Fibras de poliéster

Carretes de «Dacron».

Prenda de poliéster e instrucciones de lavado.

Las fibras de poliéster se obtienen a partir de un diácido y un diol. Se desarrollaron en el

Reino Unido en 1941 por la compañía ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries).5 Son fibras
resistentes, de tintura difícil y propensas al frisado; se suelen mezclar con lana para
conseguir tejidos muy duraderos y de fácil cuidado, pues no necesitan planchado.

PET

Artículo principal: Tereftalato de polietileno

El poliéster más conocido es tereftalato de polietileno, más conocido como PET (por las
iniciales en inglés de polyethylene terephtalate); además de la industria textil es un
material muy utilizado en envases y embalajes, como film plástico (flexible) o como
botellas (rígido), en láminas geotextiles para agricultura e ingeniería civil...

El PET es el poliéster más utilizado en el sector textil.6 Se conoce por diversos nombres:
«Terylene» (en el Reino Unido), «Tergal» (en Francia), «Terlenka» (en los Países
Bajos), «Trevira» (en Alemania), «Dacron» (en Estados Unidos, de DuPont
Corporation) y «Terital» (en Italia).
PLA

Otro poliéster utilizado como fibra —entre otros usos—, es el poliácido láctico o fibra
PLA (por las iniciales en inglés de polylactic acid). Empezó a desarrollarse en 2001,
con el nombre «Ingeo», por la compañía NatureWorks (subsidiaria de Cargill). Como se
obtiene a partir de los azúcares que se producen de forma natural en el maíz y la
remolacha azucarera7 se considera unbioplástico. Tiene propiedades similares al rayón
lyocell, se mezcla bien con fibra de algodón, pero es muy sensible a las altas
temperaturas.

PTT

En 2002, empezó la comercialización de la única fibra de poliéster del grupo de los

tereftalatos de politrimetileno o PTT (por las iniciales en inglés de poly trimethylene
terephthalate),8 denominada «triexta» en 2009.9 Puede considerarse parcialmente un
bioplástico ya que el 37% de la materia para su síntesis tiene origen vegetal, de cultivos
anuales; por eso, la publicidad de la marca «Sorona» la presenta como la fibra de fuente
renovable. Esta fibra puede mezclarse con cualquier otra (natural, artificial o sintética),
proporciona suavidad, comodidad por su elasticidad y resistencia a las arrugas.

Polyester Fibers
Chemical Economics Handbook
Published May 2020
Polyester fiber has become the fiber of choice within the textile industry, because of its
physical properties, price, recyclability, and versatility, which offer a unique set of
advantages unmatched by any other fiber. Since 1990, the consumption of polyester
fibers has grown at a sustained rate of nearly 7% per year globally. The polyester fiber
market has grown to such an extent that it represents half of the total global fiber market
(man-made and natural fibers). In 2019, total consumption of polyester fibers was
dominated by polyester yarn, with textile filaments having the greatest share of the yarn
segment.

The main application of polyester fibers is in the production of fabrics, which are used
for the manufacture of apparel, garments, and other finished textile goods. Home
furnishings constitute the second-largest end-use sector globally. Most of the demand is
now in Asia (mainland China, India, and Southeast Asia), where the fast-growing textile
industry has been consuming increasing amounts of polyester fibers in a chain of textile
weaving, dyeing, and apparel-making industries.

The following pie chart shows world consumption of polyester fibers:

Polyester fiber is the single-largest-volume fiber used globally, accounting for about
50% of the overall man-made and natural fiber market. Since 2000, the consumption of
polyester fibers has grown at a sustained rate because of their low cost of production as
well as their versatility and relatively large spectrum of applications (from heavy-duty
industrial applications to consumer apparel and home furnishing products). The
substitution for other materials has allowed polyester fiber to grow faster than the fiber
market itself.

The main competing fiber for polyester is cotton; as a result, the supply and demand
balance within the cotton industry affects the polyester fiber industry. In 2010 and early
2011 for instance, peak cotton prices resulting from global supply shortages and low
stock levels boosted demand for polyester fibers. Barriers to entry are relatively low in
the polyester fiber industry and the producer landscape is, therefore, extremely
fragmented. Mainland China alone has more than 900 producing units. Most polyester
fiber producers are back-integrated into PET polymer production and, therefore, run a
continuous polymerization line upstream.

Over the years, the production of polyester fiber has migrated to Asia, which now
accounts for the majority of capacity. Most polyester fiber consumption has also
migrated to Asia, where the fast-growing textile industry has been consuming increasing
amounts of the product. Mainland China is by far the largest consumer of polyester
fibers, and exports large amounts of finished goods—including apparel, curtains, and
bedding—around the world. The recent trade tensions between United States and
mainland China, as well as anti-dumping measures taken by the United States against
some grades of polyester fibers deriving from specific countries, are expected to further
reshape the list of fiber suppliers to North America. There are already short-term
implications anticipated in the US market, for which this report provides specific
insight.

The use of R-PET for the production of some specific polyester fiber grade has
increased over the years but the recently implemented waste import ban in mainland
China has changed the dynamics of R-PET usage. This trend has had key implications
for the market and this is further studied in this report.

Northeast Asia is expected to remain the leading actor on the global polyester fiber
stage over the foreseeable future, further pursuing new investments. Nevertheless, as
Chinese wages are slowly increasing, a gradual shift of textile production toward other
less-advanced but developing Asian nations is expected to intensify in the longer run,
which will partially limit polyester fiber demand growth in mainland China;
nevertheless the failed attempt to implement the TransPacific Partnership in its entirety
will have implications in the pace of development of the fiber industry in specific
countries. The Indian Subcontinent will retain its position as the second-largest
producing region, and Southeast Asia, capitalizing on its still-low labor costs, will
pursue growth in the market and remain the third-largest producer globally.

During 2019–24, the market for polyester fibers is expected to grow further, at an
average rate of about 4% per year. Asia will remain the focal point of this growth as it
will remain the manufacturing center for textiles, clothing, and apparel globally. In all
other regions, the polyester fiber market will continue to grow slowly, particularly in
segments that are less affected by inexpensive imports from Asia, such as tire cord or
nonwoven fabrics. Textile filaments will remain the fastest growing product because of
the increasing textile requirements in the emerging world. For more detailed
information, see the table of contents, shown below.

IHS Markit’s Chemical Economics Handbook – Polyester Fibers is the comprehensive

and trusted guide for anyone seeking information on this industry. This latest report
details global and regional information, includin

Polyester Film
Chemical Economics Handbook
Published November 2018

Polyester film, as discussed in this report, refers to a high-performance biaxially

oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) film made from polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) resin.

Asia, in particular China, is by far the largest producer and consumer of polyester film.
The second-largest producer and consumer in order of importance is the EMEA region,
closely followed by North America. On a country level, India is actually the largest
producer and consumer after China, closely followed by South Korea. China used to be
a net importer of BOPET film, especially of high-end optical film. As Chinese polyester
film capacity has gradually grown, domestic production has correspondingly increased
to meet domestic demand. Consequently the country became a net exporter of BOPET
film in 2016.

Packaging represents the largest end-use market for BOPET film (57%), followed by
industrial (25%), which includes flat panel displays, and electrical/electronic (10%).
These three end uses account for almost the total of global consumption.

Twelve-micron-thick BOPET film is the standard grade used for packaging applications
and it is considered a low-end product compared with the thicker film used for optical
applications and for some specialty industrial and electrical uses. Stand-up and retort
pouches, peelable lids, and metallized film used for snack food packaging are among
the most successful applications for BOPET film in packaging. During the last decade,
the increasing emphasis on longer shelf life, solid waste reduction, and changing
lifestyle standards in developing countries have led to an increase in the per capita
consumption of packaging material, thus driving BOPET film consumption growth in
this sector.

Demand for BOPET in the industrial sector includes numerous and various applications
such as reprographics, hotstamping film, thermal-transfer ribbons, security films,
release films, adhesive tapes, and labels and decals. Pressure-sensitive labels and
thermal-transfer ribbons have been one of the most successful applications during the
last 5– 10 years. Pressure-sensitive labels are self-adhesive and do not require fasteners,
glue, or heat to stick. These labels find increasing application in the beverage, beauty,
and household industries because of their no-label look, as well in the automotive and
appliance industries because of their durability. Thermal-transfer ribbons are used for
bar coding in supermarkets. Some of these applications require the use of special-grade
thick BOPET film, with thickness ranging from 36 to 125 microns.

The electrical/electronic end-use market includes traditional applications such as

photoresists, motor and generator insulation, wire and cable wrap, membrane switches,
capacitors, and flexible printed circuits, as well as relatively new applications such as
flat panel displays (FPDs) and solar cells. Many of these applications use thick BOPET
film. In flat panel displays, polyester film can be used for parts (as diffusion,
antireflection, prism, and white film) or in production processes as a release and
protection film. In solar cells, polyester film is used in the construction of back sheets.
South Korea, China, Japan, and Taiwan together account for almost all of this
consumption.

China is continuing to invest in the production of optical-grade films in order to

decrease its dependency on imported material. Demand for FPD film is growing quite
fast, at an estimated average annual rate of 6–7%. In Other Asia, especially in Japan,
demand is slowing. Factors inhibiting the growth include a display technology shift
from LCD to OLED, which does not require PET film, as well as the replacement of
PET film with cellulose triacetate film or acrylic film for polarizing plate protection. On
the other side, there is a trend toward larger TVs, needing larger film. Therefore,
demand in Japan and Other Asia has remained fairly stable during the last three years.

Consumption of polyester film in traditional end-use markets such as magnetic media

and photographic films has dramatically declined during the last few years because of
the new competing digital technologies. In developed economies such as Europe, the
United States, and Japan, consumption of polyester film for magnetic media
applications has become insignificant.

It is expected that global consumption of BOPET film will continue to increase, but at a
slower pace. For the next few years, the market is expected to remain oversupplied

Polyester Polyols
Chemical Economics Handbook
Published May 2019

Of the polyurethane raw material products industries, the polyester polyol industry is
the least concentrated; the others, polyether polyols and isocyanates, are much more
concentrated. The polyester polyol industry also tends to have the least sophisticated
manufacturing processes and the lowest capital costs. Polyester polyols are
manufactured from aliphatic diacids (or esters), aromatic diacids (or esters or
anhydrides), or caprolactone. The simplest polyester polyols are prepared by the
reaction of a diacid, diester, or caprolactone with a glycol or a polyhydric alcohol;
however, occasionally a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic acids is used. The desired
reaction is the production of high percentages of hydroxyl-terminated polyesters. The
range of molecular weights depends on the relative amounts of the glycol and acids, the
reaction conditions, and the desired end use (flexible/rigid foam or CASE).

The following chart presents world consumption of polyester polyols:

The most dynamic markets for polyester polyols continue to be China, India, and other
Asia Pacific countries; North America and Europe have also shown improved growth.
In terms of end uses, increasing global demand for nonfoam applications, especially for
polyurethane elastomers (often for shoes in China and Other Asia) and artificial leather,
are major growth drivers. Other important markets are polyurethanes/polyisocyanurates
(PUR or PU/PIR) insulation foam, spurring demand for aromatic polyester polyols in
the most developed industrial countries of North America and northwestern Europe, as
well as in China because of its move to build more energy-efficient buildings.

The largest market for polyester polyols is in a variety of nonfoam applications,

accounting for more than 60% of global consumption. The largest nonfoam sector is in
polyurethane elastomers, including shoe sole materials (the largest market in China).
China is the largest polyester polyols player and consumer in the world, but only for
aliphatic polyester polyols; the Chinese market for aromatic polyester polyols is still
small.

Before the economic crisis impacted the chemical industry in the fourth quarter of 2008,
the market for polyester polyols expanded rapidly between 2005 and 2008. In 2010,
essentially all polyester polyol markets had a strong recovery. Since 2011, the global
growth for polyester polyols has been uneven, with only mild-to-low growth in Western
Europe, the United States, and Japan, and the greatest growth in China (5–6%), India,
and Other Asia (highest growth rates but on smaller volumes).
The seven largest producers account for nearly half of the total polyester polyols
production capacity (in comparison, the four largest polyether polyols producers own
33% of global capacity). Currently, many large global producers operate in China—
Huafeng Group, Stepan, Huada Chemical Group, BASF, and Xuchuan Chemical
(Suzhou) Company; these companies produce polyurethane systems for shoe soles and
artificial leather. Other major producers include COIM, INVISTA, and Covestro, with
major operations in Europe and the Americas.

In the last several years, the industry has offered a wider range of sustainable options for
polyurethane manufacturers. Sustainable polyester polyols are the most viable option of
all the polyurethane raw materials. Sustainable polyester polyols include products
produced from bio-based raw materials and from recycled sources.

Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics (including PET bottles) may be

converted into polyester polyols with recycled content (varies but generally 18% and
higher). Huntsman (aromatic), INVISTA (aliphatic, minimum of 50% recycled content),
Resinate Materials Group (aromatic; recycled PET and polycarbonate, recycled content
50–74% plus renewable content up to a combined 100%), and Petopur are producers
that incorporate recycled content into its polyester polyols. The Huntsman process
includes the transesterification of PET from preconsumer and postconsumer sources.

Special risk factors for further market development include the following:

 Geopolitical risks, such as unrest in the Middle East and Africa.

 The possible decline in oil prices caused by the slowdown in the world economy
will hurt oil-exporting countries, including the Middle East, Libya, Venezuela,
and Russia.
 The debt crisis of several European countries as well as the effects of Brexit.
 The slowing of China’s economy and a slowdown in many of its industrial and
construction sectors; China represents the largest share of the global market

 Polyester Resins, Unsaturated

 Chemical Economics Handbook
 Published December 2019
 Global consumption of unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) will continue to grow
at a healthy average annual growth rate during 2018-24; UPR for
fiber.reinforced plastics (FRP) accounted for nearly two-thirds of total
consumption. Fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) are used in construction, marine,
automotive, consumer goods, and industrial products.
 One of the characteristics of the UPR industry is that a small number of UPR
producers control a large market share in North America, Europe, and Japan. On
the other hand, many large producers operate in China, with 40-50 companies
producing UPR at more than 70 sites.
 In 2018, the largest consuming region was Asia, followed by Europe and North
America; Mainland China was the largest consuming region.
 The major driver of consumption for UPR is the construction industry, in which
UPR is used mainly for bathroom components and fixtures, corrosion-resistant
tanks, pipes and ducts, cultured marble, and panels for floor and walls.
 The following pie chart shows world consumption of unsaturated polyester
resins:
 
 This report provides an excellent insight into the global market for UPR, with a
detailed breakdown of end uses of UPR for both FRP and non.FPR.
 For more detailed information, see the table of contents, shown below.
 IHS Markit’s Chemical Economics Handbook - Polyester Resins,
Unsaturated is the comprehensive and trusted guide for anyone seeking
information on this industry. This latest report details global and regional
information, including
