene terephthalate), 3GT, poly(l,4-butylene terephthalate), 4GT, and the polyester from ethylene glycol and l,2-6is(4-carbox5 henoxy)ethane, known as CPE-2G or Fiber-0 (4). Of these materials, PET was selected for development as a melt-spinnable synthetic fiber, but commercialization was impossible until after the end of World War II. Eventually, when the various national economies were back on a peacetime footing, PET polymer and fibers derived from it were put into production. The whole market-driving force for polyester at this time was in the form of synthetic fibers. In the United Kingdom, the new material was manufactured by Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd. imder the trade name Terylene, while DuPont introduced it to the United States in 1953 as Dacron (see Polyesters, Fibers). 

Not all synthetic polymers are used as fibers Mylar for example is chemically the same as Dacron but IS prepared in the form of a thin film instead of a fiber Lexan is a polyester which because of its impact resistance is used as a shatterproof substitute for glass It IS a polycarbonate having the structure shown... 

Note Accdg to private communication of the late Mr George D. Clift only 1% of DuPont s activities were (as of i960) in explosives, the rest being in various chemicals, synthetic fibers (Nylon, Dacron, Orion, etc),... 

Like amides, esters are common both in nature and in the chemical industry. Animal fats and vegetable oils are mixtures of esters, as are waxy materials such as beeswax and spermaceti. Plants often synthesize esters that give the characteristic tastes and odors to their fruits and flowers. In addition to making synthetic esters for flavors, odors, and lubricants, chemists have made synthetic polyesters such as Dacron polyester fiber used in clothing and Mylar polyester film used in magnetic recording tapes. 

The plastics industry and all the products made from plastics are almost entirely dependent on chemicals extracted or produced from hydrocarbons. This includes not only the familiar materials such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), epoxies, nylon, polyesters, polycarbonate. Teflon and Plexiglas, but also includes a large portion of materials made from rubber and a diverse group of other materials formulated from polymers such as tape, glue, ink, waterproofing, wax, and polishes. Virtually all the synthetic fibers used in textile products, Orion , Dacron , Nylon and polyesters are made from polymers based on hydrocarbons. 

The growth of synthetic fibers has led to the devising of syntheses from petroleum of the chemical intermediates required for this new industry. Leaving aside acetic anhydride from ethylene via synthetic ethanol and from propylene via acetone, already established and used for cellulose acetate in the 193O s, nylon has called for the isolation of petroleum cyclohexane and for the discovery of a route from butadiene to nylon salt Dacron for the isolation of p-xylene from petroleum xylene, and the nitrile fibers for the synthesis of acrylonitrile from ethylene or acetylene. 

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