The History of Acetate Fiber

Acetate fiber is the man-made fiber that is made of cellulose acetate, which is the acetic acid ester of cellulose.

The process of making acetate fabric was first introduced in 1865 by Paul Schutzenberger; in 1894 Edward Bevan and Charles Cross patented the manufacturing process. Celanese, an acetate yarn, was first manufactured in 1919, which led to commercial manufacture of acetate garments.

In 1924, they switched entirely to the US where acetone and acetic anhydride were cheaply available. In the same year, rayon became adopted as a generic term for all 'artificial silk'.

 At the beginning of 1930, companies such as Celanese (U.S.), American Viscose, E.I. DuPont, and Eastman Kodak began to produce diacetate fiber. The United States became the top producing country for acetate fiber.

Ryokou Acetate Co., Ltd. (Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) commenced production of diacetate in 1958. For triacetate, Celanese (U.S.) and Courtaulds (U.K.) first started production in 1954, while Mitsubishi Acetate Co., Ltd. began to produce triacetate in Japan in 1967.

Production Process of Acetate Fiber

Cellulose acetate is a man made fibre of natural origin with specific characteristics which allow the production of beautiful, practical and comfortable fabrics, whether used on its own or mixed with other natural, artificial or synthetic yarn or fibres.

ACETATE: A manufactured fibre formed by a compound of cellulose – refined from cotton linters and/or wood pulp – and acedic acid that has been extruded through a spinneret and then hardener.

The spinning stock solution is extruded through controlled nozzles with extremely small pore diameters ranging from 30 to 50μm. The solvent is then evaporated, and the yarns are formed. This process for producing acetate fiber is known as the dry spinning method. 

Acetate yarns Quality

Acetate yarns are characterized by smooth performance in basic textile equipment, are easily compatible with other fibres. These characteristics contribute to wide possibilities of acetate yarn application in weaving, knitting, haberdashery (fashion textile) or special textile (medical band, etc.) sectors.

Notably thanks to the natural origin of acetate yarns, modern woven and knitted fabrics are breathable, hypoallergenic, distinguished by lightness, natural lustre, soft drape, antistatic properties and softness to skin as natural silk.

Acetate Characteristics:

- Specific gravity of acetate/triacetate fibers is lighter than that of cotton, viscose, cupro ammonium rayon fibers and is nearly equal to that of wool fibers. Acetate/triacetate fibers have bulky fabric hand and rich feeling.

- Filament yarns have luster and tactile feeling as silk fibers. In addition, they have an excellent color development.

- Acetate/triacetate fibers have optimal moisture absorption, warmth retention and elasticity.

- Acetate/triacetate fibers are used for pleat skirts thanks to the thermo-plasticity.

Acetate fiber characteristics as related to clothing:

Natural luxury	Hypoallergenic *	Luxurious feel and appearance
Silky feel	Biodegradable	Wide range of colors and lusters
Comfort	Colour fastness and brightness	Excellent drapability and softness
Elegant drape	Cross dyeing capacity	Relatively fast drying**
Breathability	Dimensional stability	Shrink, mold and mildew resistant

*Hydrophilic: acetate wets easily, with good liquid transport and excellent absorption; in textile applications, it provides comfort and absorbency, but also loses strength when wet

**Can be dyed, however special dyes and pigments are required since acetate does not accept dyes ordinarily used for cotton and rayon

Major acetate fiber uses:

Acetate fabric may be used in coats, shirts, jackets, bed sheets and drapes. Because of its flexibility, it can be used in a similar manner as silk or polyester. Acetate fabric may be dyed in practically any color and may be woven together with other natural and manmade fabrics.

 

FOR CLOTHING	FOR HOME FURNISHINGS AND BEDDING	INDUSTRIAL USAGE	FOR OTHER USES
Women's Formal Wear, Wedding and Party Attire	Blankets	Linings Production	Umbrellas
Women's Nightgowns	Bedclothes	Ink Reservoirs for fiber tip pens	Cigarette Filters
Coats, Neckties, Scarves	Fabrics for Curtains, Draperies	Diapers and Surgical products
Blouses, Sweaters	Upholstery, slip covers