aka...science room
clothes
What has your favourite replica football shirt got in common with sleeping bags, mattresses, pillows, cushions, bottles, video and audiotapes, electrical insulation, printed electronic circuits, packaging and microwaveable food trays?
Answer : Polyester.
Polyesters are polymers formed by linking together carboxylic acids and alcohols. The most common polyester is poly(ethylene terephthalate), or simply PET. PET also goes by several trade names including Dacron, Terylene and Mylar.
Polyester can be used in so many different ways because: It can be heated and moulded into any shape to form a thermoplastic.
And It can be spun into fibres by forcing molten polyester through tiny holes. The molecules align and pack closely together to form a strong, hard wearing fibre.
Which brings us back to your football shirt. Why make a shirt out of a material that makes you sweat in summer and shiver in winter? Despite these drawbacks the use of polyester in clothing is not just a fashion statement. Polyester is:
Strong
Resistant to stretching and shrinking
Resistant to most chemicals
Quick drying
Wrinkle resistant
Mildew resistant
Abrasion resistant
And most importantly - easily washed.
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