While pursueing the studies and the research works begun but left unfinished by Carothers, the British chemist John Rex Whinfeld with the co-operation of his young assistant James J.Dickson invented a method to produce polyester fibres from terephtalic acid and ethylene glycol, and applied for a patent on July 29, 1941.
This new polymer was suited to produce extremely fine, soft and strong filament yarns, but it was only in 1949, after the second world war, that a pilot plant for the production of polyester fibres was put on stream in England. The commercial production started both in USA and in England in 1953.
Polyester is the most common synthetic fibre and is marked by a high growth rate. At present polyester production (filament yarn + staple) accounts for 60% of the total production of synthetic fibres.
In 1998 polyester world production amounted in fact to 16 million tons (9 million tons filament yarn and 7 million tons staple).
Up to 1975, polyester was produced on ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethyl terephtalate (DMT) basis; later also a second method based on terephtalic acid (TPA) was used. Also the discovery of polyester marked a new milestone in the industrial revolution, because this fibre has deeply changed the textile industry, imposing itself for its great versatility. Either pure or in blend with cotton and wool, it gave rise to new types of clothing and furnishing fabrics with interesting easy-care properties.
A further advantage was provided by the development of inherently flame-resistant polyester types, which allowed its wide application in products where fire resistance is a must: furnishing and in particular curtainings, industrial textiles and protective clothing. These special fibres, which resist or slow down flame propagation, retain an agreable textile handle.
Polyester has excellent properties: dimensional stability, high tenacity, good resistance to light and weathering. Beside having increasing success in woollen, worsted and cotton-type apparel fabrics, polyester fabrics find wide application in household textiles and in nonwovens.
