Cotton Fibers – the king of fibers

Artificial Cotton – New Technology

The invention belongs to the technical field of artificial cotton. A new artificial cotton technology comprises various barks, 10% of a sodium hydroxide solution, 10% of sulfuric acid, and 12% of bleaching powder.

The new artificial cotton technology comprises: performing air drying on barks stripped from trees, putting in a pot, adding clean water accounting for 5-6 times of the raw materials, and adding 10% of the sodium hydroxide solution, stirring uniformly, boiling for 1-2 hours, when the barks are in a threadlike state, washing off superfluous alkali liquid with water, then adding sulfuric acid accounting for 10% by weight of the raw materials and Kaoliang spirit accounting for 10% by weight of the raw materials for washing and softening, when the barks are in a velvet state, adding a bleaching powder saturated solution in which bleaching powder accounts for 12% by weight of the raw materials and bleaching, washing clean, slightly pressing for drying and then placing into paleo-oil for uniformly stirring and softening, draining and removing the oil, then drying in sunlight, processing by a cotton fluffer to obtain the artificial cotton.

How do you care for Cotton fabric?

Cotton can be machine-washed or dry cleaned, and the instructions vary based on the color of the fabric and its composition (such as a cotton blend). Make sure to check the label for washing instructions.

• Pretreat any stains before washing.
• Wash like colors together to prevent any bleeding. Darker colors should be washed in cold water, while lighter colors can be washed on a warm or cool cycle.
• Bleach can be used on cotton.
• Cotton does tend to shrink, so if you are sewing with cotton, make sure to pre-wash your fabrics.
• Cotton can be hung dry or tumble-dried. Be aware that cotton wrinkles easily and shrinks, so if you want to avoid shrinkage, line dry and remove from the dryer quickly to avoid excess wrinkles.

Some Facts on Cotton

• Of all the natural fibers, cotton is the most important.
• Approximately 125 million bales are produced annually, by far the largest amount of all-natural fibers.
• It is produced in 90 countries around the globe.
• It is an economic catalyst for developing countries as well as a mainstay of industrial nations.
• Fluctuation of cotton production and use is closely monitored because oversupply and undersupply affect the price and economic conditions of the entire pipeline from farmer to consumer.
• A standard bale weighs 500 pounds (226.8 kilograms)
• Cotton is a seed fiber – i.e. it is attached to the seed of the cotton plant – and has been used for over 1000 years.
• It is the most widely used fiber in the world.
• The leading producers of cotton include the United States, China, India, Turkey, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. Egyptian cotton is of high-quality, long-staple cotton.
• Cotton is classified not only by its species, but also by its fiber length, color, and cleanliness (leaf and stem content), all of which contribute to the cost of the fiber.
• The fiber length is the most important because the longer the staple length, the better the fiber properties. Additionally, color and cleanliness can be addressed in processing.
• It is a plant fiber and hence cotton is composed mainly of cellulose.
• It is a medium-weight fiber of natural cream or tan color with a length between 1/2 and 2 1/2 inches (1.27 and 6.35 cm).
• Most cotton used is about 1 to 1 ½ inches (2.54 to 3.18 cm) long.
• Under a microscope, cotton looks like a flat twisted tube

Advantages of Cotton

• The fiber has good strength and abrasion resistance.
• It is hydrophilic (8 1/2 percent moisture regain), absorbs moisture quickly, and dries quickly.
• Quick-drying gives a cooling effect, which makes cotton a comfortable fiber to wear in hot weather.
• It has a 10 percent increase in strength when wet, which makes it completely launderable.
• It is dry cleanable and has no static or pilling problems. It has a fair drape and a soft hand, and it is inexpensive.

Disadvantages of Cotton

• Cotton has little luster and has poor elasticity and resiliency.
• It is attacked by mildew and silyerfish.
• It is highly resistant to alkalies but is weakened by resin chemicals used in finishing.
• It is also compromised when exposed to acids which can be used to create a ‘worn’ look or holes in jeans.
• Cotton fabrics form lint because the short fibers are able to come out of the fabric easily.

End Uses of Cotton

• The end uses of cotton include a wide range of products in apparel, interior furnishings, and industrial areas.
• Examples include blouses, jeans, jackets, towels, sheets, trousers, T-shirts, belts, and sneakers.
• It takes about 24 ounces of cotton fiber to make an average pair of jeans and about 8 ounces to make a T-shirt. ( 1 ounce = 28.34 grams)