What is Dacron fabric?
The Wood Guide · Materials
MaterialWhat is Dacron?
Not a type of fabric but a brand name: Dacron is DuPont's polyester, dating from 1950. In your garden you'll find it in the cushions, the parasol canopies and the awning fabric.
- Polyester (PET)
- Brand name since 1950
- Dries fast, fades slowly
What is Dacron?
Not a type of fabric but a brand name: Dacron is DuPont's polyester, dating from 1950. In your garden you'll find it in the cushions, the parasol canopies and the awning fabric.
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A brand name, not a material
Dacron is to polyester roughly what aspirin is to acetylsalicylic acid: a brand name that has come to overshadow the generic name.
Dacron was developed in the early 1950s by the American chemical company DuPont. Chemically it is polyethylene terephthalate — PET, the same raw material as a soft-drink bottle. So it belongs to the wider family of polyester fibres; what sets it apart is the production process and the quality standards attached to the brand name.
For garden furniture this matters for one reason: Dacron absorbs almost no moisture. A cushion that is dry again within a few hours of a shower lasts for years. A filling that holds on to moisture goes mouldy and loses its loft.
The same goes for the cover around it. Sun fading is the most common complaint about outdoor cushions, and polyester holds out against it far longer than cotton. That is why you find the fabric in everything that hangs outdoors: parasols, awnings, tent canvas and boat sails.
If the label on your outdoor cushion says 'polyester', '100 % PES' or 'PET', you have in practice the same material that is sold as Dacron. The brand name turns up mainly in sailing and the furniture industry.
- What it is
- polyester fibre (PET)
- Developed
- DuPont, early 1950s
- Moisture absorption
- almost zero — dries fast
- UV resistance
- high, fades more slowly than cotton
- Mould and insects
- do not attack the fibre
- Dimensional stability
- does not shrink, barely stretches
- Origin
- crude oil, or recycled PET
To be fair: Dacron is, and remains, a plastic made from crude oil. The fibre breaks down very slowly in nature, and washing releases microfibres that end up in waste water. It beats cotton on service life — but not on what happens when it's thrown away.
Six properties in one fibre
The combination is rare: each advantage exists elsewhere on its own, but all of them together in one affordable fibre is exceptional.
Dimensionally stable
Does not shrink and barely stretches, even after repeated washing. A cover that still fits the cushion exactly after three summers owes that to this property.
Dries fast
The fibre absorbs almost no water. Rain runs off rather than soaking in — the difference between a cushion you can leave out and one you bring in every evening.
UV-resistant
Sunlight breaks the fibre down slowly. It does fade, but much more slowly than natural fibres.
Chemically resistant
Tolerates most cleaning products without weakening or discolouring.
Resistant to mould
Moulds, bacteria and insects get nothing from a polyester fibre. There is no food in it.
High tear strength
The reason boat sails are made from it: under constant tensile load the fibre stays intact.
How Dacron is made
- PolymerisationEthylene glycol and terephthalic acid react to form polyethylene terephthalate. The result is a polymer melt.
- SpinningThe melt is forced through fine spinnerets — small caps with hundreds of microscopic holes — producing long, thin filaments.
- DrawingThe fibres are stretched. This aligns the molecules lengthwise, and that is exactly where the strength comes from.
- Cutting or texturingFor woven fabric the filaments stay long and smooth. For filling they are cut into short staple fibre and crimped, so that air gets between them.
Whether Dacron feels like taut sailcloth or airy cushion filling depends entirely on that last step. The chemistry is identical; the finishing makes the difference.
From garden cushion to boat sail
| Where | In concrete terms | Why Dacron in particular |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoors | cushion covers, parasols, awnings, tent canvas | UV-resistant, water-repellent, tear-resistant |
| Fillings | seat and back cushions, duvets | keeps its loft, dries fast, non-allergenic |
| Sportswear | running shirts, cycling jerseys | light, quick-drying, holds its shape |
| Water sports | boat sails, tarpaulins | high tear strength, tolerates salt |
| Medical | vascular grafts and implants | the body tolerates it, and it stays stable |
| Industry | fine filters, insulation | chemically resistant and dimensionally stable |
What it means for your garden cushions
A cushion with a Dacron or polyester filling dries within a few hours of a shower, whereas a foam filling holds the water and starts to go mouldy from the inside. That is the practical difference between cushions you can leave outside and cushions you have to bring in every time.
That does not make it fully weatherproof. A cushion left in the rain for weeks on end collects dirt and green algae on the cover, even though the fibre itself stays intact. Under a canopy or in a cushion box it simply lasts years longer.
The environmental side, without sugar-coating
Slow to break down
PET fibres break down very slowly in nature; estimates run to hundreds of years. If the product ends up in the environment, it stays there.
Microfibres
Washing releases tiny fibre particles that reach rivers and streams via waste water. It is one of the most active research topics in the textile sector.
Energy-intensive
Polymerisation and fibre spinning require considerable amounts of energy and chemicals.
Recycled PET
The other side of the coin: PET from bottles and textile waste can be turned into new fibre of comparable quality. That considerably reduces the dependence on new crude oil.
Wash outdoor covers no more often than necessary and at a low temperature, and use a wash bag that catches microfibres. Choose recycled polyester where you can. And simplest of all: choose cushions that last, because a cover you use for ten years beats any round of replacements.
Frequently asked questions about Dacron
Is Dacron the same as polyester?
In practice, yes. Dacron is DuPont's brand name for its polyester fibre (PET). All Dacron is polyester, but not all polyester may be called Dacron.
Can a Dacron cushion be left outside?
It survives a shower without any trouble, because the fibre absorbs no moisture and dries fast. Leaving it outside for weeks does lead to dirt and green algae on the cover; under a canopy or in a cushion box it lasts years longer.
Does Dacron fade in the sun?
More slowly than cotton, but it does happen. A brightly coloured cushion facing full south visibly loses colour after a few summers; a light or mottled fabric shows it much less.
How do I wash Dacron?
Cold to lukewarm, with a mild detergent, and without fabric softener — it leaves a film on the fibre that reduces its dirt and water repellency. Let it air-dry, not in a tumble dryer on a high setting.
Is Dacron better than foam as an outdoor cushion filling?
Outdoors, usually yes. Foam holds water and so degrades faster; a polyester filling dries fast and keeps its loft. Indoors, foam is often more comfortable.
Is there recycled Dacron?
There is recycled PET that is processed into fibre of comparable quality. On labels it is usually called rPET or recycled polyester.
Looking for furniture with cushions included?
Part of our range comes with cushions included — so you don't have to hunt separately for the right size and fabric.
Have a question about your project? Just ask — we're happy to help.
Photos via Wikimedia Commons: Reels of Dacron thread in five colours — Simon A. Eugster, CC BY 3.0 · Fehmarn, Duitsland — Johwin61, CC BY-SA 4.0