Polyester

Polyester is a category of polymers that primarily contains the ester functional group in their main chain. Although there are many polyesters, the term "polyester" as a specific material most commonly refers to polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyesters include naturally occurring chemicals, such as in the cutin of plant cuticles, as well as synthetics through step-growth polymerization such as polycarbonate and polybutyrate.

Chemical structure

The ester functional group is the characteristic chemical structure of a polyester type, which is characterized by the R-O-R' formula. The R and R' are the two organic substituents of the carboxylic acid. The esters are formed by condensation reaction from a carboxylic acid and an alcohol.

Types of polyesters

Polyesters can be classified into two types: saturated and unsaturated. Saturated polyesters refer to those that are not reactive, while unsaturated polyesters are those that are reactive due to the presence of carbon-carbon double bonds.

Applications

Polyesters are used in the manufacture of all kinds of products, from clothing and home furnishings to industrial products and packaging. They are also used in the production of plastic bottles, films, tarpaulin, canoes, liquid crystal displays, holograms, filters, dielectric film for capacitors, film insulation for wire and insulating tapes.

Environmental impact

Polyesters are not biodegradable and can persist in the environment for many years. Their production and disposal contribute to environmental pollution. However, some polyesters are recyclable and can be reused to make new products.

See also

• Polyethylene terephthalate
• Polycarbonate
• Polybutyrate

Polyester Resources
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