Scientific & Genetic Names and Formula

• Water, coal and air are used to make polyester fibers. 

• When fibers are linked with ester (a compound formed by the reaction of alcohol and carboxylic acid) they tend to form polyesters.

The formula is a dicarboxylic acid mixed in with dialcohol which later turns into polyester.
 

Polyester is a very useful fiber and is used in our daily lives including in manufacturing:

(Earl, 2007).

• clothing

• furniture                       

• accessories

• toys
• recreational gear 
  

(Freedmon. 2010.)

How Polyester is Produced & Recyled

Flow Chart: 

Recycling Plastic Water Bottles

Here is a run-down on the process of how exactly PET bottles are recycled.

*The video is brought to you by Infor4YourLife in 2009.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Physical Properties

Polyester in its original form.

• The weight of polyester is 1.22-1.38 g/cm3

•  It is able to hold forms very well, allowing more things to be made from polyester.

•  It can be wet or dry and still remain strong and it dries very quickly. 

• Very resistant to stretching and wrinkling. That is why it is widely used in manufacturing clothing.

•  Polyester is very resistant to shrinking

• Resistant to abrasion (which means to wear something out by rubbing away or by friction, and by mildew which is a form of fungi)

•  Colorless

•  Transparent ( reason for most water bottles are colorless and transparent being made form polyester.)

Manufacturers love using polyester as it is
resistant to stretching and wrinkling. Freemder, F.A. (Photographer). (2010).

                                                
Chemical Properties

• When burned, polyester gives off a strong odour. 
• The molten residue can cause many harmful burns when it comes in contact with human skin. 
• Polyester melts at a temperature of 249-288° C