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.

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Acrylic textile blanket.

Characteristics & Source

Created in 1950
Engineered to imitiate wool
Resists sunlight damage
Flammable
Hydrophobic
Textiles used for awnings and upholstered outdoor furniture
Used for residential carpets
Lower melting point than nylon which can make it look dirty when melted
Adds stability to fabrics used for upholstery
Foam backing is applied to drapery for insulation

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Acrylic textile drapery.

Production & Maintenance

Fibers made by synthesizing monomers of natural gas, air, water, and petroleum
Filaments can be either dry or wet spun
Blended with nylon and wool to create upholstered fabrics
Used to coat other fabrics to become wallcoverings
Warm or cold water and soap to clean
Vacuum to remove dust and dirt

Acrylic textile carpet.

Environmental Impact

Not sustainable
Not biodegradable
Production is energy-intensive
Cannot be recycled
Poor indoor air quality affects as VOCs used in production
High life-cycle costs

Upholstery

Can be spot resistance coated with polyurethane or vinyl to increase water repellency and abrasion resistance
Desired texture and color varies
Used for chairs, couches, benches, and more
Must pass tests to determine durability, fire safety, and more

ASTM Standards:

ASTM D5103-07(2018): Standard Test Method for Length and Length Distribution of Manufactured Staple Fibers (Single-Fiber Test)
ASTM D629-99: Standard Test Methods for Quantitative Analysis of Textiles

Organization: textileexchange.org

Acrylic textile upholstery.

Application

Resources

Images:

Direct Textile
Revolution Fabrics
Dezeen

Information:

Textile Exchange
ASTM
Sail Rite
Jon Don

Page by Michelle Dooge

Acrylic textile awning.