In October 2017 DuraFiber Technologies, previously Performance Fibers, once a leading US supplier of high-tenacity polyester fibers, engineered fabrics, sewing threads and advanced materials, closed its three facilities in the United States
DuraFiber produced a number of widely used types of polyester in the United States and the different types are still referenced by companies searching for quality alternatives today. Many of the available alternatives happen to have more consistent properties with tighter tolerances but this ultimately depends on the type of alternative polyester.
For example, some of the most common DuraFiber polyesters that were previously used for hose reinforcement were DuraFibers Type 800, Type 1W70 which were the two of the most popular high tenacity polyesters they produced in the US and there are a number of other comparable and more consistent options available today.
The tenacity and hot air shrinkage values (HAS %) of the available alternatives mostly fall in the same range as the DuraFiber products, although there may be some minor differences with the elongation at break. In most cases, there are non-domestic alternatives available at a lower cost.
The following chart lists continuous HT polyester material types that can be drop-in replacements for US made DuraFiber yarns.
DuraFiber Polyester Types |
Alternatives |
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DuraFiber Type |
Property |
Denier Range |
Tenacity (g/d) |
Elongation @ Break (%) |
HAS (%) 177⁰C/1min/0.05g/d |
Denier |
E @ B (%) |
Type 1W70 |
HT |
220 - 3000 |
8.5 - 9.4 |
12.6 - 18.4 |
4.8 - 7.7 |
250 - 6000 |
12.0 - 16.0 |
Type 1W73 AA |
HT |
1000 - 3000 |
8.9 - 9.4 |
12.6 - 16.4 |
5.3 - 7.7 |
500 - 6000 |
12.0 - 16.0 |
Type 800 |
HT |
1000 - 1300 |
8.4 - 9.4 |
10.30 - 15.70 |
10.3 - 15.60 |
250 - 6000 |
12.0 - 16.0 |
Type 785 |
HT |
420 - 3000 |
8.6 - 9.1 |
11.2 - 16.7 |
9.2 - 16.2 |
250 - 6000 |
12.0 - 16.0 |
Type 786 |
HT / MS |
890 / 1050 |
8.7 – 9.0 |
18.6 - 22.4 |
4.3 - 6.0 |
750 - 4000 |
12.0 - 22.0 |
Type 784 |
HT / MS |
500 - 1300 |
7.6 – 8.3 |
24.1 - 27.4 |
2.6 - 4.2 |
500 - 3000 |
11.5 - 25.0 |
Type 787 |
HT / LS |
220 - 1500 |
7.6 – 8.3 |
23.6 - 28.7 |
2.0 - 4.2 |
500 - 3000 |
16.0 - 20.0 |
Type 1Y86 |
HT / LS |
220 - 2000 |
7.9 - 8.3 |
21.6 - 24.4 |
1.8 - 3.2 |
500 - 3000 |
11.5 - 25.0 |
Type 1Y87 |
HT / SLS |
220 - 2000 |
7.7 - 8.0 |
23.4 - 26.4 |
0.7 - 2.3 |
500 - 3000 |
11.0 - 28.0 |
Type 1W72 |
HT / SLS |
220 - 3000 |
8.2 - 8.6 |
18.6 - 22.4 |
1.0 - 2.4 |
500 - 3000 |
11.0 - 28.0 |
Type 1W74 AA |
HT / SLS |
1000 - 3000 |
8.2 - 8.6 |
18.6 - 21.4 |
1.0 - 2.4 |
500 - 3000 |
11.0 - 28.0 |
Type 799 |
HT / SLS |
1010 |
7.7 – 7.9 |
11.2 - 14.0 |
2.2 - 3.4 |
500 - 3000 |
11.0 - 28.0 |
Type HMLS (DSP) |
HT / HMLS |
1000 - 3000 |
7.7 - 8.0 |
8.6 - 12.4 |
4.0 - 5.0 |
1000 - 3000 |
10.5 - 14.5 |
* MS (Mid Shrink Polyester)
* LS (Low Shrink Polyester)
* SLS (Super Low Shrink Polyester)
* HMLS (High Modulus Low Shrink Polyester)
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