John Rex Whinfield invented terylene, a synthetic polyester fiber that is equal to or surpasses nylon in toughness and resilience, and has become used universally as a textile fiber. The invention of terylene, also known as Dacron, was the culmination of many years of study and reasoning about the molecular structure and physical and chemical properties of polymers. Whinfield's major inventive work on terylene was carried out aside from his primary research in the small laboratory of a company that had little or no interest in research on fibers. He spent his life working as an industrial research chemist and eventually became director of the fibers division of Imperial Chemical Industries. Recognition for his work came in the later years of his life.. He found that Polyethylene terephthalate forms the basis for Terylene Terelene is the brand name for polyester which is a polymer which is a chain of repeating units where the individual units are held together by ester linkages.

PRODUCTION The polymer is made by heating teraphthalic acid with excess of ethylene glycol ( Both of high priority) in an atmosphere of nitrogen initially at atmospheric pressure. A catalyst like hydrochloric acid speeds up the reaction. The resulting low molecular weight ethylene glycol teraphthalate is then heated at 280 deg C for 30 minutes at atmospheric pressure and then for 10 hours under vacuum. The excess of ethylene glycol is distilled off. the ester can polymerize now to form a product of high molecular weight. The resulting polymer is hard and almost white substance, melting at 256 deg C and has a molecular weight of Filaments are prepared from this.

SPINNING The polymer is extruded in the form of a ribbon. This ribbon is then converted into chips. The wet chips are dried and fed through a hopper, ready for melting. This molten polymer is then extruded under high pressure through spinnerettes down to cylinder. Each spinnerette contains 24 or so holes. A spinning finish is applied at this stage as a lubricant and an antistatic agent. The undrawn yarn is then wound onto cylinders. This yarn goes to the drawing zone, where draw twist machines draw it to about four times their original length. This is hot drawn in contrast to cold drawing of nylon filaments. For the production of staple fibres, the filaments are first brought together to from a thick tow. These are distributed in large cans. The tow is drawn to get correct strength. Then it is passed through a crimping machines, the crimps being stabilized by heating in ovens. It is then cut into specified lengths and baled ready for dispatch.

They are strong and elastic in nature. They absorb very little water and hence dry quickly. They are stable at high temperatures. They are insoluble in most organic solvents, and resistant to acid and cold alkalies. They are crease resistant hence require very less ironing. They are resistant to attack of moths and fungi. They are resistant to friction (abrasion).