Question

Why are Dacron and Mylar referred to as polyesters?

Answer 1

Dacron is a trade name for polyethylene terephthalate, which is a polyester - it contains R(C=O)OR linkages.

polymers :

polymers chemically composed of at least 85% by weight of an ester and a dihydric alcohol and a terephthalic acid”.

Polyester also refers to the various polymers in which the backbones are formed by the “esterification condensation

of polyfunctional alcohols and acids”.

Saturated polyesters refer to that family of polyesters in which the polyester backbones are saturated. They are thus not as reactive as unsaturated polyesters. They consist of low molecular weight liquids used as plasticizers and as reactants in forming urethane polymers, and linear, high molecular weight thermoplastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (Dacron and Mylar).