What is the difference between fleece and polyester?

Synthetic fabrics firmly entered the life of modern man. Thermal insulation in winter clothes, tracksuits, underwear, chic curtains and soft rugs - all this and much more are now made from artificial materials.

Buy fleece - get polyester? It often happens that picking up a soft, new thing, we know for sure - this is fleece. But the label says - 100% polyester. And this discrepancy causes misunderstanding. It is worthwhile to close the issue with 100% polyester fleece, that is, it will not work to determine the difference since the raw materials are almost identical. But it is worth saying that it is a secondary raw material after polyester.

Polyester (polyester) - synthetics, reminiscent of the appearance of wool, and tactile sensations - cotton. In addition to fabrics, it is used as a filler in toys, furniture, pillows and blankets. It is made from petroleum products.

Polyester and fleece have a difference from natural fabrics:

  • strong and durable;
  • resistant to physical influences;
  • not afraid of insects;
  • light weight;
  • easy to care for;
  • easy to wash and dry quickly, since polyester threads do not accumulate liquid in themselves;
  • do not absorb odors;
  • more affordable.

When polyester is mixed with other fabrics, raw materials with new qualities come out:

He in a mixture with polyamide gives the output fabric, characteristics similar to silk. The fibers hold their shape perfectly and repel moisture. It is used when sewing women's underwear. A mixture with elastane or spandex gives a durable, highly stretchable material.

Most often, hosiery, gloves, and tracksuits are made from it. A mixture of cotton is used to make bedding. This compensates for the imperfections of cotton. The fibers are excellently colored, do not fade, practically do not wrinkle. A combination of polyester with viscose is also popular.

Production and types of fleece

A polyester knitted fabric is passed through a machine equipped with rollers with the smallest hooks. These hooks lift tiny loops from the fabric, leaving the base of the canvas intact. It turns out nachos, with a huge number of breathing pores. So we get material called “fleece” for its qualities, which translates from English as “sheepskin”. It was invented in 1979.

Fleece undergoes several mandatory treatments:

  • Anti-peeling - to prevent the formation of spools;
  • Antistatic;
  • Water repellent;
  • Combustion reducing treatment.

Products from this fabric often consist of more than one layer. In the case of a two-layer, the upper part serves as protection against wind and / or snow, and the lower part maintains a comfortable temperature. The most common name for this material is bipolaraflis. A three-layer version, called the “wind block” : two layers of fleece of medium thickness and a special membrane between them.

The main characteristic of this fabric is its wide density range, from 100 to 500 g / m2. Hoodies, warm shirts and similar relatively lightweight things are made of material with a density of up to 200 g / m2. From more dense raw materials, insulation for outerwear or independent products is made.

To summarize. Fleece is a derivative of polyester. Pure polyester is a material with increased strength, lightness and hydrophobicity. It is great for the production of linen, curtains, bedding.

All the positive properties of polyester are inherited by the fleece. In addition, the fabric has an increased ability to retain heat and let air through, which deprives the original material. Such qualities make it an excellent material for the production of tourism, sports and winter outerwear.