G08: Sciences - Synthetic Materials: Synthetic Fibers

About half of the textiles produced in the world are made from man-made fibers. Hundreds of these materials have been studied during the past 100 years, but only about a dozen have properties good enough—and are priced low enough—to compete successfully with the natural fibers such as cotton, wool, silk, and flax. The names of the major man-made fibers—rayon, acetate, polyester, nylon, acrylic—are well known.

Fibers are long strands of molecules interwoven to form a linear, stringlike structure. They may be natural or made by humans and are essential to clothing, industry, and our very bodies. Natural fibers are of plant or animal origin. In many cases, synthetic fibers mimic natural fibers.

If wood is the world's most versatile natural material, nylon is probably the most useful synthetic one. It's a plastic that can be molded into everyday products or drawn into fibers for making fabrics—and its launch in the late 1930s truly changed the world. Don't believe me? Let me explain.

Major technological innovations such as gunpowder, GPS and freeze dried ice cream are more likely to be credited to military research than to women’s undergarments, but one humble pair of lady’s stockings in the Smithsonian collections represents nothing less than the dawn of a new age—the age of synthetics.

The answer lies in the basic but remarkable molecular structure of cotton, nylon and water. The simple water molecule, with its one oxygen atom attached to two hydrogen atoms, causes a different action when it comes in conta­ct with the complex molecules that make up cotton and nylon.

Outdoor stadium seats, ski bindings, tire reinforcements and other products that require strength, durability and weather resistance are all made with a type of nylon called nylon 6-6. However, producing this material requires an environmentally unfriendly process, the first step of which uses the endangered element zinc as a catalyst. Now, researchers have developed “greener” methods for this step that use alternative metals. They might even be able to substitute waste iron in the form of rust, or ferric oxide, for the endangered element.

For centuries humankind has relied upon various plants and animals to provide the raw materials for fabrics and clothing. Silkworms, sheep, beaver, buffalo deer, and even palm leaves are just some of the natural resources that have been used to meet these needs. However, in the last century scientists have turned to chemistry and technology to create and enhance many of the fabrics we now take for granted.

Who invented polyester fabric?
The British scientists John Whinfield and James Dickson first invented polyester cloth in 1941 in England. World War II had made it hard to get cotton, and British people needed clothes to wear!

So, what’s the big difference between cotton and polyester fabric? There are those who swear by cotton, but cheaper polyester is pretty tempting, isn’t it? You may think that the lower cost of polyester means a lower quality product, but that isn’t necessarily the case.

Polyester is great for some projects, while cotton is great for others. The real trick is to weigh the pros and cons to decide which is the right choice for you. Some people only want to work with 100% cotton because it’s so easy to sew and is predictable. You know exactly what you’re getting. Others prefer polyester because it’s long-lasting and usually less expensive.
Let’s go over each.