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Polyester Brush Fibers & Bristles

Fibers made with polybutylene terephthalate polyester (PBT) can be a good substitute for Nylon in some applications.  It has better abrasion resistance than polypropylene, but not quite that of nylon.  It has excellent bend recovery, excellent solvent resistance, and excellent oxidation resistance at higher temperatures.  It has very good resistance to sunlight. 

Polyester Fiber Brushes

The properties of polyester do not change significantly between wet and dry applications because it does not absorb much water, making it ideal for many wet applications.  It is however attacked by strong alkalis such as concentrated solutions of sodium hydroxide (lye or caustic soda), calcium hydroxide (lime, mortar), ammonia, trisodium phosphate, or sodium carbonate.

Fiber Property Comparisons

Filament Melting Point (*F) Tensile Modulus (kpsi) Tensile Strength (kpsi) Flicking Action % Bend Recovery Relative Abrasion Resistance
Nylon 6 410 480 53 Excellent 97 Excellent
Nylon 6.6 495 520 48 Excellent 97 Excellent
Nylon 6.12           410 480 42 Excellent 93 Excellent
Polypropylene 320 740 53 Good 75 Fair
Polyester 430 445 31 Excellent 92 Good

The above compares in a general way some of the properties of the synthetic filaments we most commonly use to aid in distinguishing between them when selecting the filament best suited for a particular application.