Poliesteric

Poliesteric is an adjective used to describe materials or polymers based on polyesters, specifically polymers whose repeat units contain ester (–CO–O–) linkages in the main chain. In English, the more common term is polyester, and “polyesteric” may appear in some texts to emphasize the ester-rich backbone of the material.

Chemistry and types

Polyesters are typically formed by condensation polymerization between diols and dicarboxylic acids, or by transesterification of esters with diols. The most widely produced example is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), made from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. Other important polyesters include polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and aliphatic polyesters such as polybutylene adipate or polylactic acid (PLA). Polyesters can be either semicrystalline or amorphous, depending on monomer choice and processing.

Properties and processing

Polyesters are thermoplastics with good mechanical strength and stiffness, chemical resistance, and, in many grades, clear, high-quality appearance. They can offer strong barrier properties to gases and moisture, making them suitable for packaging. Processability is versatile: they can be melt-processed by extrusion, injection molding, film casting, or spun into fibers. Crystallinity and orientation influence transparency, toughness, and dyeability; most textiles require specialized disperse dyes for polyester fibers.

Applications and sustainability

PET is dominant in bottles, films, and fibers; PBT finds use in engineering plastics. Polyesters range from commodity to specialty materials. Environmental considerations include reliance on fossil-derived monomers and limited biodegradability for common polyesters; recycling options include mechanical recycling and chemical recycling to monomers. Bio-based polyesters and certain biodegradable options (e.g., PLA under industrial composting) are areas of ongoing development.