Every housewife encounters microfiber, or rather products made from it. The material is widely used in home care products, clothing, furniture upholstery, and much more. But here's the question: what does microfiber consist of? Microfiber - what kind of fabric is it, or is it an artificially created material?
What is microfiber
Microfiber is a fabric made from the finest fibers of various origins. The fibers can be natural - microfleece, or synthetic - micropolyester. The prefix micro- in the name indicates the microscopic thickness of the fibers used in production, it is about 0.06 microns. The second well-known name for the material is microfiber.
History of the origin of fabric
The fabric was invented in Japan in the 1970s. It was there that the finest threads, fibers, were first made, and products made from them were called microfiber. Swedish scientists managed to split the fiber several times more at the end of the last century. Since then, production volumes have been steadily growing.
Manufacturing technology
The production process is extremely complex. First of all, it is necessary to obtain ultra-thin fiber. Most often, polyamide and polyester are used for this. Extruders are used for production - units for softening materials and giving them the necessary shape by squeezing them through a nozzle of the desired profile.
Note! Thus, microfiber is extruded in the form of a double thread - an internal "star" made of polyamide and an external contour made of polyester. After the thread passes through the extruder, it is cooled with water, as a result of which many micropores are formed in each fiber. It is due to them that the high hydrophilicity of the fabric is ensured.
But natural materials are also used as a base for microfiber.
Microfiber, fabric composition:
- natural cotton;
- artificial fibers;
- synthetic fibers;
- viscose or cellulose;
- polymers.
Important information! There is another type of fabric - micro pile (micro pile). What kind of fabric is micro pile? These are thin fibers, due to which the contact of clothes made of such fabric with the body is minimal. The fabric is "double". When wet, the pile dries quickly under the influence of body temperature. The outer side protects from adverse weather, so the fabric maintains a comfortable microclimate. Sweat is absorbed by the inner material and released to the outside, from where it successfully evaporates.
Characteristics and properties
Microfiber material has a unique absorbent capacity. It can be said that microfiber is a sponge with the following properties:
- does not leave behind fibers and does not scratch the surface;
- does not fade, holds color well;
- does not roll, does not tear, does not wrinkle;
- capable of absorbing much more than regular fabric;
- removes fat without the use of aggressive chemicals;
- dries quickly after washing.
Note! Fiber fabric does not rub dirt over the surface: thanks to its many pores, it lifts dirt and holds it in itself. The cleaned surface remains clean, dry and polished.
Types of products
According to the type of material produced, the following can be distinguished:
- non-woven fabric, it is used for the care of optics and screens;
- woven fabric. It has high wear resistance and is used to make upholstery for sofas, armchairs, and car interiors;
- knitted or jersey fabric is used for sewing clothes, tights, bed linen, and making home textiles;
- Artificial suede is used to make shoes and outerwear.
Important information! A separate type of product is microfiber yarn, which consists of synthetic threads. It is most often used for knitting summer openwork items.
Tips for choosing
The selection of products should be carried out in accordance with the following rules:
- the price cannot be too low, there is a risk of buying a fake;
- pay attention to the composition of the fibers and the uniformity of coloring, which determine the properties of the fabric;
- The label must contain care instructions for the material that do not contradict the general principles of microfiber care.
- your own tactile senses when touching fabric, clothing and bedding should give you a feeling of comfort.
How to care for microfiber products
The products can be washed and cleaned, but the following recommendations must be followed:
- temperature regime no more than 60 °C;
- do not use bleach or fabric softener;
- do not dry on a radiator;
- Do not iron;
- Furniture can be wiped with a soap solution applied to a sponge.
Pros and cons of microfiber
This amazing material has a number of special advantages. These include the following properties:
- absorbs moisture perfectly;
- breathable;
- the possibility of painting in all kinds of colors;
- color fastness;
- does not leave lint on the surface of other fabrics and furniture;
- easy to care for;
- antifungal effect;
- durability, no deformation.
The disadvantages are not so numerous, but still present:
- risk of developing an allergy to fibers;
- due to static electricity, lint and dust particles “stick” to the fabric;
- high cost (compared to other materials).
Microfiber is most often synthetic.
Note! But the same cotton-based material rarely causes allergies, and dust particles will not stick to it.
Microfiber Bedding Manufacturers
Microfiber bed linen is in great demand. When choosing, pay attention to the following factors:
- there should be no chemical odors;
- the fabric should not fade or stain your hands;
- There should be no deformation of the material after washing at a temperature of no more than 60 °C.
Note! You should buy underwear from trusted manufacturers at official retail outlets.
List of manufacturers of quality underwear:
- Morpheus (Russia);
- ARYA (Türkiye);
- Dophia (Türkiye);
- Valtery (China).
Customer Reviews
Nadezhda, 42: “I work for a cleaning company, cleaning apartments and offices. I never thought about what all these rags and mop attachments that we are given for work are made of. But I went to buy some for myself, because I also need to clean at home, I looked at the composition - the label says that it is 100% microfiber. Now I will know that this is what helps to remove dust and wash floors so well.”
Irina, 34: “I discovered inexpensive microfiber bed linen. I used to buy only calico, I wasn’t very happy with the quality, but satin is too expensive for me. I spent the night at my friends’ place, and the bed was covered with linen that was very pleasant to the touch. In the morning, I asked what it was made of and found out that microfiber is also used for sewing. And it’s relatively inexpensive. It’s amazing, because I had no idea before that you could sew anything from it except cleaning rags.”
Elena, 18: “I once bought a pair of tights that looked ordinary. I put them on at home, tried them on — they fit perfectly. I looked at the label and couldn’t believe it. Microfiber — what kind of material is that? Can you really make tights out of it? It turns out you can, and they’re quite comfortable. And they’re also warm in winter. Now I always read the ingredients and look for these.”
Microfiber material is high-quality bed linen, sportswear, comfortable shoes and home textiles. Children's clothing made of microfiber is even approved by pediatricians. The fabric is gradually conquering not only the market, but also the recognition of buyers.
