The soft, lightweight viscose fabric is a staple in many wardrobes and homes, and has been used since the late 19th century, emerging as the third most widely used textile material. But what is viscose? Also called rayon, it is a soft, lightweight semi-synthetic material and a staple in many homes. Here at Sofar , we reveal everything you need to know about viscose fabric.
What is viscose fabric?
Viscose is one of three types of rayon, the other two being modal and lyocell. Each fiber has different properties due to different manufacturing processes.
Viscose is a fiber made from natural materials. However, it is not considered an environmentally friendly fabric as its production requires the use of many chemicals, including harsh ones.
Viscose is often called cheap silk or rayon, because it mimics the look, softness and drape of silk but feels like cotton when worn. Many also refer to viscose rayon as a sustainable alternative to polyester and cotton.
The answer to the question “What is viscose fabric?” lies in its name. The term “viscose” explicitly refers to the viscous organic liquid cellulose. It is converted into viscose fibers and then into fabric.
The history of viscose dates back to the late 19th century. The name “viscose” comes from the Italian word “viscosa,” which means “sticky” because that’s what the fabric feels like during its production process. Within a few years, viscose became popular in the fashion industry because of its softness, elegance, and breathability.
Today, viscose remains a popular material in the fashion and textile industries. Modern production processes are more environmentally friendly than some other synthetic materials, making it an attractive option for environmentally conscious consumers. The history of viscose is a story of constant evolution and improvement of production processes, allowing it to remain on the market for more than a century.
How is viscose made?
To answer your question of what is viscose fabric, you need to understand how this fabric is made. Viscose was first manufactured in 1883 as an affordable alternative to natural silk. This versatile fabric, often known as rayon, is found in the linings of jackets, shirts, sportswear, and fashionable dresses. Its versatility lies in the fact that it can be blended with different fabrics such as cotton and polyester to enhance its benefits. Wood cellulose goes through several steps that lead to the final product, viscose fabric. Here we break down the viscose production process into 10 steps:
- Wood chips are dissolved in chemicals such as sodium hydroxide, resulting in a brown wood pulp.
- The cellulose-containing wood pulp is then dissolved in caustic soda, turning it into an alkaline solution. This process removes all impurities from the solution, making it a clean raw material for the fabric.
- The alkaline solution is compressed between the cylinders, removing excess liquid and forming compact sheets.
- These compressed sheets are then cut into crumbs.
- The crumb is treated with carbon disulfide.
- The processed crumbs are dissolved in chemicals such as sulfuric acid, resulting in a viscous solution. The name "viscose fabric" or the process of making viscose into rayon comes from this viscous solution.
- The viscous solution is filtered to remove any undissolved component.
- The next step is degassing, which is required to remove air bubbles trapped in the solution that may cause weaknesses in the fibers.
- The solution is then pushed through a spinneret, a machine that makes filaments (thin, thread-like fibers) from the regenerated cellulose.
- The regenerated cellulose fibres are then spun into yarns that are woven or knitted into viscose fabric.
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What is viscose fabric and what are its most important uses?
Thanks to its unique properties, which we will discuss later in the next paragraph, viscose is suitable for many practical applications. Here are some examples where viscose plays a major role to help you understand what exactly viscose fabric is:
- Clothing : Viscose is often used to produce a variety of clothing items. Its softness, lightness and excellent air permeability make it an ideal choice for clothing that offers comfort and style.
- Underwear : Viscose is valued in the underwear industry for its softness and comfortable wear. Underwear made from this fabric feels completely soft on the skin, providing a comfortable feeling all day long.
- Swimwear : Due to its quick-drying ability, viscose is often used in the production of swimwear. Its air permeability makes it an ideal fabric for swimwear that remains comfortable even after swimming.
- Home Textiles : Viscose has also found its place in the field of home textiles. Bedding, towels and curtains made of viscose are soft to the touch and extremely pleasant to use. They add elegance and comfort to any interior decor.
- Artistic Creations : Artistic clothing designs, artistic textiles and other textile products are often created from viscose because of its ability to withstand different colors and its unique luster.
- Crafts : Viscose is highly prized by craft enthusiasts, including in the creation of cloth dolls, due to its softness and ease of shaping.
Properties and advantages of viscose fabric.. Why is it the best alternative to silk?
Viscose is a desirable fabric because of its luxurious appearance and low price compared to silk. It has several properties that contribute to its popularity. It is a great choice if you are looking for lightweight fabrics with nice draping, a shiny finish, and a smooth feel. It is relatively inexpensive and can provide you with luxury at a much lower price. It also blends well with other fibers such as cotton, polyester, and spandex.
We will learn together what viscose fabric is through its properties and advantages:
- Lightweight : Viscose fabric is very light, thanks to its super-breathable properties, so it is one of the best summer men's fabrics .
- Absorbent : Viscose fabric absorbs water and sweat well thanks to its moisture-wicking properties and high absorbency like cotton.
- Breathable : Its breathable and absorbent properties are due to the excellent breathability of the fabric. Moreover, although it is synthetic, it is not 100% synthetic fabric and is highly breathable and skin-friendly.
- Soft and Lustrous : Because viscose was invented to mimic silk fabric, it has a similar lustrous finish and is extremely soft to the touch and feel. Its softness rivals that of cotton fibers.
- Excellent Color Retention : This ability of viscose helps the fabric to be dyed in an endless array of colors. Moreover, the colors do not fade even after repeated washing and long-term use.
- Versatility : Viscose is very versatile because of its ability to blend well with other synthetic and non-synthetic fibers such as polyester, spandex, etc.
How do I care for my viscose clothes?
Now that you know what viscose fabric is and have decided to get it from our store “Sofar”, we present to you the correct way to care for it as follows:
- Viscose is best dry cleaned, and if you prefer to wash it at home, it should be done by hand in cold water and a mild detergent.
- The fabric should not be squeezed vigorously or exposed to direct sunlight until it dries. This will cause the fabric to deteriorate.
- The fabric weakens when wet and loses its shape due to stretching. Therefore, it should be handled gently without wringing or pulling it, and it is preferable to lay it flat on a clean surface to dry.
- Viscose fabric is very susceptible to stains. Therefore, it should be treated on a spot basis but not in a way that leaves permanent stains.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is viscose fabric good?
Yes, viscose fabric is good and is considered an excellent choice for clothing due to its softness and delicate texture. It has the ability to absorb moisture and make the body feel comfortable, and it is also suitable for hot weather due to its excellent ventilation properties.
What is the difference between cotton and viscose?
Cotton is a 100% natural material obtained from the cotton plant, and is characterized by its softness and good moisture absorption. Viscose is a semi-synthetic material made from cellulose (such as wood or cotton) but is chemically treated, and is similar to cotton in texture but softer and has a shine.
What is the difference between polyester and viscose?
Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from chemically treated polymers that is strong, durable, and resistant to tearing and wrinkling. Viscose is a semi-synthetic material that is softer and has a silky appearance, but is more moisture-wicking and less wrinkle-resistant than polyester.
What does viscose mean?
Viscose is a type of fiber that is made from natural cellulose (wood or cotton) using a chemical process, and is also known as "rayon" due to its shiny appearance and soft texture. It is commonly used in clothing and home textiles.
Finally, after knowing what viscose fabric is, we can’t help but tell you that the multi-faceted viscose fabric is a great alternative to expensive silk. Viscose has an excellent look and feel, and offers a wide range of benefits. However, its harmful environmental impact cannot be ignored. But with many manufacturers following eco-friendly measures, viscose is the fabric to embrace with open arms. Get the best men’s fabrics now from “Sofar” to enjoy clothes made from fabrics of the highest quality standards.
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