Polyester Staple Fiber (PSF): The backbone of the textile industry

In the modern textile industry, polyester staple fiber (PSF) has become one of the indispensable and important raw materials due to its excellent performance and wide application. Whether it is clothing fabrics, home textile products or industrial nonwovens, PSF plays a key role.

What is polyester staple fiber (PSF)?
Polyester staple fiber is a kind of artificial synthetic fiber made by melt spinning, stretching and cutting of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Its length is usually between 38mm and 76mm, and its appearance is similar to natural cotton. According to the source of raw materials, PSF can be divided into two categories: virgin PSF and recycled PSF:

Virgin PSF: Based on petrochemical raw materials (such as PTA and MEG), it is directly spun after polymerization, with stable quality and widely used in high-end textile fabrics.

Recycled PSF: Made from waste PET bottle flakes or polyester scraps, it is washed, melted and reprocessed. It conforms to the concept of environmental protection and is a representative product of the circular economy.

Main technical parameters and performance advantages of PSF
In practical applications, the technical indicators of PSF directly affect the quality and use of finished products. Common parameters include:

Linear density (denier): Common specifications include 1.2D, 1.4D, 3D, 7D, 15D, etc. The smaller the D value, the finer the fiber.

Length (mm): Such as 38mm, 51mm, 64mm, etc., choose the matching length according to different spinning equipment.

Silicone oil treatment: It is divided into two types: silicone and non-silicone. Silicone PSF is suitable for hollow filling and short fiber knitting, while non-silicone is used for conventional spinning.

Its core advantages include:

High strength and good elasticity: The fiber structure is stable, not easy to break, and has good resilience.

Strong wear resistance and light resistance: Strong UV resistance, suitable for outdoor product manufacturing.

Adjustable hydrophilicity: Hydrophilicity can be increased through post-treatment, suitable for sanitary and filtration non-woven fabrics.

Relatively low cost: Especially recycled PSF, the cost control advantage is obvious and has good economic benefits.

Wide application areas, across multiple industries
PSF applications cover almost the entire textile and related downstream industries:

1. Clothing textiles
Blended yarns with PSF as raw material are very common in T/C (polyester cotton) and T/R (polyester viscose) fabrics, suitable for shirts, suits, knitted T-shirts, etc.

2. Home textiles
PSF is widely used as a filling material for pillow cores, quilts, and sofa cushions, especially hollow silicon PSF, which feels fluffy and soft, and is the preferred alternative to down.

3. Industrial fabrics
Needle felt, filter cloth, geotextile and other non-woven fabric materials use low melting point PSF or recycled PSF in large quantities, taking into account performance and environmental protection.

4. Automotive interiors
PSF is used for filling and laminating of car seats, door panel linings, and sound insulation cotton to improve comfort and sound insulation effects.

Recycled PSF: The core force to promote green manufacturing
Against the background of "carbon neutrality" and "circular economy", recycled PSF is developing rapidly and has become a key investment direction for the industry. Environmentally friendly staple fibers made from recycled PET bottles can reduce carbon emissions by about 1.5 tons per ton produced and save nearly 90% of energy consumption.

As the world's largest producer of recycled polyester fibers, China has a mature industrial chain and strong market demand. Many companies have established an integrated green production system from bottle flake recycling, cleaning to fiber molding. Polyester staple fiber PSF is not just a traditional textile raw material, it is radiating new vitality in multiple dimensions such as environmental protection, functionalization, and high-end applications.