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Acrylic - It's Old, It's New, It's Everywhere! |
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Author: by Micah Holland
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History
History of Acrylic Acrylic was developed by DuPont in 1944 and was first
commercially produced in 1950. Acrylonitrile, the substance from which
acrylic fibers are produced, was first made in 1893 in Germany and was
used as another chemical in research for the DuPont Company. First used
for outdoor purposes, technology has allowed acrylic to come a long way,
and it is now most commonly used in apparel and carpets. DuPont ceased
production of acrylic in 1991, and only a handful of companies produce
acrylic today. Definition of Acrylic Acrylic is defined as a manufactured
fiber in which the fiber forming substance is any long-chain synthetic polymer
composed of at least 85% by weight of acrylonitrile units. Acrylic fibers create
a fine, soft and luxurious fabric with the bulk and hand of wool. Production of
Acrylic Acrylic fibers are produced from a petrochemical called acrylontrile and
are dry spun or wet spun. In dry spinning, the polymers are dissolved in a
suitable solvent, extruded into warm air, and solidified by the evaporation
of the solvent. "After spinning, the fibers are stretched hot, three to ten
times their original length, and then crimped, and marketed as cut staple or tow.
In wet spinning, the polymer is dissolved in solvent, extruded into a
coagulating bath, dried, crimped, and collected as tow . . . or cut into
staple."1 Acrylic fibers are usually modified to create special properties
best suited for their end-uses and are unique because of their uneven surface.
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Characteristics
Characteristics of Acrylic Acrylic has many appealing properties, and the sports world is just one industry that is increasingly taking advantage of them. Acrylic's high performance is making it one of the fastest growing fibers in the outdoor, performance apparel categories. For example, the NBA and NFL have made acrylic socks part of their official uniforms. Athletes of all types are using acrylic because of its elasticity, shape retention, and moisture control. This fiber draws moisture away form the skin and quickly transports it to the surface making the wearer more comfortable. This wicking capability of acrylic is permanent and in a class by itself compared to other fibers. Other characteristics of acrylic include: quick drying time excellent color fastness UV resistance soft hand luxurious touch & drape warmth in thermal constructions easy care bulk without extra weight resistance to weathering durability resilience shape retention stain resistance wrinkle resistance and resistance to shrinking, fading, aging, chemicals, oils, moths, mildew, and fungus End Uses of Acrylic Acrylic not only has many appealing characteristics and advantages, but many apparel, home furnishings, and industrial end uses as well. This fiber accounted for 5 percent of the fiber produced in the United States in 1990 with only three companies producing it at the time. Acrylic is used in apparel including sweaters, fleece fabrics, and socks and in home furnishings such as furniture, carpet, blankets, and upholstery fabrics.
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Uses
Craft yarns, asbestos replacement, concrete and stucco reinforcement, awnings, boat and vehicle covers, and luggage are just a few of the other end uses of acrylic. Caring for Acrylic As with any fiber or fabric, it is best to follow the care label carefully. Acrylic fibers vary with construction and require different care. However, acrylic generally has a strong resistance to most chemicals and has good wash-and-wear characteristics. Some acrylics can be dry cleaned, but finishes may be removed, and a rough feel may result.1 Other tips for caring for acrylic are: -Wash delicate items by hand in warm water 2 -Use warm water when machine washing and add fabric softener to the final rinse 2 -Machine dry at a low temperature and remove promptly 2 -If ironing is required, use a moderately warm iron 2 Acrylic in Disguise As the demand for acrylic increases, so does the number of trade names for which acrylic is most known. Pil-Trol is just one of the many trade names of acrylic and was developed by Monsanto Chemical Company. Pil-Trol allows for the comfort and easy care of acrylic without the pilling. Pills are the little balls that form on fabric when fiber ends break and migrate to the surface.
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Advantages/Disadvantages
Pilling is a disadvantage of acrylic, but has been eliminated by the technology of Pil-Trol. Other trade names that describe acrylic include: Acrilan Acrilan Plus Biofresh Bounce-Back Creslan CresLoft Duraspun Fi-lana Innova MicroSafe MicroSupreme Salus Sayelle So-Lara Smart Yarns Ware-dated WeatherBloc Wintuck Glossary Polymer - a very large molecule made by connecting many small molecules or mers together Dry Spinning - a fiber forming process in which a solution of polymer dissolved in solvent is extruded Wet Spinning - a fiber forming process in which the polymer is dissolved in a solvent and the solutions extruded into a chemical bath Staple Fiber - any natural of manufactured fiber produced in or cut to a short length measured in inches or centimeters Tow - a large assembly of filament fibers (extremely long fibers) to facilitate handling and processing during the production of manufactured staple fibers
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Sources
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