Editors Note: We're blogging through We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel.
Dacron is a thermoplastic polymer sometimes known as polyethylene terephthalate.
Dacron was patented in 1941 by John Rex Whinfield James Tennant Dickson, and the Calico Printer’s Association of Manchester, whom Whinfield and Dickson worked for.
Dacron was ‘in’ almost instantly. It was used in upholstery, pillows, suits and dresses, yarn, sailcloth, and is even used an aortic graft in heart surgery for Marfan Syndrome.
Dacron clothing really took off. It was wrinkle-resistant, lightweight, and highly durable. A suit sold for 79.50 cents. These days, that’s about 650 dollars for one suit.
Dacron is still used today as kite string, tent material, still clothing, but most often is used in surgery.