Acrylic - what kind of material is it, advantages and disadvantages of fabric and threads

Acrylic is a pleasant to the touch fabric. The material is widely used in the production of various clothing items. It is unique in its properties and has a number of obvious advantages.

Acrylic - what kind of material is it?

Acrylic is a synthetic fabric made from acrylic fibers. That is why the material has such a name. The name of the fabric is translated as acrylic resin. It is used mainly for the production of knitted wardrobe items. Acrylic sweaters attract consumers with their pleasant appearance and softness.

What is polyacrylic

Polyacrylic is often called artificial wool due to the fact that the material resembles animal wool in appearance. It is obtained by processing petroleum products. The fiber is threads, fluffy and twisted, capable of binding a large amount of air, due to which it retains heat well.

Some cashmere substitutes are made from acrylic. The material has a more attractive appearance than real cashmere. In addition, it is part of many natural fabrics.

What is the difference between acrylic and polyacrylic

Polyacrylic is a synonymous name for acrylic. Very often this material is called orlon, polyacrylonitrile, PAN fiber, nitron, krylor, prelan. The listed names are difficult to remember, so the first version of the name of the fabric "acrylic" is most often used.

History of creation

The material was first manufactured by DuPont. Today, the company no longer exists, but the fabric that was first produced on its territory is still extremely popular.

This material competed with nylon, which was popular at the time, but it was difficult to dye. That is why manufacturers decided to continue research to improve the fabric, which could be dyed without much difficulty. In 1952, they managed to obtain a fiber that met all the requirements. It was called "acrylic".

Production technology

The manufacturing process and what acrylic is made of are interesting. Acrylonitrile is used in the manufacturing process. The substance is used to make plastic. The main component itself is a toxic substance. However, in combination with other elements, it quickly disintegrates, due to which the synthetic fiber remains safe for use. Therefore, the composition of acrylic is completely safe for humans.

In the industrial production process, the solution is rotated and squeezed into the air or water through special equipment. As a result of simple manipulations, it hardens. After this, the fiber is thoroughly washed, dried, and then cut to length. After some time, it is twisted into a ball. The end result is a material that is subsequently used to produce various items of clothing.

Material properties

Acrylic is unique in its properties. The main characteristics of the synthetic material are:

• ease;
• high wear resistance;
• excellent heat retention ability;
• moisture-repellent ability;
• elasticity, good stretchability;
• ease of dyeing fibers.

Natural or not

Acrylic is not a natural fabric, it is a synthetic fiber. That is why its cost is much lower than that of natural materials. It is very important to be able to distinguish artificial fabric from natural analogues, so as not to fall for the trick of unscrupulous manufacturers who try to pass off synthetics as natural materials.

How to identify acrylic

It is not so difficult to distinguish acrylic from natural fabric. When burning, synthetic fiber melts, forming black smoke and a characteristic sour smell.

What is made from acrylic fibers?

Acrylic is used in its pure form and in combination with other materials. It is used to produce various wardrobe items: hats, sweaters, socks and knitting yarn. Many manufacturers add it to natural fabrics, thus trying to reduce the cost of manufactured clothing items. Acrylic is often added to outerwear. The wool becomes softer.

Synthetic fiber is widely used for the production of advertising banners. The demand for the material in this area is due to its ability to maintain its original appearance for a long time.

Features of acrylic yarn products

Products made of synthetic fiber have a pleasant appearance and retain their properties for a long time. Acrylic items are durable and can last for five or even ten years.

Acrylic products do not wrinkle and have a pleasant texture.

Simple rules of care

Thanks to its unique properties, acrylic products are easy to care for, much easier than clothes and textiles made from natural materials.

Dry cleaning is allowed. Hand washing is preferred.

You can only clean synthetic items in the washing machine at low temperatures and only using suitable detergents and fabric softener.

It is strictly forbidden to overdry items made of synthetic fiber. Otherwise, the appearance will be irreparably damaged.

It is recommended to dry acrylic items horizontally without using heating devices. It is also better to avoid exposure to direct sunlight and strong heating. If necessary, iron items made of synthetic material only through gauze or thin fabric.

Compliance with all conditions will not only preserve the structure and beauty of clothing and interior items, but will also significantly increase their service life.

Manufacturers and brands

Many brands use synthetic fibers in production, including acrylic. It is impossible to single out a brand that specializes in the production of clothing exclusively from artificial fabric. Since the range of absolutely every clothing brand includes items partially or completely made of acrylic.

Pros and cons

Acrylic, being one of the most popular materials, has a number of advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include the absolute safety of the material. It is durable and can retain its appearance and original properties for a long time. The versatility of the material is also an undeniable advantage.

Despite its many advantages, the fabric also has disadvantages:

• does not absorb moisture;
• does not allow air to pass through;
• low-quality material quickly becomes unusable and loses its original appearance;
• after long wearing, pellets appear;
• static electricity accumulates during the process of wearing clothes;
• When constantly exposed to direct sunlight, things lose their original properties.

Reviews of the material

Consumers have good reviews for acrylic items.

Anna

"Not everyone knows what acrylic is. I tried on a jumper in a store, it was very soft and pleasant to the touch. I looked at the composition and was upset. The tag said that it was made of acrylic. And the price was quite high for synthetics. But I still took the risk of buying it. And I didn't regret it one bit. I completely changed my mind about the material, although I had been skeptical about it before."

Lena

"I must be from another planet, but I love wearing acrylic. Surprisingly, I don't even sweat on my T-shirt when I wear it. After several washes, my favorite sweater didn't become covered in pilling and bobbles, despite the fact that the composition says "100% acrylic."

Marina

"A lot depends on the quality of the material. There are cheap, squeaky and rough ones, and there are soft ones. I've been buying things made of acrylic for several years now."

Despite the fact that many have heard of a fabric called acrylic, not everyone knows what it is.