Acrylic fiber

<p>Acrylic fibers are <a href="/facts/Synthetic_fiber/VBcafhnY">synthetic fibers</a> made from a <a href="/facts/Polymer/eF32E50K">polymer</a> (<a href="/facts/Polyacrylonitrile/c653ASV7">polyacrylonitrile</a>) with an average <a href="/facts/Molecular_weight/FWueGMed">molecular weight</a> of ~100,000, about 1900 monomer units. For a fiber to be called "acrylic" in the US, the polymer must contain at least 85% <a href="/facts/Acrylonitrile/zvhfg050">acrylonitrile</a> <a href="/facts/Monomer/Gw3CltMb">monomer</a>. Typical comonomers are <a href="/facts/Vinyl_acetate/qVdoopEo">vinyl acetate</a> or <a href="/facts/Methyl_acrylate/nF6DxbLb">methyl acrylate</a>. <a href="/facts/DuPont/kCUfkJzE">DuPont</a> created the first acrylic fibers in 1941 and trademarked them under the name Orlon. It was first developed in the mid-1940s but was not produced in large quantities until the 1950s. Strong and warm, acrylic fiber is often used for sweaters and tracksuits and as linings for boots and gloves, as well as in furnishing fabrics and carpets. It is manufactured as a filament, then cut into short staple lengths similar to wool hairs, and spun into yarn.
</p><p><a href="/facts/Modacrylic/VALj3Nju">Modacrylic</a> is a modified acrylic fiber that contains at least 35% and at most 85% <a href="/facts/Acrylonitrile/zvhfg050">acrylonitrile</a>. <a href="/facts/Vinylidene_chloride/eWgracNP">Vinylidene chloride</a> or <a href="/facts/Vinyl_bromide/zCW12rlg">vinyl bromide</a> used in modacrylic give the fiber flame retardant properties. End-uses of modacrylic include faux fur, wigs, hair extensions, and protective clothing.
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Acrylic fiber open-in-new

Acrylic fiber