Rayon
Lets start with Rayon because it was the first manufactured fabric. In fact, it used to be known as artificial silk before the term was changed in the early 1920s. It’s unique in that it is neither a truly synthetic fiber nor truly a natural fiber. The process to manufacture rayon begins with the plants that make it possible, such as wood.
The wood fibers used in the makeup of rayon come from one of three major species of trees. Pine, Spruce and Hemlock are the most popular choices, but these are not the only ones that can be used. However, the ease of cultivation of these trees, along with their abundance, make them some of the most economical to use.
The manufactured part comes into play when the wood pulp is ground up and treated with sodium hydroxide. This is then dried over a period of several days. The resulting product is then mixed with liquid carbon disulfide. This becomes a very thick liquid kinda like honey.
Did you know?
Rayon is used to house the wick in a Zippo Lighter.
Silk
Silk is known as the Queen of fabrics. As you know silk comes from the cocoon of the silk worm. It requires a great deal of handling and processing, which makes it one of the most expensive fibers.
The specific species of silk worm used used is called Bombyx mori. It is usually cultivated and raised under a controlled environment and diet. The life cycle of a silk worm goes through four stages. The egg, the silk worm, the pupa and the moth. The silk worm feeds on mulberry leaves forms a covering around it by secreting a protein like substance through its head. This stage is called cocoon, the desirable stage for the silk producers.
The cocoons are sorted according to the color, size, shape and texture as these affect the final quality of the silk. Cocoons may range from white and yellow to grayish. After the cocoon has been sorted, they are put through a series of hot and cold immersions, as the sericin must be softened to permit the unwinding of the filament as one continuous thread.
Did you know?
It takes about 5000 silkworms to make a pure silk kimono.
Polyester
Producing this fabric reads like a serious scientific experiment. It makes you wonder when invented in Britain in the 1940s if these scientists had a few mishaps before they got it right.
Polyester is derived from coal, air, water, and petroleum. Who knew?
Polyester fibers are formed from a chemical reaction between an acid and alcohol. In this reaction, two or more molecules combine to make a large molecule whose structure repeats throughout its length. Polyester fibers can form very long molecules that are very stable and strong. This is the same material used in making plastic.
Polyester is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the same material that is used to make plastic drink bottles.
Did you know?
Some plastic bottles are recycled by being reheated and turned into polyester fibers, which, in addition to being an efficient use, also helps keep polymers out of landfills.
Cotton
Cotton is typically planted in spring, by machines, which can plant 12 rows of cotton seeds at a time. Under good conditions, the plants generally are visible above the ground within a week. The seedlings mature for about a month and a half, and then begin to flower. Flowering is very brief, and in just a few days after the flower appears, it is gone, and in its place remains the part of the plant that ripens into a pod called a boll. Over two to three months, the boll matures and the cotton fibers in it grow to their full length.
After harvesting, raw cotton goes through a cleaning and refining process before it is spun into thread and woven into cotton fabric on looms. While synthetic fibers have seen increased use in recent years, cotton fabric alone still accounts for at least half of all clothing textiles in the world.
Did you know?
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