Acrylic
Acrylic is a very common textile and fiber that can be engineered to create desired qualities. It can also be combined with other materials to create durability.
Acrylic textile blanket.
Characteristics & Source
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Created in 1950
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Engineered to imitiate wool
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Resists sunlight damage
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Flammable
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Hydrophobic
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Textiles used for awnings and upholstered outdoor furniture
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Used for residential carpets
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Lower melting point than nylon which can make it look dirty when melted
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Adds stability to fabrics used for upholstery
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Foam backing is applied to drapery for insulation
Acrylic textile drapery.
Production & Maintenance
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Fibers made by synthesizing monomers of natural gas, air, water, and petroleum
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Filaments can be either dry or wet spun
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Blended with nylon and wool to create upholstered fabrics
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Used to coat other fabrics to become wallcoverings
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Warm or cold water and soap to clean
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Vacuum to remove dust and dirt
Acrylic textile carpet.
Environmental Impact
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Not sustainable
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Not biodegradable
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Production is energy-intensive
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Cannot be recycled
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Poor indoor air quality affects as VOCs used in production
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High life-cycle costs
Upholstery
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Can be spot resistance coated with polyurethane or vinyl to increase water repellency and abrasion resistance
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Desired texture and color varies
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Used for chairs, couches, benches, and more
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Must pass tests to determine durability, fire safety, and more
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ASTM Standards:
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ASTM D5103-07(2018): Standard Test Method for Length and Length Distribution of Manufactured Staple Fibers (Single-Fiber Test)
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ASTM D629-99: Standard Test Methods for Quantitative Analysis of Textiles
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Organization: textileexchange.org​
Acrylic textile upholstery.
Application
Resources
Images:
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Direct Textile
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Revolution Fabrics
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Dezeen
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Information:
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Textile Exchange
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ASTM
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Sail Rite
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Jon Don
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Page by Michelle Dooge
Acrylic textile awning.