All Uses Of Synthetic Fibers You Need To Know

By Alex Assoune Oct 21, 2021

You can find synthetic fibers among the world's most used materials in many growing industries. Synthetic fibers can either be fully synthetic or semi-synthetic and have fantastic qualities.

In the fashion industry, synthetic fibers like polyester and nylon make all kinds of garments, knitwear, sportswear, loungewear, nightwear, undergarments, footwear, and accessories.

You can also find synthetic fibers in homeware, furniture, upholstery, home decor, bedding, automotive, agriculture, and many other industrial applications.

Here are different uses of synthetic fibers listed by types and properties with examples and pictures.

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1. Polyester

Polyester is the most popular fiber used in the fashion world for apparel, footwear, and accessories. It makes stylish swimwear and activewear, pants, shirts, blouses, dresses, jackets, coats, and more.

You can also find polyester in home furnishings for bed sheets, mattresses, pillows, cushions, carpets, blankets, upholstery, and furniture. Polyesters make plastic packaging like containers, bottles, films, as well as filters.

Polyester fibers are widely used in industrial applications to make ropes and yarns, fabrics, belts, reinforcements, cushioning, and insulating material.

Dacron is a thermoplastic polymer material and a member of the polyester family. It's a high-performance fiber with high durability, tenacity, consistency, and quality.

Dacron polyester fibers make boat sails, kitesurfing kites, traditional diamond kites, stunt kites, windsurfing sails, hang gliders, and sails for ultralight aircraft.

2. Nylon

Synthetic nylon fibers, also commonly named polyamide, are cheap to produce and have fabulous properties for fashion, especially for tights and stockings.

Synthetic nylon fibers are woven into fabrics to make fleece, circular knits, coats, sweaters, sportswear, swimwear, hosiery, shoes, underwear, and accessories.

Nylon also makes umbrellas, household textiles, rugs, carpets, cooking utensils, outdoor furniture, gun parts, food packaging, and industrial materials.

You can find nylon fibers in fishing nets, tents, ropes, tires, seat belts, sleeping bags, curtains, tennis rackets, parachutes, machine gears, and more.

3. Acrylic

Synthetic acrylic fibers are viable wool replacements. They are popular in knitting as a durable and affordable knitting material for many amateur knitters.

Acrylic fibers make fleece, circular knits, coats, sweaters, sportswear, boots, hats, and socks. You can find acrylic in household textiles, outdoor furniture, and industrial materials.

Acrylic fiber is also applicable in the manufacturing of carbon fiber for industrial applications. Acrylic fibers include acrylic, modacrylic, and other vinyl monomers.

4. Polyurethane

Polyurethane (PU) is an artificial material made of thermoplastic polymer often used in the fashion industry. It's a widely used alternative for animal leather, cruelty-free, and completely synthetic.

You can also find polyurethane as coating, resin, adhesive, foam, or rubber in a wide range of finished goods. Polyurethane fibers have applications in automotive and aerospace.

Polyurethane is a class of polymers produced from a wide range of starting materials, unlike other polymers like polyethylene and polystyrene.

5. Polyethylene

Polyethylene fiber is a common ingredient found in ropes, carpeting, upholstery, bags, packaging, apparel, textiles, wallpapers, draperies, curtains, and cosmetics.

You can also find polyethylene in textile and apparel such as fleece, circular knits, coats, sweaters, sportswear, boots, hats, and socks.

Polyethylene fiber is a material used for household textiles, furniture, and industrial materials. It's the most widely used plastic and makes packaging, stretch wraps, plastic films, containers, bottles, tubes, pipes, and plastic bags.

6. Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a synthetic fiber used in many industrial applications, including the upholstery and apparel industries, in filters, face masks, and performance textiles.

Polypropylene makes packaging, straws, diapers, ropes, tapes, bags, sunglasses, undergarments, sportswear, footwear, military wear, and accessories.

Polypropylene is strong, soft, lightweight, easy to clean, and manufactured from synthetic thermoplastic polymers. It's a popular and widely used synthetic fiber next to polyester, polyethylene, and polyamide.

7. Polystyrene

Polystyrene is one of the most widely used plastics and a common ingredient found in bottles, containers, bags, packaging, apparel, and textiles, in multiple forms such as solid or foam.

Synthetic polystyrene fibers make compact disc cases, housings, frames, kits, cutlery, and more. They are useful for containers, insulation, and blocks in the automobile industry.

Polystyrene makes a wide range of consumer goods, such as clothing, food containers, building insulation material, cushioning, and packaging for shipping.

Polystyrene fibers also have applications for electronics, boats, motorcycles, toys, food trays, cartons, and many other consumer products.

8. Neoprene

Neoprene is a popular and widely used synthetic rubber to make waterproof clothes, swimwear, wetsuits, and accessories. It's well-known for its thermal insulation properties.

Neoprene properties make it an excellent choice for fashion, water sports, outdoor equipment, protective clothing, medicine, orthopedics, and industrial products.

Most wetsuits for scuba diving, jet-skiing, or surfing contain neoprene. Neoprene fibers also make home accessories, pads, cases, sleeves, household textiles, bicycle seats, car seats, upholstery, outdoor furniture, packaging, and industrial materials.

9. Semi-synthetic cellulosic fibers

Semi-synthetic cellulosic fibers, like viscose rayon, acetate, modal, lyocell, and cupro, are versatile. They are becoming increasingly popular and slowly progressively replacing fully synthetic fabrics.

In the fashion industry, cellulosic fibers make knitwear, sportswear, hats, suits, blouses, dresses, shirts, coats, sweaters, pajamas, undergarments, and more.

You can find semi-synthetics in homeware, furniture, upholstery, carpets, bathrobes, towels, drapes, bed sheets, curtains, and home decor. Many beddings, household textiles, and upholstered furniture contain cellulosic fibers.

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About the Author: Alex Assoune

Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.

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