Polyesters

Polyesters form by condensation polymerisation between diols and dicarboxylic acids.

Functional group: ester repeat units
Also known as: polyester materials

Overview

Condensation polymers containing repeated ester links.

Polyesters form by condensation polymerisation between diols and dicarboxylic acids.

Identifiers

Functional group: ester repeat units
Also known as: polyester materials

Related compounds

PET
A polyester used in drink bottles and textile fibres.
PBT
A polyester used in toothbrush bristles and moulded keyboard keycaps.
PLA
A lactide-derived polyester used in desktop printing and clear food containers.

Connected reactions

Polyester formation: Dicarboxylic acids → Polyesters
Dicarboxylic acids condense with diols to form polyesters.
Polyester formation co reactant: Diols → Polyesters
Diols condense with dicarboxylic acids to form polyesters.

References

Polyesters: manufacture and usesChemical Industry Education Centre, University of York
Ultradur PBT: chemistry and extrusionBASF
Ingeo technology: sugars, lactic acid, lactide and PLANatureWorks