Polyester Fibers

Specific Applications................................................................................................... 19

1.6.1 Spin Finishes.................................................................................................... 19

1.6.2 Tire Cord ......................................................................................................... 19

1.6.3 Low-Pill Staple Polyester ................................................................................. 19

1.6.4 Noncircular Cross-Section Fibers .................................................................... 20

1.6.5 Antistatic and Antisoiling Fibers..................................................................... 20

1.7 Dyeing Polyesters........................................................................................................ 21

1.7.1 Introduction..................................................................................................... 21

1.7.2 Disperse Dyes .................................................................................................. 21

1.7.3 Anionic and Cationic Dyes for Polyester ........................................................ 22

1.7.4 Mass Dyeing .................................................................................................... 22

1.8 Bicomponent Fibers and Microfibers ......................................................................... 23

1.8.1 Side-Side Bicomponent Fibers ........................................................................ 23

1.8.2 Core-Sheath Bicomponent Fibers ................................................................... 24

1.8.3 Multiple Core Bicomponent Fibers ................................................................. 24

1.8.4 Hollow Fibers .................................................................................................. 24

1.9.1 Microfibers ..................................................................................................... 25

1.9.2 Melt-Spinning Microfibers ............................................................................. 25

1.10 World Markets and Future Prospects for Polyester Fibers ...................................... 26

References ........................................................................................................................... 26

Polyester fiber, specifically poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), is the largest volume synthetic

fiber produced worldwide. The total volume produced in 2002 was 21 million metric tons or

58% of synthetic fiber production worldwide. The distribution of synthetic fiber production

by chemistry is shown in Figure 1.1 [1].