Synthetic Fibers

IN MY INTERIORS CLASS FOCUSED ON FABRICS & MATERIALS I'VE LEARNED...

There are two types of fabric, natural and man-made, also known as synthetic.  Synthetic fibers are produced in concrete factory through a process using petrochemicals. The variation of petrochemicals allows for an even wider range of fabrics to be created; such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic, along with others less popular.

Synthetic fibers are designed to have very unique qualities that separate them from natural fabrics. Man-made fibers tend to be hydrophobic, meaning they repel water. They are thermoplastic so they soften or melt when heated. Synthetic fabric are non-allergenic, and also do not harbor other allergens like mildew and moths. A negative feature of synthetic clothes is there tendency to collect static electricity. They also are not biodegradable, although some specific fabrics can be recycled. All of these qualities combined make up the various cloths that we use in everyday products.

The most common synthetic fabric is polyester. It comes in a variety of forms and uses. Polyester is resistant to light, fading, and wrinkling. It is dimensionally stable and easy to clean.  From an interior designer’s perspective, polyester is used mainly for upholstery; more specifically for drapery, hospital partitions, wall coverings, and panel fabric. 

Another type of man-made fabric is nylon. Nylon is high volume, low cost, and great for heavily trafficked areas. Nylon has a few more negative aspects in comparison to polyester. It is the most vulnerable to pulling and sags in the humidity. It is also not flame-retardant; however it can be treated to pass most interior fire codes. Nylon is commonly mixed with wool and used in a large majority of indoor carpets.

In addition to polyester and nylon, acrylic is a fabric made through petrochemicals. Most acrylic fabrics are soft, bulky, and warm. Unfortunately though, acrylic is unpopular for use on furniture because of its low abrasion resistance and its inability to be made flame- retardant. However, a slightly altered version of acrylic known as modacrylic has been made as a flame-retardant substitute.

           This is just a short list of the most common and most important synthetic man-made fabrics used by interior designers. While they may not hold all the benefits of natural fabrics or be as environmentally sensitive they do serve a purpose; polyester, nylon, acrylic, even olefin and spandex, all of them have a worthwhile use currently in our society.