14 - Polyester and polyamide fibres – apparel applications

Abstract

Publisher Summary Fibers are the building blocks of textile materials and there is a strong correlation between the fiber properties and properties of resultant textile products. The major end-use application of textile fibers is its use in apparel fabrics. Invention of synthetic fibers especially polyamide and polyester and fiber engineering can produce, modify, and tailor fibers in ways far beyond the performance limits of fibers drawn from silkworm cocoon, grown in the fields or spun from the fleece of animals. Polyester fiber has good easy care properties and polyamide fibers have better elastic properties. The yarns are either woven or knitted to develop fabrics. Today's apparel fabric maximizes enjoyment and comfort in indoors as well as outdoors and in any kind of weather. Waterproof, windproof, and breathable through different finishing processes are just a few of many properties in demand. Therefore, stretch properties can be imparted to polyamide fibers using textured nylon in combination with elastane yarns. Certain desired properties can be built into polyester and polyamide fibers during production. However, polyamide seems to be losing its share to polyester, overwhelmed by sheer volume if not performance. Many woven industrial and apparel fabrics seem to favor polyester. Polyamide's dyeability is an advantage, but not sufficiently so to overcome the supply and variants available in polyester.