Synthetic:
Polyester:
Polyester fabric has many properties making it an effective fabric. It is durable and incredibly strong, meaning it does not stretch or tear like cottons. It is also moisture-resistant, and typically it is biodegradable.
Ethylene polyester (PET) is the most commonly-produced form of polyester fiber. The primary component of PET is petroleum-derived ethylene, and in the process of creating polyester fiber, ethylene serves as the polymer that interacts with other chemicals to create a stable fibrous compound. The process of creating polyester fiber begins with reacting ethylene glycol with dimethyl terephthalate at high heat. This reaction results in a monomer, which is then reacted with dimethyl terephthalate again to create a polymer.
This molten polyester polymer is extruded from the reaction chamber in long strips, and these strips are allowed to cool and dry, and then they are broken apart in to small pieces. The resulting chips are then melted again to create a honey-like substance, which is extruded through a spinneret to create fibers.
Depending on whether filaments, staple, tow, or fiberfill fibers are desired, the resulting polyester filaments may be cut or reacted with various chemicals to achieve the correct end result. In most applications, polyester fibers are spun into yarn before they are dyed or subjected to other post-production processes.
Polyester is used to manufacture clothing for retail fashion, as well as homeware such as towels, rugs and blankets, upholstery and cushions, and indurstrial applications such as LCD displays, tarps and bottles.
Acrylic:
Acrylic fiber fabrics are made from a synthetic polymer called acrylonitrile. Acrylic fibres have many effective properties including strong durability and wear resistance, strong resistance to sunlight, resistance to all biological and many chemical agents such as diluted acids and alkalies, and to oxidation.
To make this, the acrylonitrile polymer polyacrylonitrile is created in a water solution using a reaction technique referred to as free radical polymerization. The polymer is dissolved using a chemical solvent, and then a gel-like material is pushed through a spinneret to form acrylic fibre. These are coagulated in a solution of the same solvent (called wet spinning). Dry spinning can also be used which is more environmentally friendly. The resulting fibers are then washed, stretched, and crimped to make long, thin filaments that can be spun into yarn. Like other synthetic textile fibers, stretching is necessary to create a usable end textile; the process of stretching fibers like acrylic renders them many times their original length, which reduces costs and results in more production efficiency. Once spun into yarn, they are loaded onto bobbins shipped to textile manufacturers.
Acrylic fabric is used to make cold weather clothing such as sweaters, gloves, mittens and hoodies. It can also be used to produce homeware like upholstery and rugs, props and costumes, indurstrial applications and knitting materials.

Fashion: Textile Technology LO1