My first batten parrels were 10mm rope. These tended to catch each others as I was to hoist the sail. I have later only used webbing, between 15 and 25mm wide. I can't say what they were made of, polyester or nylon. I once polished a mast after some use, and that cut a good deal of the friction.
Arne
PS: The geometry of the sail can aid or prevent the sail in moving easily up and down. One friction factor is short batten parrels. If the mast is jammed at the aft end of the batten parrels, the sail will be reluctant to move.