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Writer's pictureSuzhou Zanying

5 Types Of Synthetic Fibers

Synthetic Fibers


Synthetic fibers are a group of artificial fibers synthesized by chemical methods. It is a polymer synthesized from chain segments of many hydrocarbons. Its source is mainly oil obtained after crude oil refining. Synthetic fibers account for more than half of the modern global textile fiber market. The 5 main synthetic fibers include nylon, acrylic, polyester, spandex and vinylon, which account for more than 80% of global synthetic fiber production, and polyester accounts for 2/3 of it.

Synthetic Fibers
Synthetic Fibers

1. Nylon

Nylon Fibers
Nylon Rope

Properties: Wear resistance is 10 times that of cotton fiber, 20 times that of wool, and 50 times that of viscose fiber. Fatigue resistance ranks first among all kinds of fibers. Has a good elastic recovery rate. Hygroscopicity is second only to vinylon among synthetic fibers, and it has good dyeing performance, but its wrinkle resistance is not as good as that of polyester. Similar to polyester, it has greater thermoplasticity, and the wire can be processed into different yarn types such as crimped yarn and bulked yarn under the action of heat. And it has the advantages of not easy to be stained with oil, chemical resistance and not easy to mildew. The light resistance is very poor, and it is easy to turn yellow and brittle when exposed to light for a long time. The surface of the fiber is smooth and supple, with a certain degree of gloss. The cohesion between the fibers is not strong, and slipping is easy to occur.


Uses: Mainly filaments, used in large quantities for deformation processing to manufacture elastic yarns, as raw materials for weaving and knitting. Staple fibers are mainly used for blending with cotton, wool or other chemical fibers. Suitable for women's clothing, sportswear, raincoats, swimwear, women's shaping underwear, transparent stockings and other fields. And it has a wide range of applications in the field of auxiliary materials such as sewing thread, filling cotton, and rope.


2. Acrylic

Acrylic Fibers
Acrylic Fibers

Properties: The relative density is small, the hygroscopicity is poor, and the elastic recovery rate is lower than that of nylon, polyester and wool, especially after many cycles, the residual deformation is relatively large. It has good bulkiness and warmth retention, and the compression elasticity of the aggregate is very high, which is 1.3 times that of wool and nylon, so it is called artificial wool. Weather resistance, especially sunlight resistance is very good. Good acid resistance, poor alkali resistance.

Use: Mainly used as wool, knitted fabrics and thicker wool-like woven fabrics.


3. Polyester

Polyester Fabrics
Polyester Fabrics

Properties: It has considerable strength, elasticity and resilience, so it has the characteristics of good wrinkle resistance, stable shape, resistance to moth and mildew, and long-term sunlight will not affect the fiber strength. Thermoplasticity is very large, and its fabric is suitable for additional finishing such as pleats and washing. It is very easy to dry after washing and does not need to be ironed. It is a very practical and convenient fiber suitable for outerwear. However, the moisture absorption and air permeability are very poor, and it is stuffy to wear, and it is easy to generate static electricity and absorb dust.


Use: It can be purely woven, and is also good at blending and interweaving with other fibers to make wool-like, cotton-like, silk-like, linen-like fabrics with various colors and good performance. It is suitable for making men's and women's shirts and coats, and can also make cotton wool, etc.


4. Spandex

Spandex Fabric
Spandex Fabric

Properties: It has the characteristics of high elongation (500% ~700%), low elastic modulus, low strength, light texture and poor hygroscopicity. Moderate heat stability, under the action of sunlight, it will turn slightly yellow and its strength will decrease slightly. Good resistance to sweat, sea water, acid and alkali, insoluble in common solvents, suitable for most dyes and finishing agents.


Use: It is generally not used alone, but mixed into fabrics in small amounts. Widely used in socks, ski jackets, sportswear, tights, etc.


5. Vinylon

vinylon fabric
Backpack Made Of Vinylon Fabric

Properties: Similar in nature to cotton, it is known as synthetic cotton. The relative density is smaller than cotton, the strength and wear resistance are better than cotton, and the elasticity is similar to cotton. Hygroscopicity is the best among synthetic fibers, warmth retention, corrosion resistance, sunlight resistance, acid and alkali resistance are all good, and it is not easy to mould. The main disadvantage is that it has poor hot water resistance, poor elasticity and dyeability.


Use: It is widely used for blending or pure spinning with cotton, viscose and other fibers to make knitted outerwear, singlets, cotton sweaters, sweatshirts, etc.

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