20+ Differences between Polyester and Rayon (Explained)

Polyester and Rayon are one of the most used fabrics, yet they are most often confused with one another. Polyester and Rayon seem like synonymous fabrics and, thus, are used interchangeably many times.

But it does not change the fact that both fabrics have numerous differences. Polyester is a synthetic fabric that is manufactured through Petroleum. Rayon, on the other hand, is a partially synthetic fabric manufactured through artificial silk.

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Key Differences –

Polyester:

1. A synthetic fabric that is made with the help of Petroleum is known as Polyester. Being a synthetic fiber, it is cheaper than the Rayon fabric. 
2. Polyester fabric has the ability to last long. 
3. It is rough and does not soak moisture. 
4. Since it does not soak any moisture, it is better for cold weather. 
5. One does not have to worry about Polyester getting shrunk after washing. 

Rayon:

1. A partial synthetic fabric made with the help of regenerative processes is known as Rayon.
2. It is more expensive than Polyester fabric. 
3. Rayon fabric does not last long. 
4. It is smooth and has no problem absorbing moisture. 
5. Since it absorbs moisture, it is better for hot weather. 
6. Shrinking of fabric is a major problem associated with Rayon fiber. 

Comparison Between Polyester And Rayon

Parameter	Polyester	Rayon
Type	It comes into the class of synthetic fibers.	It comes into the class of partial synthetic fibers.
Made from	Largely, petroleum is used in the production of Polyester.	Raw materials such as plant matter are widely used in the production of Rayon.
Texture	It has a very rough texture.	It has a very smooth texture.
Durability	Comparatively, it lasts longer than the Rayon fabric.	Comparatively, it is low in durability than Polyester fabric.
Biodegradability	It is considered a non – biodegradable material.	It is considered a biodegradable material.
Soaking Capacity	It does not have any capacity to soak moisture and sweat.	It is known for its marvelous soaking capacity.
Skin Breathability	It makes it hard for the skin to breathe.	It is easy for the skin to breathe when covered under Rayon fabric.
Suitable climate	Due to its minimal soaking capacity, it is recommended to use it during the winter seasons.	Due to its soft texture and high soaking capacity can be worn anytime, especially in hot, humid conditions.
Price	Comparatively, it is cheaper than the Rayon fabric.	Comparatively, it is more expensive than Polyester fabric.
Shrinkage & Wrinkling	One of the best parts about Polyester fabric is that it does not get shrunk or wrinkled no matter how often it is washed.	The major problem associated with the Rayon fabric is its ability to shrink and wrinkle every time it is washed.
Cleaning	It is very easy to clean Polyester; it can be casually washed with no extra measures.	Cleaning Rayon can be a little hectic as washing Rayon makes it gets shrink, and to maintain its shape, it demands dry cleaning.
Stretchability	It has a very good stretch.	It has little to no stretch.
Dying	In case anyone wants to dye their Polyester fabric, one can do so without any problems.	If anyone wants to dye their Rayon fabric, it is extremely difficult to make that happen.
Kinds	PET fiber, PCDT Polyester, and Plant Based Polyester are the main subtypes of Polyester fabric.	Varicose Rayon (Regular Rayon), Modal Rayon (High Wet Modulus Rayon), and Lyocell Rayon are the main subtypes of Rayon fabric.
Uses	While clothing remains the most used sector of Polyester fabric, it is also used in other areas such as Automobile Tyres, Sportswear & related instruments, Furniture, areas that require Cushioning, Seat Belts, and Plastic Bottles, etc.	Just like Polyester, Rayon is also broadly used in the Clothing Industry. Still, it is also used in manufacturing Home Textile industry, Tapes, Surgical Masks, Scrubs, and Sponges.

Major Differences Between Polyester And Rayon

What exactly is Polyester?

Polyester is largely used in the fashion industry because of its phenomenal properties. It can last long; it is cheap, very easy to dye, does not get shrunk, and maintains its figure.

Unfortunately, its’ inability to absorb moisture, rough texture and inability to wear it in summer become the major drawbacks of this fabric. But that still does not stop it from being widely used worldwide. 

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Features of Polyester fabric –

1. It is a synthetic fiber. 
2. It is very cheap. 
3. It has a rough texture. 
4. It can not absorb any moisture. 
5. It is very easy to dye Polyester. 
6. It does not get shrink or wrinkle easily. 
7. It can not be worn in hot weather and is good for cold weather. 
8. It is difficult for the skin to breathe when covered in Polyester fabric. 
9. It lasts long. 
10. It is non – biodegradable material. 

What exactly is Rayon?

Rayon is a partially synthetic fiber manufactured with the help of regenerative processes. It is known for its resemblance to silk. Thus, it is even called Artificial Silk. Just like Polyester, Rayon is also a widely used fabric.

It absorbs moisture well; thus, it is easy to wear during summer, has a smooth texture, is very easy to drape, and makes it easier for the skin to breathe. But, it is comparatively expensive, does get wrinkled & shrunk, does not last long, and is impossible to dye, and all these accounts for its major drawbacks. 

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Features of Rayon Fabric –

1. It is a partial synthetic fiber. 
2. It is more expensive than Polyester and cheaper than real silk. 
3. It has a smooth texture. 
4. It has the ability to soak all the moisture. 
5. It is almost impossible to dye Rayon. 
6. Rayon is known for its easy-to-get-shrink nature. 
7. Due to its ability to soak moisture, it can be easily worn in hot, humid weather. 
8. It is easier for the skin to breathe when covered in Rayon fabric. 
9. It has low to moderate durability. 
10. Rayon is a biodegradable material. 

The Contrast Between Polyester And Rayon 

Origin of the word

• Polyester – The word Polyester originated from two chemical terms, “Polymer” and “Ester,” which means “having many parts” and “chemical compound,” respectively. 

• Rayon – The word Rayon originated from the French word “Rayon,” which means “beam of light,” which originated from another French word, “Ray,” which means “see a ray.” 

Meaning

• Polyester – A cheaper synthetic fiber widely used in the clothing industry. 

• Rayon – A partially synthetic fiber mimicking silk and widely used. 

Made from

• Polyester -Polyester is made with the help of Petroleum. 

• Rayon – Rayon is made with the help of regenerative processes. 

Biodegradable/ Non-Biodegradable

• Polyester – Polyester is more of a Non – Biodegradable material. 

• Rayon – Rayon is more of a Biodegradable material. 

Type

• Polyester – Polyester is a completely synthetic fabric. 

• Rayon – Rayon is partially a synthetic fabric. 

Kinds

• Polyester – Polyester can be broadly classified into three main categories: Ethylene Polyester, PCDT Polyester, and Plant Based Polyester. 

• Rayon – Rayon can be broadly classified into three main categories: Viscose Rayon, Modal Rayon, and Lyocell Fabric. 

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Kinds of polyester fabric

1. Ethylene Polyester – This is the most common type of Polyester, which is also known as polyethylene terephthalate or just PET fiber. It has the largest composition of ethylene which is a part of Petroleum. 
2. PCDT Polyester – PCDT stands for poly-1, 4-cyclohexylene-demethylene terephthalate. This type of Polyester is extremely similar to PET fiber but lasts much longer than PET fiber. 
3. Plant-Based Polyester – This type of Polyester is a more sustainable method than the other types of Polyester. It uses sugar cane in the process of making Polyester. This method was first used in Japan. 

Kinds of Rayon fabric

1. Viscose Rayon – This is Rayon’s most common and widely used subtype. It is used with natural raw materials like wood and mimics real silk. Viscose Rayan is also known as Regular Rayon. 
2. Modal Rayon – Modal Rayon is another subtype of Rayon fabric that is also widely used but is more expensive than Viscose Rayon. It is largely made up with the help of plant cellulose. It is also known as High Wet Modulus Rayon. 
3. Lyocell Fabric – Lyocell Fabric is the most sustainable and possibly the best type of Rayon fabric. It is known for its high durability, eco-friendly nature, comfiness, and smoothness. 

Affordability

• Polyester – Polyester is comparatively a cheaper fabric than Rayon. 

• Rayon – Rayon is comparatively an expensive fabric than Polyester. 

Texture

• Polyester – Polyester has a rough texture. 

• Rayon – Rayon has a smooth texture. 

Durability

• Polyester – Polyester is a highly durable material meaning it lasts very long. 

• Rayon – Rayon is comparatively a lesser durable material. 

Soaking capacity

• Polyester – Soaking moisture is not Polyester’s thing. 

• Rayon – Rayon is very great when it comes to soaking moisture. 

Suitable weather

• Polyester – Since it can not soak any moisture, it can not be worn in a hot, humid climate. It is easier to wear Polyester during colder seasons. 

• Rayon – Since it is great in soaking moisture, it is pretty easy to wear Rayon in a hot, humid climate. 

Shrinkage

• Polyester – One of the best things about Polyester is its inability to get shrunk. 

• Rayon – One of the major drawbacks of Rayon is its ability to get shrunk. 

Dying

• Polyester – Polyester is very easy to dye Polyester. 

• Rayon – Rayon is very difficult to dye Rayon. 

Skin breathing

• Polyester – Polyester makes it very hard for the skin to breathe because of its inability to absorb moisture and its rough texture. 

• Rayon – Rayon makes it very easy for the skin to breathe because it soaks moisture and has a smooth texture. 

Stretchability

• Polyester – Polyester is a highly stretchable fabric. 

• Rayon – Rayon has no stretch. 

Cleaning

• Polyester – To clean the fabric, normal machine washing is enough for Polyester. 

• Rayon – Cleaning Rayon generally requires dry cleaning. 

Uses

• Polyester – While clothing remains the most used sector of Polyester fabric, it is also used in other areas such as Automobile Tyres, Sportswear & related instruments, Furniture, areas that require Cushioning, and Seat Belts, and Plastic Bottles, etc. 

• Rayon – Just like Polyester, Rayon is also broadly used in the Clothing Industry. Still, along with that, it is also used in the manufacturing of the Home Textiles industry, Tapes, Surgical Masks, Scrubs, and Sponges. 

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Uses of Polyester and Rayon –

Polyester –

• Clothing Industry
• Sports Industry
• Automobile Industry
• Home Furnishing Industry
• Plastic Bottle Manufacturing. 

Rayon –

• Clothing Industry
• Home Textile Industry
• Healthcare Industry
• Kitchen Hardware Industry

CONCLUSION

Polyester and Rayon are the two widely used fabrics in today’s world. Both fabrics have phenomenal features and are largely used in the Clothing Industry. But unfortunately, both fabrics are often confused with one another due to their similarities. Polyester and Rayon are similar yet different.

Polyester comes into the class of synthetic fiber, having a rough texture. Rayon, on the other hand, is a partial synthetic fiber having a smooth texture. There are areas where Polyester has the edge over Rayon, and Rayan has the edge over Polyester, and that does not change the fact that both fabrics are amazing and used in many sectors. 

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