In the field of textiles and functional materials, "microfiber" and "polyester" are often mistaken for the same concept, and this misunderstanding is common in terminal sales and purchasing decisions. But as a key link in the material supply chain, suppliers have the responsibility to clearly identify the essential difference between the two - not only to accurately deliver products, but also to occupy the right to speak in high-end application scenarios.
Polyester and microfiber are not the same concept at all. Many people think that "microfiber = polyester", which is actually a typical classification error.
1. Polyester (polyester fiber): It is a chemical synthetic fiber, the raw material is a petroleum derivative, and its scientific name is "polyethylene terephthalate" (PET). It is characterized by high strength, wrinkle resistance, and corrosion resistance, accounting for more than 70% of the global synthetic fiber production (data source: International Man-Made Fiber Association 2023 report).
2. Ultrafine fiber: refers to a fiber with a single filament fineness of less than 0.3 dtex (about 5 microns in diameter), which can be made of a variety of materials such as polyester, nylon, viscose, and natural fibers. It is equivalent to 1/20 of the thickness of a hair. It can be made of polyester, nylon, or even natural fibers, and the core standard is "fineness".
Why is it easy to confuse?
1. Misleading commercial propaganda: 90% of ultrafine fiber products on the market (such as cleaning cloths and sportswear) are indeed made of polyester because polyester is low-cost and easy to process. But merchants often directly label "ultrafine fiber" without mentioning the material.
2. Performance overlap: Ultrafine polyester fiber has a large surface area and is 10 times more absorbent than ordinary polyester (test standard: AATCC 79), which makes consumers mistakenly believe that "ultrafine = polyester characteristics".
How to accurately distinguish and communicate in the supply chain?
✅ Product label:
Providing raw materials + fiber fineness double label is the basic principle of professional supply, for example:
"80% ultra-fine polyester (0.2 dpf) + 20% nylon"
"100% ultra-fine polyester fiber, fiber fineness 0.1 dtex"
✅ Sample touch distinction:
Ordinary polyester: slightly rough, with a certain plastic feel
Ultra-fine fiber: obviously soft, smooth to the touch, delicate as silk
✅ Technical comparison:
Water absorption test (such as AATCC 79 standard)
Single fiber fineness test (such as TEX/dtex equipment analysis
