Polyester FibersLike other manmade fibers, polyester fibers are produced using industrial methods, and in terms of properties they are suitable replacements for natural fibers such as cotton. To produce these fibers, dimethyl / terphthalate and monoethylene glycol are used in combination with suitable catalysts. The polymer produced from the combination of these two feed-stocks are pumped through spinnerettes changes into filaments when exposed to cold air current and finally into a bunch of filaments which at subsequent stages are drawn and subjected to heat treatment, molecular rearrangement and thermal stabilization, yielding short fibers referred to as "staples" to the desired dimensions and baled.
Currently the PIC polyester produced at Polyester Plant with an estimated annual production capacity of 34000 metric tons with a dtex range of 1.4, 1.6, 3.3 and 6 cut lengths of 32, 38, 51, 64, 75 mm, then tested and approved at a laboratory for all the phisical and chemical parameters, made into bales weighing 250-300 kg and made available to textile users as well as to producers of non-woven and bedding products.
Polyester fibers combine such major qualities as high strength, elasticity, suitable dimensional stability, wear resistance, resistance to sunlight and agents used at dry-cleaners' such as whitewashers, adding further strength to fiber byproducts. Thanks to its particular chemical composition, polyester is crystalline and for lack of active groups in the polymer and low-moisture absorption, is resistant to most chemicals. Colorfastness and nonshrinkability are the other properties of these fibers. Further, it is resistant to boiling week acids, cold strong acids and diluted alkalis. However, it is affected by hot strong alkalis. The physical properties of these fibers can be varied to meet the market's and consumers' needs.
Polyester is used alone or mixed with other fibers such as cotton, viscose and wool to produce yarn, drapery, shirts, round-knit, sheets, carpets, strainers, filters, padding, conveyer belts, tarpaulin , ropes, bedding. It is produced and supplied with a variety of brands such as Trilene in UK, Trevira in Germany, Tergall in France, Tetron in Japan, Trital in Italy and Dacron in USA.
Polyester Staple Products
Polyester YarnAnother PIC Polyester Plant product is polyester yarn produced and supplied chiefly in two types of yarn: ETF or FDY with a fineness of 78 to 334 dtex and Non-drawn, i.e. DTF or POY with a fineness of 180 and 280 dtex.
The feedstock used in the production of polyester (yarn and fiber) are dimethylterephthalate (D.M.T.) and monoethylene glycol (M.E.G.). They are produced locally by the Petrochemicals Industries.
Thanks to its suitable characteristics and use in various textiles, polyester yarn has increased dramatically both in terms of supply and demand over recent years worldwide. The annual production of polyester yarn at PIC is 21000 metric tons which partly meets the needs of textile industries involving consumption of various products such as drapery, jersey and at texturizing areas.
In terms of such physical properties as thickness or fineness of filaments, polyester yarn is produced and supplied to meet the needs of the users and markets. The specifications of PIC yarn are as follows:
These products are measured and examined for all the specifications at the Laboratory, by Production Process evaluation and supplied as 10 KG POY and 6 KG FDY bobbins to the market.
Anti-Pilling Polyester TowPolyester tow is used to produce polyester tops. Anti-pill tow is produced at the Polyester Plant by going through polymerizers, spinning and drawing machines to gain a kilotex of 90 and a fineness of 3.3 dtex and then carried over to tops plant.
Polyester TopsTo meet the demands of the domestic markets and consumers for polyester tops, the production process became operational utilizing the technology supplied by Schlumberger, France. Having passed the converters, gills and combers, polyester anti-pill tow with a fineness of 3.3 dtex is converted into polyester tops.
The production capacity of this process is 4500. metric tons of polyester tops annually used in combination with wool to produce worsted fabrics. Thanks to its competitiveness with imported rival products, combed polyester tops has managed to well establish itself in consumers markets.
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