Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Poly Trimethylene Terephthalate

Poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) is a newly commercialized aromatic polyester. Although available in commercial quantities only as recently as 1998 [1], it was one of the three high-melting-point aromatic polyesters first synthesized by Whinfield and Dickson [2] nearly 60 years ago. Two of these polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate) (PET) and poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT), have become well-established high-volume polymers. PTT has remained an obscure polymer until recent times because one of its monomers, 1,3-propanediol (PDO), was not readily available. PDO was sold as a small-volume fine chemical at more than 10/lb., and was therefore not suitable as a raw material for commercial polymers. 

For a long time, the fiber industry had been aware of PTT having desirable properties for fiber applications. In a 1971 patent [3], Fiber Industries, Inc. found PTT fiber to have a lower modulus, better bending and work recoveries than PET, and was therefore more suitable than PET for making fiberfill and carpets. Ward et al. [4] compared the mechanical properties of the three polyester fibers, and found PTT indeed had a better tensile elastic recovery and a lower modulus than both PET and PBT. These two properties are very desirable and are valued 

Modem Polyesters Chemistry and Technology of Polyesters and Copolyesters. Edited by J. Scheirs and T. E. Long 

Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Poly(Trimethylene Terephthalate) 

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