Over time, many types of fabric appeared, from which clothes are sewn and not only. Acrylic is produced for a long time, it has unique qualities, but not everyone knows what it is.
What it is?
Acrylic fabric is a material made from acrylic fibers. It was first manufactured by DuPont. Today, this manufacturer no longer produces acrylic fabric, but it is still widely manufactured all over the world.
The process uses a chemically made substance called acrylonitrile, which is also used in the manufacture of plastics. Acrylonitrile tends to break down easily in the environment. By itself, this substance is considered toxic, but due to the fact that it is used in combination with other components and has a fast decay time, acrylic fabric remains environmentally friendly.
The material is widely used in knitwear, as upholstery and construction of rugs. People often think that acrylic fabric is an excellent substitute for wool because it is exceptionally soft and light.
Some cashmere substitutes are made of the described material and look better than natural cashmere. Some natural fabrics incorporate acrylic fibers.
The early acrylic fabric was prone to rapid wear, so regular washing led to the fact that the upper part of the clothes had a worn appearance. To this end, Monsanto has developed a special chemical process to eliminate this drawback. Despite this, clothes made of such material still required careful care: when using a washing machine, washing should occur at a minimum temperature.
The more carefully a person treats acrylic fabric, the more likely it is that the clothes will retain their attractive appearance longer.
When acrylic fabric first appeared on the market, it was often considered cheap and not as valuable as clothing made from natural fibers.
Some early versions of this material caused inconvenience and itching, but over time, innovative processing and completely different processes used allowed us to solve this problem, and today many people prefer acrylic to natural fibers, because it is easier to care for.
Structure
When high temperature and pressure affect oil, natural gas or coal, polymerization occurs and a plastic solution forms. Polymerization is described as a process in which two or more molecules bind into a repeating molecular chain. After polymerization, the plastic solution is in a viscous form, that is, its state is something between a solid and a liquid substance.
Acrylic is made from a polymer of polyacrylonitrile, a flammable, colorless liquid that is made from polypropylene. Scientists have found that inhaling polyacrylonitrile looks like cyanide poisoning. This happens after exposure to the skin or by inhalation.
The solution rotates in industrial production, and through special equipment it is squeezed into air or water, where it hardens. Acrylic fibers are then washed, dried and cut to length. Once the acrylic fiber has passed preliminary preparation, it is twisted into a ball. After that, fabric is created as the final result of the production process.
Often, acrylic fibers and natural threads are woven together, which allows the manufacturer to reduce the cost of the final product. Therefore, if a consumer sees a shirt advertised as a cotton or wool mixture, then this is not just cotton or wool, the mixture also has the fiber described. It is very similar in appearance to wool. Acrylic fabric is light, warm and soft to the touch, therefore it is often used in natural wool or in a mixture of sheep and cashmere. The result is wonderful sweaters, hats, socks and yarn for knitting.
Like polyester and nylon, hydrophobic acrylic fabric means it has the ability to repel water. This beneficial property can cause bacteria to grow in the material, which can disrupt clothing structure and cause odor. It also means that the fabric is able to create static electricity, it is flammable and difficult to extinguish.
Because of these properties, some people think that acrylic is not the best material for clothing. It is commonly used to simulate wool and save manufacturers on the cost of materials.
Advantages and disadvantages
Acrylic fabric has its undeniable advantages.
- It is more affordable than materials made from natural fibers. The product is sold in most specialized stores, there is a huge selection of colors. The cost of acrylic fabric is lower, and the properties of the finished product delight the user.
- Strength is the second plus of the fabric, so it is used for the manufacture of workwear.
- Clothing made from such material is easy to clean and does not fade.
- The material does not cause allergies, it is warm and soft.
- This type of fabric does not shrink and dries quickly.
Regardless of the fact that acrylic fabric has many advantages, there are also disadvantages.
- Rough texture, as a professional can easily distinguish natural wool from a substitute.
- It can not be used for clothes that will be used in a room with a high temperature, since it can easily catch fire on a person. Including in such an outfit it is impossible to cook in the kitchen.
- Over time, such clothes roll down.
- It will be very difficult to remove oil and fat from clothes made from acrylic fabric.
Species and their properties
For many reasons, acrylic is not used on its own, often in combination with other fibers, and it is desirable that they be natural. In knitting yarn, this element can be contained 100% or 5%, it all depends on the manufacturer.
Polyacrylic clothing assumes 95% acrylic and 5% other natural fibers, for example:
- cotton;
- wool;
- angora.
The characteristic of such a material is such that it is warm, voluminous, soft, and has a long service life. It is also called artificial wool or bare synthetics.
Products made of this material are suitable for people with sensitive skin, pregnant women and children.
Due to the fact that the fabric does not crease, the time to care for it is minimized. It is very convenient to remove the dress from the hanger and put it on immediately without the need to iron it.
The most popular combinations of acrylic with wool and mohair. The percentage may vary, in any case, the clothes look beautiful, bright.
Recently, modacryl has become increasingly popular - a modern modified fiber, which includes several components, such as vinyl and polyacryl. Curtains are made from it.
In the same group with acrylic fabric are:
- nylon;
- varnish;
- Bologna;
- nylon;
- perlon;
- dederon.
While any acrylic material has its inherent properties, there are many variables that can change the fabric. It's about supplements. Very tightly woven fibers repel water very well.
Chemical additives are often used to increase certain characteristics.
The material may be coated with polyurethane or vinyl, which increase water repellency and abrasion resistance.
Application
The main area of use of acrylic fabric is the creation of clothing. Can be used for street curtains. Such products perfectly resist sunlight, so they can last for more than one year. Moreover, the product does not sag, does not rot, this is the material that is the best suited for creating curtains with folds.
Acrylic fibers make sweaters amazing in volume and beauty. They maintain their shape and appearance for a long time.
This material received the greatest distribution when tailoring sportswear. The National Football League, for example, offers acrylic socks as part of its standard form. This piece of acrylic fabric is a great option as the sock retains its shape and can be elastic. They are also suitable for tourists, because they are less likely to get blisters from sneakers than if they had cotton socks on their feet.
Acrylic fabric is warm, can be quite soft, holds color well and is resistant to stains and wrinkles. This is a great solution for those who are allergic to natural hair.
The subtleties of care
Despite the fact that the acrylic fabric can withstand a long service life, it can not be washed at high temperatures, since with such an improper washing any clothes made of this material sits down.
Before cleaning, the user will need to study the label in more detail, since the manufacturer takes into account the amount of a component in the fabric, including the amount of natural fiber and acrylic.
Always use a mild detergent, otherwise you can permanently ruin the thing. If you need a brush, which is supposed to clean the stain, then it should be with a soft bristle. Water should be cold or slightly warm, not more than 38 ° C. After soaking, you will definitely need to rinse the item thoroughly to remove any soap residue.
Dry the fabric only in a natural way, never put it in a dryer and do not blow it.
For easy cleaning use a solution of water and mild soap. It must be absorbed into the tissue. Re-treat the fabric after it has completely dried.
If the stain is serious, you will need one cup of chlorine bleach, 1/4 cup of mild soap, a liter of water.
Allow the mixture to soak into the fabric for 15 minutes. The stain is washed off with a brush with soft bristles, washed thoroughly until all the soap has been removed. Dry clothes on the street, but not on the battery.
For a comparison of acrylic and oxford fabrics, see the next video.
