Manufactured Fibres

Natural polymers		Synthetic polymers		Inorganic
Regenerated cellulose	Viscose modal	Polyvinyl	Acrylic	Carbon	Carbon fibre
Cellulose ester	Acetate	Chlorofibre	Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)	glass	Glass fibre
latex	Rubber	Polyurethane	Elastane	Metallic	Metal fibres
		Fluorofibre	Teflon	ceramic	Ceramic fibres
		Polyamide	Nylon
		polyester	polyester

Viscose:

• Natural cellulose from wood pulp from pine or eucalyptus trees
• Produced as staple and filament yarns
• More absorbent than cotton, non-static because it always contains some moisture
• Naturally breathable, absorbing 14% of water vapour
• Fine, with soft handle and good drape
• Low ability to trap air – low warmth
• Lower strength, abrasion resistance and durability than cotton, can tear when wet
• Poor elasticity, so creases easily
• Dyes and prints to bright colours
• Shrinks
• Biodegradable and recyclable
• Inexpensive to produce
• Synthetic resin treatment – to reduce creasing and shrinkage although absorbency is reduced
• Wide range of finishes can be applied – such as textures and crimps
• Typically blended with cotton, linen, wool, polyester and Elastane
• Filament viscose produces lustrous and crepe fabrics
• Staple viscose produces cotton, linen and wool-type fabrics
• End uses include curtains, shirts, dresses, lingerie, ribbons and trimmings
• Washable, do not bleach, easy to iron, can be dry-cleaned but not tumble dried

Modal:

• Natural cellulose from wood pulp
• Produced mainly as staple fibre
• Mainly used in blends
• Absorbs up to 50% more moisture than cotton, non-static because it always contains some moisture
• Naturally breathable
• Silky, smooth, very soft handle and good drape
• Low ability to trap air – low warmth
• Lower strength, abrasion resistance and durability than cotton
• Poor elasticity, so creases easily
• Dyes to brilliant colours
• Shrinks less than viscose
• Biodegradable and recyclable
• Inexpensive to produce
• Synthetic resin treatment – to reduce creasing and shrinkage, although absorbency is reduced
• Wide range of finishes can be applied such as textures and crimps
• Typically blended with cotton, polyester, wool silk and Elastane
• Lustrous fabrics, blended knitted and woven fabrics
• End uses include bed and table linen, terry towelling, shirts, jumpers, socks, nightwear, jackets, sports and active wear and soft denim
• Washable, do not bleach, easy to iron, can be dry-cleaned and tumble dried

Acetate:

• Cotton cellulose and acetic acid
• 95% of the acetic acid can be recycled
• Produced as filaments and microfibers
• Low absorbency, fast drying, prone to static
• Naturally breathable
• Subdued lustre, smooth, very soft handle with elegant drape
• Low warmth, dyes well
• More elastic than viscose but creases easily
• Thermoplastic, sensitive to dry heat
• Biodegradable and recyclable
• Inexpensive to produce
• End uses include, silk type fabrics for eveningwear etc, microfiber performance fabrics and embroidery yarns, ribbons and trimmings
• Typically blended with wool or viscose for winter fabrics, cotton, linen or silk for summer fabrics, polyester and Elastane

Rubber:

• Natural rubber is made from latex, although synthetic rubber from petrochemicals is mainly used today. Its natural stretch and pliability have made rubber useful for flooring, waterproof coverings, types and Wellington boots. In the past, rubber yarns were used to provide stretch in swimwear and underwear. Rubber can be printed onto garments and accessories and can be used as moulded hoods and pockets. It can also be applied to specific areas of a product, such as the fingers of work gloves. Natural rubber is:
  • Warm pliable and soft
  • Antistatic, antibacterial and anti-slip
  • Sensitive to light, oils, solvents or grease
  • Not breathable, so ventilation is needed
  • Joined by stitching or adhesives
  • recyclable

Acrylic:

• sourced from petrochemicals
• inexpensive to manufacture
• can be manufactured as filament of spun fibres
• can be spun as microfibers
• low absorbance, fast drying, prone to static
• good strength, crease-resistant
• soft wool-like handle with good drape
• warm, easy care
• thermoplastic, sensitive to steam and heat, can result in shrinkage
• non-renewable resource
• typically blended with wool or viscose for winter fabrics, cotton, linen or silk for summer fabrics, polyester or Elastane

PVC:

• Sourced from petrochemicals
• Manufacture uses chlorine
• Can be manufactured as filament or spun fibres
• Can be manufactured as a coating
• Strong, flexible, durable
• Breathable, easy care and waterproof
• Provides good insulation
• Thermoplastic
• Non-renewable resource, although PVC bottles can be recycled
• Spun fibres always blended with other fibres including cotton, linen, viscose, modal, wool and silk

Elastane:

• Sourced from petrochemicals
• Made from segmented polyurethane
• Composed of soft, flexible segments bonded with hard, rigid segments
• Elastane yarn is always covered by another yarn
• Inbuilt capacity to stretch up to 7 times original length, then recover when tension is released
• Provides lively, supple fabric with enhanced drape
• Adds comfort, softness and crease-resistance
• Improves body-shaping and shape retention
• Can be engineered to provide precise combination of yarn thickness, texture, brightness and stretch performance to suit the end use of fabric or garment
• For example can provide chlorine resistance and comfort in swimwear, lasting fit in leather, washable and crease resistant linen
• Absorbent, dyes well, easy care
• Non-renewable resource
• Elastane fibres are always combined with other fibres, natural or synthetic. Common blends include maximum 20% for swimwear, 15% for hosiery, 2-5% jersey fabrics, 2% for woven fabrics and 1% for flat knits

PTFE:

• Sourced from petrochemicals
• Synthetic polymer used mainly as a coating
• Flexible, durable
• Breathable, easy care, hardly dyes
• Water repellent, oil, chemical and stain resistant, windproof
• Water-based, CFC-free, doesn’t harm the environment
• Non-renewable resource, degrades slowly
• Used to protect all fibres and leather

Nylon:

• Sourced from petrochemicals
• Inexpensive to manufacture and produced as textured filament, staple fibres and microfibers
• Can be engineered to provide a wide range of properties and characteristics
• Non-absorbent and prone to static; textured filaments transport moisture away from the body
• Fineness ranges from microfibers to coarse fibres – can be fine and soft or firm, depending on fibre fineness, fabric construction and finishing
• Flat filaments trap little air so are cool; textured filaments trap air so provide warmth
• Very strong, excellent abrasion resistance, tear resistance and durability
• Windproof, hydrophobic, water-repellent, easy care, lightweight, flammable, soft, good drape
• Good elasticity, so good crease recovery
• Thermoplastic, can be textured and heat set, sensitive to dry heat
• Can be engineered to provide breathable comfort
• Dyes well, yellows and loses strength with long exposure to sunlight
• Resistant to alkalis, solvents, mildew and fungus, but degraded by concentrated acids
• Non-renewable source, non bio-degradable
• Anti-static treatment
• flame-resist treatment
• Wide range of treatments to engineer specific properties
• Typically blended with wool, cotton, linen, silk and other synthetics
• Textured filament fabrics, staple fibre fabrics and microfiber fabrics
• End uses include, carpets, curtains, tights, underwear, socks, active sportswear, all weather wear, fleece, tents, clothing

Polyester:

• Sourced from petrochemicals
• The most used and versatile synthetic fibre
• Inexpensive to manufacture
• About 60% produced as staple fibres
• Also produced as textured filaments and microfibers
• Can be engineered to provide a wide variety of properties and characteristics
• Non-absorbent and very prone to static; textured filaments transport moisture away from the body
• Fineness ranges from microfibers to coarse fibres – can be fine and soft or firm, depending on fibre fineness, fabric construction and finishing
• Flat filaments trap little air so are cool, textured filaments trap air so provide warmth
• Very strong, excellent abrasion resistance, tear resistance and durability
• Windproof, hydrophobic, water-repellent, easy-care, lightweight, good heat resistance, soft, good drape
• Very good elasticity so very good crease resistance
• Thermoplastic, can be textures, bulked and heat set, sensitive to dry heat
• Can be engineered to prove breathable comfort
• Dyes well, yellows and loses strength with long exposure to sunlight
• Resistant to acids, alkalis, solvents, mildew and fungus, but attacked by concentrated acids
• Non-renewable source
• Can be recycled – 25 PET bottles makes one jumper!
• Anti-static treatments
• Flame-resist treatment for interiors end use
• Wide range of treatments to engineer specific properties
• Some PET fabrics can be laser cut and heat welded
• Filament fibres usually textures
• Staple fibres are blended with wool, cotton, viscose, modal, linen and silk
• Staple fibre fabrics, textured filament fabrics, microfiber fabrics
• End uses include furnishings, upholstery, carpets, bedding, children’s nightwear and transport textiles, garments, ties, scarves, rainwear, linings, net curtains, sports and leisure wear, all weather wear, microfiber fleece garments, work wear, 100% staple yarn sewing thread, wadding for duvets and pillows, medical textiles such as artificial ligaments
• Machine washable, launders well at low temperatures, do not bleach, fast drying, iron with some care, can be dry-cleaned and tumble dried