Comparison

Among Man-made
Fibers
Polyester, Rayon and Acrylics

Durability
Comfort
Enviromental Effect

Cotton
Naturals
Flax
Fibers

Polyeste
r
Manmade

Rayon
Acrylics

Polyester
Durabili
ty

Ease for care and wrinkle-free

More durable
Superior water, wind and
environmental resistance
Tenacity : < 6.0 grams/denier

Comfo
rt

Not suitable for sensitive skin

because its petroleum-based
synthetic fibers
Moisture regains: very low, <
0.5%
Can result in static electricity
(collection of electrically charged
particle of materials)
Less air permeable fiber; major
portion is hydrophobic which
hardly allows moisture through
fabrics

Enviromen
tal Effect

As its made of petroleum,

may have slight edge.

Use large amount of water

for cooling, along with
lubricants which can
become source of
contamination.

Rayon
Manufacture from regenerated
cellulose.
Its properties are mostly controlled
during manufacture time.
Regular rayon Tenacities = 1.5
2.4 grams/denier
Used in fabrics for apparel (comfy &
can be handled and laundered as
cotton) and home furnishings

Acrylics
Made up of linear polymers formed
by addition polymerization of at least
85% by weight of acrylonitrile.
3.1 millions metric tons produced
annually.
Low strength level (2.5 3.0
grams/denier)
Moisture regain is < 2%
Durable & easy care (laundering and
ironing)

Competition of
Cotton With Other
Man-made Fibers

 After years of demand erosion, cotton has

lost its top spot to synthetic competitors
Yarn mills have switched spindles to polyester
and its cohorts due to years of high cotton
prices and improving synthetic technology
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend, and
cotton's true enemy is synthetic fibers," the
International Cotton Advisory Committee said
in a statement on Tuesday.
Polyester claims about 52.5% of world fibre
market share, with cotton at about 31% to
32%

 Theres few latest manufactured fabrics,

especially the blended one (e.g. : cottonpolyester)
The blended version gives new properties
such as for cotton-polyester, it have the
comfort of cotton and durability of polyester.
The latest fabrics innovation that could be
cotton rival is bamboo fabrics.
Bamboo fabrics is softer, require less water
and less pesticides compared to cotton.
But the price is much costly than cotton.

Bamboo
Quick growth, an easily renewable resource.
Requires 1/3 the amount of water to grow
that cotton uses and has NO natural pests.
Highly water absorbent.
Cross-section of the fibre filled with various
micro-gaps and micro-holes, has much better
moisture absorption and ventilation.
Moisture absorbency is twice than that of
cotton.
Bio-degradable