Fibers, Part 5: Semi-Synthetic Fibers

Hello,

This time, I'd like to write in detail about "semi-synthetic fibers."

The previous article is linked at the bottom of the page, so please check it out there.

Semi-synthetic fibers, like regenerated fibers, use natural materials such as wood pulp as raw materials, but they are made by adding chemicals to these modified raw materials and then processing them into fibers.

They can be said to be fibers that possess elements of both regenerated and synthetic fibers.

Semi-synthetic fibers are classified into "cellulose-based" and others.

Cellulose-based fibers include acetate and triacetate.

Others include Promix and chlorinated rubber.

Let's look at the characteristics of cellulose-based acetate and triacetate.

Both acetate and triacetate use wood pulp as a raw material.

Because this wood pulp is bonded with acetic acid to form fibers, they are classified as semi-synthetic fibers.

Triacetate has more acetic acid bonded than acetate, so it exhibits stronger characteristics of synthetic fibers.

Acetate has a silk-like luster, drape, and texture, and possesses moderate moisture absorption and wicking properties. Its thermoplasticity makes it easy to pleat, and it is used in women's clothing.

Triacetate has almost the same properties as acetate, but exhibits more of the characteristics of synthetic fibers. Therefore, it is slightly superior in strength and heat resistance, but its water absorption is slightly lower.

Now, let's look at another characteristic of Promix.

A major characteristic of Promix is ​​that its raw material is milk.

Developed with the aim of replicating silk, Promix is ​​a fiber created by focusing on the protein contained in milk, aiming to create a fiber using the same animal protein as silk.

Because it is made by graft polymerizing the protein extracted from milk with acrylonitrile, it is classified as a semi-synthetic fiber.

It is close to silk in feel and luster, and overcomes silk's weakness of being susceptible to insects.

Toyobo used to produce it under the trademark "Shinon," but it seems that production has already ceased.

Now, regarding semi-synthetic fibers, there are some newly developed ones.

For example, the regenerated collagen fiber developed by Kaneka Corporation.

This is also a semi-synthetic fiber.

It's a fiber made from collagen extracted from animals, resulting in a very soft and supple fiber.

We've also written an article introducing this collagen fiber, which you can find at the link below.

Summary of today's points:

Semi-synthetic fibers are made by adding chemicals to natural raw materials such as wood pulp.

They are classified into cellulose-based and others.

Cellulose-based fibers include "acetate" and "triacetate."

Others include "Promix," etc.

Acetate and triacetate are fibers with a luster and texture similar to silk. Triacetate has a higher proportion of chemicals than acetate, giving it more synthetic fiber characteristics.

Promix is ​​a fiber made from milk protein, aiming to replicate silk.

Toyobo used to produce it under the trademark "Shinon," but production has now ceased.

Thank you for reading to the end.

Next time, I'll write about "synthetic fibers."

References

Aichi Prefectural Textile Promotion Association (2016) "TEXTILE HANDBOOK"

Teruhiko Ichimi (2014) "Easy-to-Understand Knowledge of Apparel Materials, Revised Edition" Seiunsha

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