History
Italy began producing olefin fibers in 1957. The United States began producing olefin in 1960. Depending upon its chemical structure, olefin may be called polyethylene or polypropylene. It is also referred to as P2 for short.

Production
Olefin is produced in much the same way as polyester and nylon. The chemicals used to make olefin are melted and fed through a spinneret head (similar to a large showerhead) where it then forms a long fiber. The fiber then solidifies by some cooling process. Variations and additives used during the manufacturing process of fibers can alter the characteristics and end uses of the fibers tremendously.

Characteristics

• Aesthetics – The luster and texture of olefin can be modified to fit the end use. It is usually manufactured with a smooth texture and medium luster.
• Color – Because olefin is usually solution dyed (colorants added during fiber production), a wide range of vivid colors are available. The selection of colors for solution dyed olefin yarns is larger than any other fiber.
• Olefin tends to have a waxy hand; however, the fibers can be modified to have a more attractive hand for apparel and home furnishings uses.
• Good abrasion resistance
• Dries quickly and carries moisture away from the skin Resistant to degradation by chemicals, perspiration, mildew and weather
• Stain resistant – Olefin is not affected by most chemicals; consequently, it is not easily soiled or stained.
• Excellent strength – The strength of olefin can be modified to fit the end use.
• Sunlight – Olefin is affected by sunlight; however, stabilizers are added during processing to correct this problem.
• Colorfast – Olefin holds its bright colors well and is resistant to fading. Carpets made of olefin have been proven to have fade resistant properties of almost three times the industry standard.
• Comfortable
• Lightweight – The low density of olefin makes it possible to manufacture lightweight products that are highly durable. Olefin is the lightest textile fiber.
• Low manufacturing costs – Olefin’s low cost makes it highly competitive with other fibers that have similar qualities.
• Environmentally Friendly – The production of olefins leave very little waste byproducts or residue. Olefin is easier to recycle than most other fibers. Olefin, in its basic form, is made into packaging materials. These materials are easily melted and reused. Tyvek ProtectiveWear by DuPont is an olefin material that is 25% recycled. Because olefin is usually solution dyed, the environmental problems related to dye chemicals do not exist. Oelfin is actually beneficial to the environment through its use in erosion control fabrics.
• Very low moisture absorbency – Waterborne stains are not a problem, due to olefin’s nonabsorbency.
• Very low static electricity problems – This characteristic makes it an excellent choice for office furniture coverings, carpets and automobile interiors.
• Good thermal retention- Layering clothes made of olefin helps keep you warm by trapping the air in the space between the layers. On the other hand, clothing made of olefin also keeps you cool in the summer.
• Excellent Resiliency – Olefin recovers very quickly from wrinkling. Olefin can be heat set, which further reduces wrinkles.
• Excellent Shape Retention – The attractive appearance of olefin lasts for years.

Care
Eventhough olefin is comfortable to wear, it has a low melting point. This factor limits its use in apparel fabrics. Fabrics made of olefin should be spot cleaned or washed in warm or cold water. Olefin fabrics should be air dried or dried at low temperatures. If ironing is needed, a low temperature setting should be chosen.

End Uses

Apparel uses:
• underwear
• socks
• sweaters
• glove liners
• active sportswear
• pantyhose
• saris
• swimwear
• protective clothing (bullet-proof vests, cut-resistant gloves)
• lining fabrics

Hygienic uses:

• diaper linings
• disposable diapers
• feminine hygiene products
• adult incontinence aids

Medical uses:

• disposable surgical non-wovens (shoe covers, gowns, caps, bedding)

Home Furnishings uses:

• carpets
• carpet backings
• upholstery
• draperies
• vacuum cleaner bags
• mattress pads
• housing wrap (used during construction)

Automotive uses:

• car interiors (car batteries, sun visors, headliners, arm rests, instrument panels, car covers)
• armored vehicle door panels

Recreational uses:

• interior furnishings for boats
• deck and dock surface coverings

Industrial uses:

• Geotextiles - These are textiles that are used in or on the soil. Many roadbed support fabrics are made from olefin. Petromat and Petrotak are two of the brandnames of roadbed support fabrics. These fabrics are used as support in highways, rail lines and parking lots to make them last longer and reduce cracking. Olefins are also used in soil erosion control fabrics.
• disposable fabrics
• nonwoven fabrics
• ropes
• filter fabrics
• bags
• courier envelopes
• open-mesh fences (guard for hazardous work sites, crowd control, decreasing weather damage outdoors)
• Olefin, because it is easily molded, is now also being used for appliances and automobiles. Automotive parts made of olefin result in automobiles that last longer by reducing corrosion. These cars also consume less fuel due to the decrease in car weight.

Tradenames

Duon by Phillips Fiber Corp.

Marvess by Phillips Fiber Corp.

Petromat by Phillips Fiber Corp.

Alpha olefin by Phillips Fiber Corp.

ComforMax IB by DuPont

Tyvek by DuPont

Fibrilawn by Fibron Corp.

Fibrilon by Fibron Corp.

Thinsulate by 3M

Patlon by Amoco Fabrics & Fibers Co.

Marquessa Lana by Amoco Fabrics & Fibers Co.

Propex III by Amoco Fabrics & Fibers Co.

Duraguard by Kimberly-Clark

Evolution by Kimberly-Clark

Evolution III by Kimberly-Clark

Polyloom by Polyloom Corp.

Typar by Reemay, Inc.

Biobarrier by Reemay, Inc.

Spectra 900 by Allied-Signal, Inc.

Spectra 1000 by Allied-Signal, Inc.

Trade Organization
American Polyolefin Association, Inc.: This organization promotes olefin and its uses and helps display a positive image of the fiber.

Olefin’s Future
Olefin has many excellent characteristics that make it suitable for many end uses. Olefin has not reached its peak year of production. Unlike other fibers who have reached peak years, olefin continues to grow each year. In 1980 there were 748 million pounds of olefin were produced and in 1995 there were 2,428 pounds produced. Look for many more labels that contain olefin in the future.

Sources:

www.fibersource.com

environment.about.com/culture/environment/library

www.apa-polyolefin.com

Sara J. Kadolph, Anna L. Langford, Textiles/...{et al} (8th ed. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Simon & Schuster/A Viacom Company) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 07458, pages 114-117.