Lavsan®

Lavsan is a trade name for a synthetic polyester fiber—polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—known in the USSR from the late 1940s as an Eastern European alternative to Western Terylene or Dacron. The technology was developed in the former Soviet Union starting in 1949, based on the discovery of PET in England (1941). Its production involves the polycondensation of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, forming a meltable polymer that is extruded through spinnerets into strong, flexible, fine fibers. Lavsan is notable for its high tensile strength, low moisture absorption, lightfastness, dimensional stability, and resistance to creasing and mold. It is used both in pure form and in blends (with wool, cotton, or viscose), enabling a wide range of textiles with different densities, dyeing behaviors, and surface finishes. In the textile industry, lavsan is used for clothing, sportswear, and workwear, as well as curtains, drapes, upholstery, and bedding—valued for its easy care, bright colors, and quick-drying properties. In material science references, lavsan is classified among modern polyester fibers that significantly shaped the textile industry in Europe and Asia during the second half of the 20th century.