Polyester garments

Polyester fabrics when burned exhibit a melt-drip behaviour. Since the fabric melts away from the flame, some polyester fabric constructions can actually pass vertical flame tests without any flame-retardant treatment. The waiving of melt-drip specifications for children s sleepwear has allowed untreated polyester garments to be sold into that market. 

Smith, G.G., Barker, R.H., 1995. Life cycle analysis of a polyester garment. Resources, Conservation and Recycling 14, 233—249. 

In 1993, collaboration between Patagonia and Malden Mills (now Polartec) led to the early development of recycled polyester fibre (from Wellman Inc.) for use in Synchilla fleece made from plastic soda bottles that diverted waste from landfills. Later, PCR filament yam was made for linings and shell fabrics from 30% to 50% post-consumer materials (bottles, polyester uniforms, tents and garments) with the remainder sourced from post-industrial waste. Clothes, at end of life, if constituted from one fibre type, can be recyclable. In theory, consumers may return a polyester garment to be forwarded to a processor to be re-made into fibre or downgraded to other forms of plastic. 

Commercially, elastomeric fibers are almost always used in combination with hard fibers such as nylon, polyester, or cotton. Use levels vary from a low of about 3% in some filling stretch cotton fabrics to a high of about 40% in some warp-knit tricot fabrics. Raschel fabrics used in foundation garments normally contain 10—20% spandex fiber. 

Two factors emerged to turn the focus of durable press the discovery that incorporation of a level of nylon or polyester in the fabric can substantially increase the garments abrasion resistance, and the reali2ation that the marketplace preferred cotton—polyester blends in delayed cure operations, even though 85% cotton—15% nylon fabric yields a suitable product. The 50% cotton—50% polyester fabric seemed particularly appropriate because it contained sufficient ceUulosic to benefit from a chemical finish and sufficient synthetic to provide strength and abrasion resistance. 

To produce easy care wool—polyester blend garments, heat setting of the polyester component will impart set stability to repeated machine washing. A minimum of 20—30% polyester is needed for adequate stability. A fabric shrink-resist treatment such with Synthappret BAP may be necessary to give the required shrink-resistance for easy cate performance. If the polyester content is increased, particularly above 50%, and a suitable fabric constmction is used, heat setting alone will give easy care performance. 

Disperse dyes from the monoazo and anthraquinone classes have been implicated in cases of contact dermatitis. Circumstances common to such cases appear to be heavy depths of these dyes on nylon rather than polyester and occurring in articles of clothing that are in direct contact with the skin, often in areas that are likely to become moistened by perspiration. Hosiery, socks, blouses and close-fitting athletic or fashion wear, such as velvet leggings, are representative of the types of garment where this problem has arisen [1]. 

The shape of the microfiber influences the end properties. For instance, Tomen has developed Technofine , a polyester microfiber with a W-shaped cross section. The increased surface allows a more rapid transport of water away from the skin and also increases the evaporation rate, making garments sowed from it quicker-drying and more adsorbent. 

Petroleum refineries produce a stream of valuable aromatic compounds called the BTX, or benzene-toluene-xylenes (Ruthven 1984). The Cg compounds can be easily separated from the Ce and C compounds by distillation, and consist of ethyl benzene, o-xylene, m-xylene, and / -xylene. Ethyl benzene is the starting material for styrene, which is used to make polystyrene / -xylene is oxidized to make terephthalic acid, and then condensed with ethylene glycol to make polyester for fibers and films. The buyers of / -xylene are the manufacturers of terephthalic acid, such as BP-Amoco, who in turn sell to the fiber manufacturers such as DuPont and Dow. These are big and sophisticated companies that have strong research and engineering capabilities, and are used to have multiple suppliers. The eventual consumers of adsorbents are the public who consider polyester as one of the choices in fabric and garments, in competition with other synthetic and natural fibers. Their purchases are also dependent on personal income and prosperity. In times of recession, it is always possible for a consumer to downgrade to cheaper fibers and to wear old clothes for a longer period of time before new purchases. 

PERMANENT-PRESS RESIN. A thermosetting resin used as a textile impregnate or fiber coating to impart crease resistance and permanent hot-creasing to suitings, dress fabrics, etc. Chemicals such as formaldehyde and maleic anhydride are the basis of these products. The resin is cured after the fabric has been tailored into a garment. A permanent-press fabric that requires no resin has been developed (a blend of polyester with cotton or rayon). 

The bulk of men s underwear currently for sale is either 100% cotton or polyester-cotton (typically 65%/35%), although there are some stretch fabrics (e.g., 95% cotton, 5% Elastane). Stretch components may be confined to the waistband, or in some garments the base fabric also has stretch characteristics. 

Typical applications are protective covers, tarpaulins, awnings, and chemical-protective garments.23 Thin THV films can be laminated onto temperature-sensitive substrates, such as plasticized PVC and polyester.24... 

Wool and Visil fiber are blended to improve latter s fiber properties, but the flammability of the blend is also reduced. Cotton-wool blends are quite common as well. Aramids are blended with many fibers for different applications. Nomex can be blended with FR viscose and FR wool to produce fire-blocking fabric, e.g., for aircraft seats.4 Nomex blended with Kevlar shows better performance than 100% Nomex in fire fighters outer protective garments.26 Various blends of glass fibers with aramids, melamine fibers, PVC fibers, and polyester have been reported for use in fire-protective nonwoven veils for upholstery and mattresses.92... 

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