Semi-Synthetic Fabric: Rayon, Modal, Lyocell, & Cupro

Rayon, modal, lyocell, and cupro are semi-synthetic fabrics that are extremely versatile. They are plant based fabrics with varying environmental impact. home Environment Fibers&Textiles naturalfiberfabrics HempClothing Wool:Cashmere,Alpaca,Mohair,&Angora CottonFabric LinenClothing&JuteClothing SilkFabric Semi-SyntheticFabric:Rayon,Modal,Lyocell,&Cupro syntheticfabrics PolyesterFabric PolyamideFabric/NylonFabric AcrylicFabric leather&leatheralternatives Laundry&Care Shop TheNaturalClothingDirectory TheNaturalClothingLuxuryDirectory ForDesigners Contact Search NaturalClothing home Environment Fibers&Textiles naturalfiberfabrics HempClothing Wool:Cashmere,Alpaca,Mohair,&Angora CottonFabric LinenClothing&JuteClothing SilkFabric Semi-SyntheticFabric:Rayon,Modal,Lyocell,&Cupro syntheticfabrics PolyesterFabric PolyamideFabric/NylonFabric AcrylicFabric leather&leatheralternatives Laundry&Care Shop TheNaturalClothingDirectory TheNaturalClothingLuxuryDirectory ForDesigners Contact HomeenvironmentalimpactSemi-SyntheticFabric:Rayon,Modal,Lyocell,&Cupro Photo:JasminQuaynorviaUnsplash Rayonfabric,modalfabric,lyocellfabric(Tencel),andCuproaremadeof cellulosicfibers.Cellulosicfibers aremadeofanaturalpolymer calledcellulose.Thecelluloseusedtomakefabricsisoftensourced fromwoodpulpandoccasionallyfrombamboo. Celluloseisanextremelyabundantnaturalpolymer.Itisastructuralcomponentfoundinallplants.Forexample, cottonfiberis90%cellulose,woodisusually40-50%cellulose,andhempisabout57%cellulose.Thecelluloseisrenderedsolublefromitssourcebyachemicalprocess.Thismeansitisstrippedfromtheplantanddissolvedintoathickliquidsolution.Thethickliquid(knownasaviscoussolution)isthenspunintofiber.Thefiberisthenusedtomakeyarnsandknitorwovenintofabric. Soaremodal,rayon,lyocell,andCupronaturalfabrics orsyntheticfabrics?Howsustainablearethesefabricsandtheclothingmadefromthem?Let’stakealook. Rayon,modal,lyocell,andCuprofallunderthegroup knownassemi-syntheticfabrics.Theyaremanmadethroughachemicalprocess thattreats thenaturalrawmaterialofcellulose.Rayonfabricwasdevelopedfirstandmodalfabricwasdevelopedasananswertorayon’sweaknesses.Then,lyocellwasmanufacturedtofurtherimproveuponrayonandmodalfabrics.Now,let’slookattheirbasicproperties. whatisrayonfabric? Rayonfabricwasfirstcreatedin1855.Atthetime,itwashighlyregardedas‘artificialsilk‘.Itisanextremelyversatilefabricandcanimitatecotton,wool,silk,andlinenintextureandfeel.Rayonfabricfeelssoftandisverybreathable.Rayonfabricisalsoeasilydyedandknowninthegarmentworldtobeacomfortablewear.Itdoesnotpilleasily,unlikeacrylicclothing. whatisviscoseorviscoserayon? Rayonissometimesreferredtoasviscose,orviscoserayon.Thenameviscosecomesfromtheviscoussolutionthatiscreatedintheprocessofmakingrayon. whatistheenvironmentalimpactofrayon? Rayonismostcommonlymadefromcelluloseextractedfrombeechtrees,pinetrees,andbamboo.Thoughthesearerenewableresourcesthatcanbenefittheenvironmentduringgrowth,theprocessusedtoextractthecellulosetomakerayonusesharshchemicals.Carbondisulfide,ahighlytoxicchemicalandknowntobeahumanreproductivehazard,isusedasasolventinthebeginningoftheprocess.Ammonia,causticsoda,sodiumhydroxide,sulphuricacid,andacetonearealsocommonlyusedintheprocesstoextractthecellulosefromthewoodpulpandtosoftenbamboofibers.Further,mostfactoriesdonothavehighrecoveryratesofthesolvent(mostarenear50%).Thismeansthehazardoussolventisreleasedintotheenvironment. israyonfabricsynthetic? No,rayonisnotsynthetic.Itisasemi-syntheticfabric.Unfortunately,duetothehighenvironmentalimpactoftheproductionofrayon,wesuggestavoidingit.Butdon’tlosehope!Keepreadingforsomegreatdevelopmentsofthesemi-syntheticfamilythatyieldedfantasticalternatives.Now,let’slookathowrayoncomparestomodal. image:HansBraxmeierviaPixabay whatismodal fabric? Modalfabricwasessentiallydevelopedtoimprovetheweaknessesofrayon.Itismostcommonly madefromthecelluloseofbeechtrees.Modalfabricisstrongerwhenwetandsoftertothetouchthanrayon.Thefinalproductfeelsverysimilarintouchtocotton.Modalisahighlybreathablefabricanddoesnottrapperspirationorodors.Thoughverysimilarinfeelandmanypropertiestocotton,modalislighterweightthancotton.Whencottonandmodalmaterialareblended,theresultingfabricislighterthananallcottontextile.Modalclothingoftenhasacharacteristic drape.Modalissometimesreferredtoas‘modalrayon’. whatarethepropertiesofmodalfabric? Modalfabricisawearresistantandsofttextilethatisextremelyversatile.Modalclothing doesnotshrinkorloseitsshapewhenmachinewashedandtumbledried.Clothingmadefrommodalisalsoresistanttofadingandgreying.Createdasasecondgenerationtorayon,modalhasmanyofthesameproperties,butahigherwetstrengththanrayonfabricandincreasedsoftness.A‘higherwetstrength’meansthatmodalfabricismoreresistanttotearsanddamagewhenitbecomeswet. Modalfabricactsverysimilarlytocottonwhentreatedwithdifferentfinishingtechniques.Modalcanbeeasilytreatedto increasestrengthandshine.Thedyingprocessofmodalisverysimilarlytocottonaswell,andthefabriciscolor-fastafterbeingwashedinwarmwater.Modalishighlyabsorbent(around50%moreabsorbentthancotton).Thishighrateofabsorbencypreventsclothingfromfeelingsweatyorsticky. whatismodalfabricusedfor? Modalfabricisapopularoptionforproductswithhighbodycontact,suchaslingerie, undergarments,pajamas,bathtowels,robes,andbedsheets.Modalfibers arecommonlyblended withcotton,wool,orsyntheticfiberstocreateblends.Sincemodalishighlyabsorbentandbreathable,itisoftenusedforactivewear. Thoughnotstretchyitself,whenblendedwithjust5%spandex,modalcreatesabreathable andstretchypiece.Findoutmoreabouttheadvantagesofnaturalfiberunderwearhereandtheadvantagesofnaturalfiberactivewearhere. whatistheenvironmentalimpactofmodal? Theenvironmentalimpactofmodaldependshugelyonthemanufacturer.Lenzing,anAustriancompanywhoyouwillreadmoreaboutbelow,isasuperstarofthesemi-syntheticworld.Theymakeamodalfabricusingcellulosefrombeechtrees.Beechtreespropagatebythemselves,needingnoirrigationorseeding.LenzingsourcesoverhalfofthebeechtreesfromlocalfarmsinAustria,withtheremainderimportedfromneighboringcountries.Theyalsosourceexclusivelyfromforeststhatusesustainablefarmingmethods.Lenzingusesagentletreatmenttoturnthebeechwoodintomodalfabric.Themanufactureralsorecovers95%ofthematerialusedinproduction. ismodalbiodegradable? Yes,modalisbiodegradable.Modalismadefromcelluloseextractedfromwoodfiber,soitwillbreakdownmuchfasterthansyntheticfabrics.NowkeepreadingtoseehowmodalfabriccomparestoTencellyocell. Photo:GregWeaverviaUnsplash whatislyocell?whatisTencel? LyocellfabricisalsoknownbythebrandnameTencel.TencelisproducedbytheAustriantextilegroupLenzing.Lyocellfabricfurtherimprovesonthesemi-syntheticcellulosicfibersofrayonandmodalbyusingnanotechnology.Nojoke!Youmightbewearingnanotechnologyandnotevenknowit–checkitout: whatarethepropertiesofTencel(lyocell)fabric? Themanufacturingprocessoflyocellisolatesnanofibrilsinthecellulose.Theseareessentiallytinyfibersofcellulosethathavepropertiesthatareeasiertomanipulate,mostlyduetotheirsize. Thenanofibrilsarehydrophilic,sotheylovewaterandabsorbmoisturequickly.Thismakeslyocellfabricsexcellentforcoolingandregulatingbodytemperature. Asthenanofibrilsabsorbwaterandmoisture,theymovetheabsorbedmoistureintothefiber,ratherthanleavingitonthesurfacewherebacteriagrows(likewhathappenswithsyntheticfabrics).Syntheticfiberclothingwillhosthundredstothousandstimesmorebacteriaoverthesameamountoftimebetweenwashesaslyocell.Lyocellfabricisnaturally(withoutanychemicaltreatment)antibacterial.Thismeanslyocellclothingislesspronetoodors,allowingyoutowearandwearbeforeyouwash!Notonlydoesthissavewaterandenergybylesswashes,butithelpsincreasethelongevityofyourclothingaswell. Lyocellfabricisalsonaturallyhypoallergenicandextremelygentleonsensitiveskin.Thisis,again,thankstothenanofibrils.Sincethenanofibrilsaresosmall, lyocellissmoothertothetouchonamicroscopiclevelandbeatsmodal,cotton,andwoolinsmoothness.Thisalsomakeslyocellanti-static.Youcanalsoforgothefabricsoftenerwhenwashinglyocellclothing,becauseitisnotneededonthissupersoftfabric. whatdoesLyocellfabricfeellike? Thefinalformoflyocellisextremelyeasytomanipulate.Lyocellfabriccanlookandfeellikeanythingfromsuedetosilktodenim.Itisalsooftenutilizedasafillmaterial,duetoitsefficientmoisturemanagementpropertiesandtemperatureregulatingabilities. isLyocellstretchy? Yes,afabricthatis100%Lyocellcanbestretchy.Lyocellfabric canbemanipulatedtobestretchywithoutbeing blendedwithsyntheticelastomericfiberslikespandex. image:LauraLisauskasviaPixabay whatimpactdorayon,modal,andlyocellhaveontheenvironment? Thefibersofrayon,modal,andlyocellarebiodegradable.Thecelluloseforthesefabricsissourcedfromrenewableplantsincludingbeechtrees,pinetrees,bamboo,andeucalyptustrees. ThecompanyLenzingisareliablesourceforthesefabrics.Lenzingsustainablyharveststhetreesthattheyusetosourcecellulose.Theycreateviscose(avariationofrayon)andmodalfromsustainablyharvestedbeechtrees.Lyocell(Tencel)iscreatedfromsustainablyharvestedeucalyptustrees.Eucalyptustreescanthriveonlandthatisnotfertileenoughforfoodcrops.It’saheartytreethatgrowsquickly,requiresno irrigation,notreatment withpesticides,andnofertilizer.Eucalyptustreesuse20timeslesswaterthancotton.Youcouldsayeucalyptusgrowslikeaweed–averyhelpfulweed. Lenzingalsonowrecyclesthechemicalsusedduringtheirproductionprocess.WhenmakingTencel,Lenzingreusesupto99.8%ofthenon-acidicsolventusedtoextractthecellulose.Theother0.2%ofthesolventisbrokendowninbiologicalwatertreatmentplants.Noneofthesolventremainsintheproducedfiber,andfurther,thesolventisnon-toxicandyieldsinnocuousindermatology tests. Unfortunately,thereareanumberofproducersofrayon,modal,andlyocell,andmanyofthese usepollutingchemicalstogrow,harvest,andmanufacture.Soasalways,weneedtocheckoursources. whatisCupromaterial? Cuproisasemi-syntheticfabricderivedfromanoftenoverlookedpartofthecottonplant:cottonlinter.Cottonlinterisadownyandshortfiberthatencasestheseedsofacottonplant.BeforeCupro,cottonlinterwasoftendiscardedasanunusablebitofcotton. Thecottonlinterundergoesaprocesstoremoveanyimpuritiesandyieldaproductthatispurecellulose.Thecelluloseisthenspunintoyarn.Duetotheprocessing,Cuprohasamuchsofterfeelthanconventionalcottonandcanhaveverysimilarweight,look,luster,andhandto silk. whatarethepropertiesofCupro? Cuproisveryefficientinmoderatingmoistureinabsorptionandrelease.Thefiberhasverytinyporesthatabsorbmoisturequicklyandjustasquicklyreleasethemoisturetotheoutside.Unlikemostsyntheticfabrics,Cuprodoesnotallowmoisturetobecometrappedbetweenyourskinandclothing.Thisisgreatnewsforcomfort,bodyodor,andwashcycles. BecauseofCupro’sgreatabsorptivequality,thefibersarealsorockstarsattemperatureregulation.Tokeepyoucoolinsummer,moistureabsorbedbythefiberspullsyourbodyheattotheoutsidewhereitisreleased.Incoldenvironments,Cuprocanretainyourbodyheat,againutilizingthewaterabsorbedbythefibersasaregulator.Themoistureinthefibersalsopreventsstaticelectricityfromcollectingandbuildingup,thereforprovidinganun-clingyandun-shockinglycomfortablewear.ForthefullrundownofthetechnologybehindCupro,checkoutthesciencehere. Cuproisveryforgivingtosensitiveskin.Infact,studieshavefound Cuprotobemoreagreeableforpeoplewithsensitiveskinthanevensilk. whatistheenvironmentalimpactofCupro? Aswithallcottonproductsandtextilestreatedwithchemicalprocesses,weneedtobecarefulwherewesourceCupro. AsahiKaseiCorporationproducesalargeportionoftheworld’sCuproandhasdeclaredgoalsofzeroemissionandenergyconservation.ThewasteproducedduringtheprocessestocreateCuproisthoroughlyrecycled, withtheoverallrateatnearly100%.Cuproismadewithwhatwouldotherwisebeunusedfibers,sowhatwasformerlyconsideredwaste. TheCuproofAsahiKaseiCorporationisEcoMarkcertified.TheEcoMark isacertificationrecognizedbytheJapanEnvironmentAssociation. Derivedfromanaturalsource,Cuproisfullybiodegradable.Whenplacedinwhatareconsideredaveragesummerconditions(80%humidityat95degreesFahrenheit),Cuproreacheshalfofitsoriginalweightafterjusttwomonths. image:SimonKöhlerviaPexels whatisOrangeFiber? InnovativeItalianbrand,OrangeFiber,developedaresourcefulfabricbyreclaimingthecellulosefromcitrusfruitwaste.Thecelluloseextractedfromindustrialcitrusjuiceproductionbyproductscreatesasilkyyarnthatissoft,lightweight,andallowsforanumberofdifferentfinishesdependingondesiredproductresults.TheOrangeFiberyarniseasilyblendedwithotherfibers.Thecompanycurrentlyoffersarangeoffinishedfabricsincluding atwill,whichisachievedbyblendingtheOrangeFiberwithsilk,apoplin,whichblendstheOrangeFiberwithcotton,andajersey,whichistheresultoftheOrangeFiberblendedwith6%elastane. SalvatoreFerragamoutilizedthishighqualityfabricforadailywearcapsulecollectionreleasedforS/S2017. Now,ifyou’reinterestedincomparingapplestooranges–andleathertosilk–checkouttheinnovativewaythatapplewasteisbeingmadeintoaleatheralternative. RELATEDARTICLESMOREFROMAUTHOR Fibers&Textiles WhyBuyanOrganicMattress? Fibers&Textiles NaturalLeatherandLeatherAlternatives:VeganLeather,Pleather,Apples,&PetriDishes environmentalimpact TheQuickGuidetoSustainableClothing&NaturalFibers environmentalimpact MicrofibersFromLaundryAreASignificantSourceofPlasticWaterPollution Fibers&Textiles Wool:Cashmere,Alpaca,Mohair,&Angora environmentalimpact TheBestPlacestoRecycle&DonateClothing 5COMMENTS Reallyinteresting,thanks…..herebecauseIboughtadressinacharityshopanddidn’tknowwhatCuprois! Reply […]youseeviscoseitreallyisjustanothernameforrayonandhasthesameproperties. Ifyouseelyocellormodalit’sadifferentstory. Thesetypesofrayonareproduceddifferentlyandhavedifferent[…] Reply […]isagreatmaterialforthatluxuriouslookandfeel.Plus,it’sdurableandbiodegradable.BambooRayonorLyocelle(akaTencel)aresustainablealternativestonaturalmaterials.Bonus:theyaresourcedfromnaturalmaterials[…] Reply […]&Cupro:HowSemi-SyntheticFabricsAreMade&TheirProperties.[online]Availableat:https://www.naturalclothing.com/modal-rayon-lyocell-cupro-semi-synthetic-fabric/[Accessed4Oct.[…] Reply […]https://www.naturalclothing.com/modal-rayon-lyocell-cupro-semi-synthetic-fabric/[…] Reply LEAVEAREPLYCancelreply Pleaseenteryourcomment! Pleaseenteryournamehere Youhaveenteredanincorrectemailaddress! Pleaseenteryouremailaddresshere Savemyname,email,andwebsiteinthisbrowserforthenexttimeIcomment. 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