Polyester . British chemists John Rex Whinfield and James Tennant Dickson, employees of the Calico Printer`s Association in Manchester, patented “poly (ethylene terephthalate)” (also called PET or PETE) in 1941 by continuing the early research by Wallace Carothers.
Summary
[ hide ]
- 1 History
- 2 Investigations
- 3 Properties
- 4 News
- 5 Sources
History
PET has its origins in Wallace Carothers’ 1929 writings. However, DuPont chose to focus on the [Nylon] investigation, which was more promising. John Rex Whinfield and James Tennant Dickson observed that Carothers had not investigated the polyester formed from [ethylene glycol] and terephthalic acid. Winfield and Dickson together with inventors WK Birtwhistle and CGRitchie created the first polyester fiber called Terylene in 1941 , first manufactured by Imperial Chemical Industries or ICI. The second polyester fiber was DuPont’s Dacron. Poly (ethylene terephthalate), therefore, is the basis for [synthetic fibers] such as Dacron and Terylene polyester.
According to DuPont “at the end of the 1920s , DuPont was in direct competition with the British company Imperial Chemical Industries”. DuPont and ICI agreed in October 1929 to share patent and research information. In 1952 the alliance of companies was dissolved. When DuPont resumed its investigation of ICI polyester it had patented Terylene polyester, for which DuPont acquired the rights in 1945 for further development. In 1950 a pilot plant, at the Seaford, Delaware facility, produced a polyester fiber called Dacron, using modified nylon technology.
Research
[DuPont’s] investigations of polyester led to a wide variety of registered products, one example being Mylar (1952), an extraordinarily strong PET film, which emerged from the development of the Dacron in the early 1950s (1952). However, the application that meant its main market was in rigid packaging, from 1976; I can make my way thanks to his particular aptitude for bottling carbonated drinks.
Properties
- It adapts very well in mixtures with natural fibers, contributing to easy care. • 100% PES also mimic natural ones. • Very good absorption resistance. • Produce electrostatic charge. • They have low absorbency of humidity. • In mixtures they produce a lot of pilling.
Present
Today, the image of cheap and uncomfortable polyester fibers is beginning to change with the emergence of polyester luxury garments (based on polyester [micro-fibers]). One of the current trademarks in this sector is Polartec, dedicated to the manufacture of clothing for use at low temperatures.
