Acrylic
Fibre structure & physical properties
Fibre composition:
Polyacrylonitrile
Diameter: Can be made to any diameter
Very fine: < 10 μm,
Fine: < 20 μm,
Medium: 20-50 μm,
Course: > 50 μm
Length: Filament
Staple length: continuous filament
short < 26 mm,
medium 26-29 mm,
long: 30-38 mm,
extra long: 39 mm and over
Natural fibre colour: White colour
Microscopic Images (Cross sectional and SEM):
Its cross section is usually shaped as a dog bone or kidney shape (if dry spun). It tends to be near circular if wet spun. May be produced as a bi-component.
Comment:
Pitted or grainy surface. Generally used in staple form and often crimped (texturized) before being cut.
Fibre properties (Mechanical, Chemical and Thermal)
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (cN/dtex) :
Chemical Properties
Hydrophobicity: Hydrophobic
Moisture regain (%): 1.5%
Thermal Properties
Flammability: Burns and melts, no smoke. Material will continue to burn after it has been removed from the flame. The odour is like turmeric. Resdiue has a black hard crust that can be easily crushed between the fingers.
Sustainability considerations
It is not easily recycled nor is it readily biodegradable.
manufacturing process. Has health and environmental impacts.
acrylonitrile (aka vinyl cyanide) is a carcinogen and dangerous to the health of factory workers.
End uses
Apparel: Knitwear (Jumpers, Pile fabrics); Modacrylics for fake fur.
Funishings: Tufted blankets
Videos
Materials using this fibre
Additional resources
Taylor MA, 2004. Technology of Textile Properties. Third edition. Forbes Publications, London, UK.
Zhong Z and Xiao C, 2008. Fabric composition and testing. In: Fabric Testing. Ed: Hu, J. Woodhead Publishing Limited, Cambridge, UK.
ISO/TR 11827:2012 Textiles — Composition testing — Identification of fibres.
Houck, Max M. Identification of Textile Fibers. Cambridge : Boca Raton: Woodhead Pub. in Association with The Textile Institute ; CRC, 2009. Print.
