News

Plastics and textiles

As a supplier of polymers for the manufacture of synthetic fibers, Total Petrochemicals is helping the textiles industry respond to changing market needs.

Total Petrochemicals plays a direct role in the textile production chain by developing and manufacturing various grades of polypropylene.

These products are mainly intended for use in non-woven textiles (i.e. mats or sheets made by fiber entanglement).

Total Petrochemicals adapts its polymers to suit the various non-woven applications as well as the different techniques used by converters, works closely with converters and is even planning joint developments in the medium and long term. Launching new products only pays off if they bring added value to our customers.

For example,Total Petrochemicals has developed new metallocene grades that allow converters to boost the productivity of their machines while also enhancing the mechanical resistance and appearance of their non-wovens.



Each application has different requirements...

The hygiene market (diapers etc.) places great emphasis on lightness, while makers of body-care wipes focus on hydrophilicity (the ability to retain aqueous lotion) and resistance to microbes and bacteria.



The medical segment, a major outlet for disposable synthetic items (masks, slippers, etc.) specifically demands textiles that act as a barrier to liquids, particles, body fluids, etc.

And agriculture offers niche segments for crop-protection sheets that will stretch to accommodate growing plants but without puncturing.

To be able to meet these specific needs more closely, Total Petrochemicals researchers are focusing on the development of molecular structures combining several polymers so as to benefit from all their respective properties.

Did you know?

> Of all the polymers used to manufacture synthetic fibers, polypropylene is the only one with a density lower than water (0.9). This is a big plus in a market demanding ever-lighter textiles.

> The lines that manufacture gasoline and polyester clothes use the same raw material: reformate produced by conversion of naphtha, which is itself obtained by distilling crude oil.


Plastic textiles in figures

In 2006, world textile production came to about 65 million metric tons and output is growing at about 4% per year.
Synthetic fibers account for 55% of the market, with four families of products:

- nylon and acrylic fibers (7 million metric tons between them),

- polyester fibers (27 million tons, more than cotton production),

- polypropylene (5 million tons), used in specialty textiles and also in more than half the non-wovens produced worldwide.