SYNTHETIC FABRICS: ACETATE

History

ACETATEWASCREATEDINTHE1860S FROM CELLULOSE. IT WAS USED TO REPLACE SILK, ALSO KNOWN AS RAYON OR VISCOUS, AND THE FIRST ARTIFICIAL FIBER. THE NAME COMES FROM THE ACETIC ACID THAT DISSOLVES THE WOOD PULP. IN THE 1920S, CELANESE CORPORATION, A BRITISH FACTORY STARTED PRODUCING ACETATE YARN. ITS EARLIEST SUCCESSFUL FABRIC WAS MOIRE.

Techinical Propertires

ACETATEISSMOOTHANDSOFTWITH A GOOD DRAPE. IT HAS POOR ABRASIONRESISTANCEBUTDOESN'T PILL. IT DRIES QUICKLY AND IS HYPOALLERGENIC. IT WICKS MOISTURE AND CANNOT BE DYED, UNLESSWHENUSINGDISPERSEDYES.

ITMELTSANDHIGHHEATANDTHEFIBERSAREDRYSPUN. THE FIBER IS WHITE, STRIATED, AND HAS AN IRREGULAR CROSS-SECTION. IT IS LUSTROUS BUT CANBEDULL.ITISVERYWEAKWHENWET,ANDHAS POORRESISTANCETOABRASION,POORELASTICITY, ANDRESILIENCE.ITCANSHRINKINLAUNDRYANDIN HIGH TEMPERATURES BUT CAN BE TREATED TO PREVENT SHRINKING. ACETATE CAN FADE FROM POLLUTION AND CAN DEGRADE FROM SILVERFISH, SUNLIGHT,ANDMILDEW.