PETfiber

PET fiber, commonly called polyester fiber, is a synthetic textile fiber made from polyethylene terephthalate. It is produced by melt-spinning PET polymer into filaments that are drawn to increase strength and then used as continuous filaments or cut into staple fibers for spun yarns. PET fibers are widely used in apparel, home textiles, and various industrial fabrics.

Production and forms: PET polymer pellets are melted and extruded through spinnerets to form filaments. These filaments are drawn, cooled, and may be heat-set to improve dimensional stability. They can be used as long-filament yarns or cut into staple lengths for textile blends. PET fibers are often finished or blended with other fibers to enhance comfort and performance.

Properties: PET fibers offer high tensile strength, good abrasion resistance, and excellent dimensional stability. They have low moisture regain (about 0.4–0.5%), dry quickly, and resist wrinkling and many chemicals. They can be heat-set to maintain shapes and are relatively stain-resistant. Typical melting temperatures are around 250–260°C. Drawbacks include relatively low moisture absorption, which can affect comfort in some uses, and potential for static buildup. They are also associated with environmental concerns such as microplastic shedding during wear and laundering.

Uses: The fibers are common in clothing fabrics (knits and wovens), fleece and thermal fabrics, upholstery and carpets, and various industrial textiles (including tire cords and filtration materials). PET fibers are frequently recycled into recycled PET fibers (rPET) for use in non-food textile products.

Environmental considerations: PET is widely recycled, contributing to bottle-to-fiber recycling streams. Recycling reduces petroleum use and waste but poses challenges related to fiber recovery, fiber quality, and microfibre release during washing.