Viscose is an artificial fabric of plant origin.

Greetings, dear reader! Today I propose to talk about one of the most popular fabrics - viscose. Why did she win the hearts of consumers so much? What kind of “pie” is this and what do you eat it with? Let's figure it out together.

1. History of the creation of viscose; 2. Technological process for the production of viscose; 3. What is viscose?; 4. Types of viscose fabrics; 5. Advantages and disadvantages of viscose fabric; 6. Use of viscose fabric; 7. Care of viscose; 8. Customer reviews.

History of fabric

Viscose is a young fabric. The technology for producing artificial fabric fibers from natural plant materials was invented at the end of the 19th century. Scientific developments were carried out earlier, but did not bring success. The French scientist Guiller de Chardonnay presented the world with the prototype of viscose in 1889. But his discovery did not spread further due to a significant drawback: the invented fabric was easily flammable.

Chemists from England Charles Cross and Edward Bevan improved the fabric production process and in 1892 received a patent for viscose. The material began to be used in the textile industry.

The name of the fabric comes from the Latin language, translated as “viscous”, reflects the process of creating the material from a thick viscous mass of recycled cellulose.

Viscose fiber

Viscose fiber

(from the Latin viscosus - sticky) - an artificial cellulose fiber obtained by processing natural cellulose. Produced in the form of textile and cord threads and staple fiber.

Viscose fiber is one of the first artificial fibers to find practical application: the process for producing viscose fiber was developed at the end of the 19th century and, with minimal modifications, is used to this day. The process of producing viscose fiber consists of the following stages:

• Preparation of spinning solution from cellulose - viscose (cellulose xanthate)
• Wet spinning of thread by pressing viscose through spinnerets into an acid bath with cellulose regeneration
• Finishing and drying

Viscose fiber is easily dyed with dyes for natural fibers (cotton, flax), is hygroscopic, which determines the high hygienic qualities of the fabric made from it, and, due to the availability of raw materials and reagents used in production, is relatively inexpensive.

Disadvantages of viscose fiber include easy creasing, significant loss of strength when wet, and poor abrasion resistance. These shortcomings can be eliminated to varying degrees by subsequent modifications and processing.

How it is produced

Viscose is produced from waste from the wood processing industry: tree bark and sawdust. The raw material for its creation is wood cellulose. The fiber creation process consists of successive steps.

1. Prepare the raw materials. The wood is crushed into small chips and boiled in an alkaline solution under pressure for 24 hours. A gray viscous cellulose mass is obtained.
2. The mass is squeezed through special small filters, forming fibers, and placed in an acid solution.
3. The fibers are processed, given the required appearance and properties, bleached, and dyed.
4. The resulting threads are dried.

Searched for with this fabric: bamboo fabric

Viscose threads can be divided into 3 groups:

• thin textile thread;
• durable and dense technical cord thread;
• short staple thread.

To create the fabric, various types of thread weave are used: plain, twill, satin, jacquard; products woven with finely patterned weaving are often found. The appearance of the fabric depends on the weaving method.

Production

What is viscose fabric? The definition can be given as follows: natural fiber obtained artificially. How can these two concepts go together? Yes, very simple! You will understand everything when we tell you what viscose fabric is made from.

The basis of the material is cellulose, a substance found in wood. In principle, this is everything that matter is made of. Thus, answering the question what kind of fabric is viscose, whether it is natural or not, we can answer - completely natural. After all, it is obtained from natural material, and not from oil and gas processing products.

Let's look at the main production steps:

• Raw materials (wood) are cleaned, crushed and pre-treated
• Dissolves and removes excess liquid
• The resulting cellulose mass is pressed through filters and fibers are formed
• Fiber processing - drying, pressing, bleaching, and then dyeing

So, processed viscose - what kind of fabric does it make?

Application

• Viscose is used for sewing casual clothes for children and adults: dresses, skirts, T-shirts, blouses, shirts.
• The fabric is used to make beautiful evening dresses .
• The material is suitable for sewing home clothes , underwear and sleepwear.
• Home textiles are made from viscose : pillows, blankets, bedspreads, bed linen, curtains, tablecloths.
• The fabric is used as lining material .
• The material is used in the shoe industry to make the top layer of shoes.

Prices

The cost of fabric depends on its composition, density, manufacturer, and variety. Viscose production is developing in the world. During Soviet times, Russia produced viscose in many factories. Then this direction stopped developing. Almost all the viscose on our shelves is imported. The main supplier of raw materials for the production of viscose is China. He is also the largest fabric manufacturer. This industry is actively developing in Uzbekistan.

However, fabrics from domestic manufacturers are also appearing on the market. They mainly produce viscose lining fabrics. The price of 1 meter of such lining twill is 250 rubles. viscose lining from Italy is more expensive. Its price is about 700–900 rubles. per meter

A meter of fine viscose knitwear can be bought for 700–900 rubles. Dense material will cost more. Printed viscose made in China will cost 500–700 rubles. per meter with a width of 1.45 m. Crepe viscose from the same manufacturer is in the same range.

In the segment of more noble viscose fabrics, prices start from several thousand and end in tens of thousands per linear meter. The width of viscose is usually in the range of 1.40–1.50 m.

Reviews

Reviews say that the popularity of the fabric is well deserved.

I love viscose for its lightness. I have several summer sundresses made from this fabric. Of course, they wrinkle a little, but I am ready to forgive them for this shortcoming. Moreover, a linen dress wrinkles much more, while viscose is at least easy to iron.

Olga, Saratov, 25 years old.

I decided to update the interior of the bedroom. One of the tasks was choosing new textiles for the window. I decided to take plain curtains made of thick viscose. They were sewn carefully, the fabric looks expensive and noble, like silk. I like.

Tatyana, Tula, 44 years old

I don’t like to buy ready-made clothes; I prefer to sew to order. I went to choose a lining for the jacket. In the store, the seller advised me to take viscose, it was called twill. I'm very pleased with this lining. Can't compare to polyester. Of course, it costs more, but it’s nice to wear!

Alevtina, Tver, 33 years old

How I wanted a quilted dress! And here I have it. The label says that the composition is 100% viscose. I thought it would float like any synthetic, but it turns out not. The fabric looks more like cotton. Now this is my favorite dress. Already survived several washes. I do not observe any changes in the quality of the fabric.

Victoria, Omsk, 29 years old

Description of the fabric: properties and composition

A special feature of viscose is that it absorbs the properties of the fibers included in its composition. Cotton gives it density and softness, elastane gives it elasticity and the ability to stretch according to the figure, polyester adds strength to the fabric and reduces wrinkles. By changing the combination of fibers in the fabric, one production technology can produce a variety of materials, in one case suitable for sewing transparent summer blouses, and in another - for the production of the lining of a warm coat. Viscose has a wide range of colors, from plain fabric of various colors to fabric with bright floral prints and original designs.

The basis of viscose fabric is cellulose. Additionally, the fabric may include cotton and synthetic threads.

Viscose by type of finish:

• smoothly painted;
• printed;
• variegated;
• bleached.

The most popular types of viscose:

• Modal
• Micromodal
• Lyocell
• Bemberg
• Cupra
• Aceta
• Triacetate

What names can viscose be “hidden” under?

This is rayon, a thin, silk-like material called rayon. Modern technologies give it such a resemblance to natural that it is often difficult to distinguish them. However, the difference is easy to “smell” when burned: cellulose silk will have a smell reminiscent of burnt paper.

Another modern type of viscose fabric is modal , which is distinguished by the fact that it has less weight, increased strength and retains its softness after many washes.

Meet another cellulose-based material - Lyocell. It is made only from raw materials obtained from eucalyptus and only using organic solvents. This means it is suitable even for people with allergies to artificial materials, as well as environmentally friendly production. Such fabrics have a noble appearance. They are surprisingly pleasant to the touch, but are expensive to manufacture, and therefore are most often combined with other fibers. From the above it follows that artificial fibers created on the basis of natural raw materials, especially with modern technologies for their production, can become a worthy alternative to natural fibers - and if you follow the care recommendations, a viscose item will not disappoint you.

Products made from viscose are beautiful, durable and comfortable to wear. Viscose fiber, when processed differently, can resemble silk, cotton or even wool . The viscose fiber also produces the thickening threads characteristic of flax. In addition, manufacturers value viscose for its high color intensity, that is, the ability to dye the fabric in bright colors. Viscose, which is part of the fabric for linen, provides a high rate of moisture absorption and prevents the occurrence of static electricity, so that clothes do not stick to such linen. Viscose with added elastane

refers to the materials from which
clothing , which has special requirements. For example, underwear adjacent directly to the body. The main criterion for choosing this material is the feeling of comfort. Clothes should not restrict movement, and the material should absorb moisture well and be easily washed without losing its appearance.
The undoubted advantage of viscose fabric is its origin from natural resources, and therefore it does not cause allergies, absorbs moisture well, and the body in viscose products “breathes” easily and freely. Disposal of viscose does not pose a danger to the external environment.

Types of fabric, purpose and characteristics

• 100% viscose has no additives and consists entirely of cellulose fibers. The material is soft and delicate to the touch, shiny in appearance, low-strength and inelastic. Elasticity is 2-3%. Thin summer dresses are made from the fabric.
• Tencel is made from eucalyptus cellulose. It turns out to be soft and durable, breathable and hygroscopic, used for sewing bed linen and home textiles, and requires careful adherence to care rules to avoid deformation of the product.
• Modal contains 100% cellulose fibers or is diluted with cotton threads. This durable fabric wicks moisture away from the body, allows air to pass through, and is an artificial analogue of cotton. The fabric is used to make high-quality bed linen and casual clothing for adults and children.
• Acetate is made from cellulose waste. Lightweight, thin material, the distinctive properties of which are resistance to creasing and deformation. The fabric does not allow air to pass through well, absorbs little moisture, and is vulnerable to chemicals. Used as lining material.
• Cupra is viscose of the highest quality, with a texture reminiscent of silk. Used in sewing beautiful dresses, evening dresses and festive suits.
• Siblon consists of cellulose from coniferous trees. It is the result of long-term scientific experiments to improve viscose fabric. The material feels like natural silk to the touch and has all the positive qualities of viscose, enhanced by 1.5-2 times. The fabric is hygroscopic, breathable, not prone to shrinkage and creasing, and hygienic. Ideal for formal wear.
• Polyviscose consists of viscose and polyester fibers, combining their properties. The fabric is durable, warm, wear-resistant, wrinkle-resistant, ideal for sewing school uniforms and men's office suits.

Description

What kind of fabric is viscose? The classic version is soft to the touch, thin, silky, shiny material. However, what the fabric ultimately looks like is determined, again, by the production technology - it can be similar to wool, silk, or linen. This is why the use of viscose is so widespread.

Probably, a simple description of viscose fabric was not enough for you, let's look at a photo of the material itself and products made from it.

The price depends on the composition of the canvas. Pure viscose, without the addition of synthetics, costs from 500 rubles per linear meter.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of the fabric are:

• aesthetic qualities,
• beauty of appearance;
• ease;
• hypoallergenic;
• environmental friendliness;
• softness,
• pleasant tactile sensations from touching the body;
• heat-regulating properties;
• ability to pass air;
• hygroscopicity;
• antistatic;
• color fastness and brightness.

When dry, viscose is a durable fabric. When it becomes wet, it loses strength and becomes easily susceptible to mechanical stress.

Flaws:

• whimsical care;
• high creasing;
• vulnerability to high temperatures and ultraviolet radiation.

Raw materials and manufacturing technology

Viscose was created by the Comte de Chardonnay. This happened in 1884, when he helped Louis Pasteur in searching for a medicine to save the silkworm. At the same time, the count conducted research that resulted in the production of a cellulose-based material that could become a potential replacement for natural silk. This would make it possible to process wood waste into versatile fibers. The British Cross and Bevan managed to obtain a patent for the industrial production of viscose. Viscose fabric gets its name from the Latin word viscum or sticky.

The essence of the technology has survived to this day.

Production includes a number of stages:

1. Preparation of raw materials. Even low-grade wood that is not suitable for the furniture industry can be processed. The wood is crushed into chips and soaked in a solution of alkali (caustic soda) when heated under pressure for 24 hours. The resulting alkali cellulose, which has the appearance of a gray mass, is dried, treated with bleaches and turned into sheets.
2. At a chemical fiber production plant, the sheets are crushed and left in the air for 2-3 days. Under the influence of oxygen, long cellulose macromolecules are partially oxidized and separated into small fragments.
3. The raw material is treated with carbon disulfide to form cellulose xanthate, a substance that can dissolve in a dilute alkaline solution.
4. The dissolution process occurs at 10─12°C for several hours. The result is the formation of a viscous orange spinning solution. Filtration removes air bubbles and impurities from the gel.
5. Leave the viscose gel to settle for 24 hours. When the mass begins to harden, it means that it is ready for processing into fibers. At this stage, the gel is colored or matting components are added to it.
6. Formation of fibers. The spinning solution is passed through dies (plates with holes with a diameter of 0.07─0.08 mm). Streams of viscose fall into a bath of dilute sulfuric acid, where they solidify into threads. The finest threads are twisted to form one complex fiber.
7. At the finishing stage, the threads are washed and treated with soap solutions to make them soft. Afterwards, the viscose threads are dried and twisted onto bobbins and sent to a textile factory.

The production of viscose requires a lot of energy and reagents. As an additive, viscose fabric improves the composition and properties of other materials, and also reduces their cost.

Comparison with cotton and polyester

“Cotton synthetics” is the common name for viscose among buyers. to polyester due to its artificial creation mechanism. But unlike synthetics, which are a completely chemical product, viscose is made from natural wood raw materials. Viscose differs from polyester in many qualitative characteristics. The properties of the fabric are more like cotton : it is light and pleasant to the body, absorbs moisture well, allows the body to breathe, and does not electrify.

What and how are viscose fibers made from?

We have already said that the basis for the production of viscose is a natural material, cellulose. At the first stage, it is subjected to mercerization - treatment with a solution of NaOH in water. After several rather complex operations, a “blank” of bright orange viscose is obtained.

Next, this mass is “pressed” through dies - metal caps covered with small holes. The result is fibers that are twisted into threads. The fibers can be either long or staple (short).

This is followed by finishing and drying.

Let's take a closer look.

Technological process

Most of the steps in the viscose production process involve preparing wood pulp for the production of viscose fibers. Special terms are used in the description. We tried to simplify it as much as possible.

• Preparation of cellulose from wood raw materials. Wood contains only 50% cellulose. Therefore, it is necessary to isolate cellulose from wood by placing the latter in a solution of calcium hydrosulfite. And then they begin to cook it in closed containers under pressure. Then water is added and applied to the conveyor belt. The dried cellulose is then cut into sheets, which can be used both to make paper and to make rayon.
• Mercerization (treatment with NaOH solution) of cellulose and obtaining a suspension. This is a long process that can take up to 2 hours.
• Squeezing the resulting mass using a special press
• Grinding of pressed material
• Oxidation of alkali cellulose with atmospheric oxygen
• Treatment with carbon disulfide to obtain a substance that can dissolve in sodium hydroxide solution
• Production of viscose by treating cellulose with chemical compounds.

Technology is constantly improving. There are several methods for producing viscose, which produce fibers with different characteristics that can be used in various fields of activity.

INTERESTING

• Viscose fiber was first produced in 1892.
• By squeezing the viscose mass through a device with a narrow slit, a film called cellophane was obtained.
• Rayon, created from viscose fibers, was patented in 1902.

Care instructions

It is difficult to care for viscose products. If washing and ironing rules are not followed, there is a high risk of deformation, shrinkage, and formation of pellets on the surface. To maintain the presentable appearance of the product, you must carefully follow the recommendations indicated by the manufacturers on the label.

General recommendations:

• It is better to wash products by hand; if machine washing is unavoidable, use the delicate wash mode;
• water temperature when washing is 30 degrees;
• do not use laundry detergents with aggressive chemical components;
• there is no need to forcefully wrinkle or rub the item, washing should be gentle and careful;
• do not twist the fabric, use a terry towel to wring it out: carefully lay the item on it and roll it into a roll, the towel will absorb excess moisture;
• You need to dry viscose products on a flat horizontal surface, having first carefully straightened them;
• iron at minimum iron temperature;
• steaming and spraying with water from a spray bottle when ironing is prohibited;
• Store away from direct sunlight.

Viscose care

I repeat that viscose requires special care, so if you want to preserve things for as long as possible without losing their appearance, you should bother:

• It is advisable to wash viscose products by hand, but if, due to certain circumstances, this is not possible, then use only the “delicate cycle” in machine wash.
• It is better not to wring out washed items too much, but to hang them semi-damp on the dryer and let the remaining water drain on its own, because... strong pressure during push-ups will negatively affect the shape of the product.
• After the water has drained, it is better to continue drying viscose items in a horizontal position for the same purpose, to avoid stretching and deformation.
• Under no circumstances should you iron things with an iron at high temperatures; use the minimum settings, or iron through wet gauze.

As you can see, in order to use viscose items in everyday life, you will need to face certain difficulties and inconveniences. But for the sake of a beautiful outfit, it may be worth being patient. In any case, the choice is always yours.

Customer Reviews

Summer clothes made of viscose are popular; in hot weather it gives the skin a feeling of coolness. Buyers are pleased with the variety of colors of clothing and color fastness, lightness, softness. Users warn that the fabric absorbs foreign odors well, wrinkles a lot and becomes deformed if not properly cared for. There are endless debates about viscose: is it a natural material or is it synthetic? Despite its artificial origin, the fabric is popular in the fashion world; products made from it are actively purchased and worn well, are of high quality and provide comfort when worn.

Is viscose better or worse than other fabrics?

It is difficult to compare viscose with other materials - its properties are unique. At the same time, sewers often ask themselves the question: viscose or synthetics? Of course, you need to look at each specific situation, but for sewing clothes and linen, viscose is a great option. There are many mixed fabrics in which viscose can play a leading or supporting role.

It is clear that for summer dresses, sets, and suits it is difficult to find a fabric better than viscose, which would be just as drapey, light and comfortable to wear. If you are thinking about warmer products for the cool season, it is better to focus not on pure viscose, but on mixed options.

Video: what is viscose?

Watch an interesting video about what viscose is, what the material is made from, what properties the fabric has and what they depend on.

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Material cost

You can buy viscose at any fabric store or order it online. The price range is wide, for every budget. A meter of 100% viscose costs 500–900 rubles. Fabric with various additives costs from 300 to 1000 rubles per meter.

When choosing viscose items, you need to pay attention to what type of fabric they are made from. Despite the fact that viscose is not very expensive, it is counterfeited. It's easy to check for a fake. When ignited, viscose thread flares up and burns quickly, while synthetic thread takes a long time to melt.