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Why must a fibre-forming polymer have a suitable melting point?

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Figure 1: Three common polymer structures. The linear, branched, and network architectures are represented (from top), respectively, by high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and phenol formaldehyde (PF). The chemical structure and molecular structure of highlighted regions are also shown.
man-made fibre Figure 1: Three common polymer structures. The linear, branched, and network architectures are represented (from top), respectively, by high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and phenol formaldehyde (PF). The chemical structure and molecular structure of highlighted regions are also shown.

A fibre-forming polymer must have a suitable melting point to ensure the resulting fibres are practical for their intended use while remaining processable.1

Specifically, the melting point must be high enough so that products made from the fibresā€”such as clothingā€”can withstand standard care processes like ironing or pressing without losing their integrity. Simultaneously, the melting point must fall within a range that allows for melt spinning, the most economical method of production, without causing the polymer to decompose.12

If a polymerā€™s melting point is too high for practical melt spinning or if the material decomposes at those temperatures, it may still be suitable for fibre formation if it can be dissolved and spun from a solution. Conversely, if a polymer has a melting point that is too low, it may be deemed unsuitable for use as a fibre.13