Olefin is a manufactured fiber used widely in the production of carpeting and rugs and of thermal apparel, such as jackets and undergarments. The fiber consists of long, chainlike molecules called polymers that are at least 85 percent olefin units by weight. The most common olefin units are polypropylene or polyethylene. Olefin fibers are resilient, lightweight, and resistant to mildew and many chemicals.
Olefin polymers are produced by combining carbon and hydrogen under heat and pressure in the presence of a solvent and a catalyst, a substance that speeds chemical reactions. In the most common method of olefin fiber production, the polymer is melted and extruded (forced through a shaped die), then cooled and spun.
