Acrylic - what is this material and how to use it?

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 12:45

A material like acrylic is both light and soft. In parallel, it has several more names - itron, orlon, redon, krilor, but the generally accepted one is PAN (polyacrylonitrile). Modern acrylic is a synthetic fiber.

Application & Benefits

Acrylic fibers can be included in the composition of fabrics both in combination with other materials and in their pure form. The first option, as a rule, makes it possible for products made from it to retain their original shape for a long time, even after a long period of operation.

Today, acrylic is a material from which other materials can be produced. For example, it is difficult to do without it in the production of coat fabric, mohair, angora, cotton. Here, the percentage range of acrylic fiber additions can range from 5% to 100%.

Acrylic yarn: what is it?

Excellent fiber is created by mixing acrylic with mohair or wool. Things are comfortable and warm, less fall off. In general, acrylic material isuniversal synthetic yarn, the basic raw material for which is extracted from natural gas. Its main properties are thermoplasticity, light fastness and strength.

Acrylic thread is ideal for tinting, and this makes it possible to obtain products from it in a wide variety of bright and saturated colors. Made things are very comfortable to wear, retain their attractive and outstanding appearance for a long time.

Versatile material Acrylic is a synthetic type of yarn. In its pure form, it is extremely rarely used for knitting. It is more suitable for use in tandem with other types of fibers. Acrylic thread gives products strength and durability, despite the fact that the yarn from it is soft and pliable. This material perfectly imitates wool, has hypoallergenic characteristics. It can be safely used to create children's things.

Features of acrylic yarn products

Wash woolen products with the addition of acrylic should be very careful. The water temperature should not exceed 35 degrees. The disadvantages of acrylic fiber include such a property as the accumulation of static electricity. But things made of acrylic are warm. This material is fluffy, easily passes air through itself, does not fit tightly to the body.

Acrylic yarn has many advantages. What it is, what are the positive features of this material, can only be understood by trying it out in the process of wearing it.

If necessary, the fiber can be reused. Before knittingit is necessary to dissolve, and rewind the thread into skeins so that it straightens out. The yarn is pre-washed and dried with a load suspended on it. Even after all the manipulations, it will remain soft and fluffy.

Acrylic thread looks great when embroidering pillows, tapestries, rugs and other decorative items. It gives the drawings volume, enriches the color scheme of the subject. But it is better not to use it for decorating pictures, otherwise they will turn out a little rough.

Washing fiber

After the acrylic yarn has been unraveled, it is immersed for a day in a soapy solution, which also contains ammonia (3 tablespoons). After that, it should be rinsed in water with vinegar (1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water).

Properties of acrylic yarn

Acrylic - is it synthetic or not? The answer to this question will be in the affirmative. Like any synthetic fabric, it is non-hygroscopic, yet it has excellent dimensional stability. Products from this fiber are well stained, do not fall off. Acrylic is soft to the touch and feels like regular wool. It is used in the production of underwear and outerwear as an additive to natural fiber.

Acrylic is the material of the 21st century

Acrylic has been actively used since 1979. Since this material was immediately classified as synthetic, it began to be used for the production of blended fabrics in which there was a natural thread. Recently, its use has become more and more popular and massive.

WhatIs the ratio of acrylic and natural material the most acceptable? It is unlikely that the body will be pleased to be in a 100% acrylic sweater. Ideally, if the product contains 30% of this fiber.

Often people wonder if acrylic is harmful? The fabric is synthetic, it passes all the necessary sanitary and hygienic tests before it is launched into mass production, and therefore there is no need to worry. Of course, a completely natural material will be more pleasant to wear, but blended fabrics with a certain percentage of acrylic or other similar synthetic material are more suitable today for the modern rhythm of life, as they are more durable. Over the past decades, such fabrics have become very popular in Europe, Asia and the USA.

How to care?

People often ask if acrylic is synthetic or not, as it is very similar in appearance to wool and sometimes the two materials are even confused. But acrylic things are not only soft and warm, but also protected from moths. Products do not lose their shape. Acrylic fibers keep their color for a long time, are hygroscopic, they do not form pellets. It is easy to care for clothes made from such yarn, it can be washed both by hand and in the machine.

Not only yarn

Liquid acrylic is widely used in everyday life, construction and in various areas of industrial production. That this is a very popular material, it is not necessary to say once again. This wear-resistant and impact-resistant enamel of French and German brands is especially popular. Also among its advantages include environmental friendliness - it is absolutely safe for the environment.

Liquid acrylic is a plexiglass with high performance and strength characteristics, as well as noise-absorbing properties. Over time, it does not wear out, if scratches appear on its surface, they are easy to eliminate.

Plexiglas is a synthetic product and it is created on the basis of acrylic resins. Its unique properties include the following.

• Light weight. Compared to traditional glass, the load on the structure used is 2.5 times less and this is with the same thickness of the material.
• High light transmission. Plexiglas is more transparent and allows up to 93% of the sun's rays to pass through.
• Refractoriness. The ignition of the material is possible when the temperature reaches 460 °C. During combustion, harmful toxic substances are practically not emitted.
• Impact resistance and unique durability. The impact resistance of plexiglass is five times higher than ordinary glass.
• The working temperature range of liquid glass varies from -40 °С to +80 °С. The maximum allowable temperature for the operation and operation of this material is 80 °С, its formation is carried out at a temperature equal to 150-155 °С.
• Acrylic plastic does not conduct electricity and therefore is not used in electrical engineering.
• High resistance toexposure to high moisture and low temperatures.
• Loyal price.

If there is a need to create a particularly durable translucent structure, experts recommend using monolithic polycarbonate. This material is highly wear resistant.

Creating and repairing an acrylic bathtub

Modern extruded acrylic is, in fact, organic glass made from acrylic resins, in which there is a certain percentage of various additives. Thanks to them, this synthetic material acquires its specific properties.

Cast acrylic is based on liquid methyl methacrylate monomer. At the first stage of manufacturing, various components are added to it to color the sheets or give them the desired properties. It can be hardeners or other components. Next, the cooled dissolved acrylic mass is poured between two pre-prepared special silicate glasses, placed in a frame, where it is heat-treated with water and then with air. Further, after such manipulations, the resulting solid acrylic sheet is cut to a standard size.

To create an acrylic bathtub, a sheet of material is placed and clamped between two molds, resulting in a defined curve that is thinner than the wall itself. Here it becomes clear that the curves are the thin and weak points of the baths. Also, these extruded acrylic items areflammable and they are prone to damage such as scratches, microcracks. Bathtubs made of ABS plastic can become their alternative, but not only are they not durable, but they are also harmful to he alth, since they contain toxic styrene. So it is better to stop your choice on the first option.

Acrylic bathtubs are easy to repair. To eliminate the scratches that have appeared, it is necessary to use liquid acrylic of the right color. It is applied to the damaged area, and after drying, polished. As a result, the bath returns to its original immaculate appearance.