What are the main raw material components of three-dimensional hollow fibers? Why is polyester the most widely used type? ​

1Three dimensional hollow fiberThe main raw material components

The raw materials for three-dimensional hollow fibers are mainly synthetic fiber polymers, with core components concentrated in categories such as polyester, polyamide, polypropylene, etc., including:

Polyester (most mainstream): with polyester (PET, polyethylene terephthalate) as the core, including modified polyester (such as PTT polytrimethylene terephthalate, PBT polybutylene terephthalate), it is currently a widely used raw material system;

Polyamide (nylon): mainly PA6 (polycaprolactam) and PA66 (polyhexamethylenediamine), commonly used in scenarios with high requirements for elasticity and wear resistance;

Polypropylene (PP): Polypropylene resin is used as raw material, focusing on lightweight, low cost, and chemical stability;

Other special raw materials: such as polyethylene (PE), polyurethane (PU), or blended polymers with added functional modifiers (such as antibacterial agents, flame retardants, hydrophilic finishing agents), used to meet the needs of special scenarios (such as medical and outdoor protection).

2、 The core reason why polyester (PET) has become a widely used type

Polyester can occupy the main position in the three-dimensional hollow fiber market, essentially due to its comprehensive advantages in performance, cost, processability, and adaptability, fully matching the core requirements of mainstream application scenarios:

High adaptability between structure and performance: The core value of the three-dimensional hollow structure is "lightweight+rebound+warmth", while the molecular structure of polyester (rigid benzene ring+flexible ester bond) gives it a natural advantage - the hollow ratio can be stably controlled at 20% -40%, which can lock in a large amount of static air and provide warmth far beyond solid fibers; At the same time, it has high crystallinity (about 40% -60%), an elastic recovery rate of over 85%, and is not easily deformed after repeated squeezing, which meets the needs of core applications such as pillows, bedding, and filling cotton.

Excellent physical and chemical stability: Polyester is resistant to acid and alkali, mold, and insect infestations. It is not easily degraded in humid environments (such as southern China) or long-term use, and its service life can reach 5-8 years, far exceeding nylon (easily hydrolyzed) and polypropylene (poor heat resistance); And it has low moisture absorption (with a moisture regain of only 0.4%), is not easy to breed bacteria, is easy to clean and dry quickly, meeting the "easy maintenance" needs of home and textile products.

The processing technology is mature and the cost is controllable: the melting point of polyester (about 255 ℃) is moderate, and it can be mass-produced through the "melt spinning hollow spinning plate stretching shaping three-dimensional curling" process, with high production efficiency (the daily output of a single production line can reach several tons) and a scrap rate of less than 3%; The raw material sources are extensive (petroleum derivatives), with prices only 60% -70% of nylon and 10% -20% of wool, which can meet the cost requirements of large-scale industrial production. At the same time, it can be modified (such as adding masterbatch) to achieve antibacterial, flame-retardant, hydrophilic and other functions, adapting to more scenarios.

Strong compatibility in application scenarios: In addition to the core home textile filling field, polyesterThree dimensional hollow fiberIt can also be used for clothing insulation layer (ski jacket, down jacket liner), car interior (seat filling, soundproof cotton), filter material (air purification filter material), medical supplies (disposable mattress, protective clothing filling), etc. The requirements for fiber fineness (1.5D-15D), hollow ratio, and curl degree in different scenarios can be achieved by adjusting the spinning parameters of polyester, with compatibility far exceeding other raw materials.

The environmental friendliness is gradually improving: the "non degradable" problem of traditional polyester has been improved through technological breakthroughs. Currently, recycled PET bottles (rPET) can be used to produce regenerated three-dimensional hollow fibers, with a recycled material proportion of up to 30% -100%. The performance of regenerated polyester is less than 5% different from that of native polyester, which is in line with the global trend of "carbon neutrality" and further consolidates its application advantages.