Manufacturing and Consumption of Filament Synthetic Fabrics
Filament synthetic fabric, also known as filament, is a common type of fabric that is not normally found in nature; therefore, in its manufacturing process, filament fibers are combined with other natural fibers such as cotton and viscose.
Types of Filament Fabric
Filament fabrics are divided into three different categories based on their application: the first type is the fabric used in hospitals which are also referred to as hospital filament fabrics. This type of fabric is also known as cotton filament or for short, filament fabric. The second type is known as filament sports fabric, mostly used for sewing clothes and sportswear. The last category is used for sewing curtains; therefore, it is known as curtain filament fabric. Since these types of fabric are most frequently used for medical purposes, manufacturing the first type is more frequent than the rest.
The Difference between Sport Filament Fabric and the Filament Fabric Used for Clothes
As mentioned, Filament fabric is a synthetic fiber that cannot be found in nature. As a result, during the manufacturing process, filament fibers are combined with other natural fibers such as viscose and cotton. What distinguishes Sport filament fabric from the type used in clothes is that the first type uses thicker fabric than the latter, which needs to be softer. In other cases, the fabric also needs to be shiny and elastic.
In Which Width the Filament Cloth is Manufactured and Enters the Market?
Textile factories manufacture and supply filament fabrics based on their application in the mentioned width: Width 150 cm, 160 cm, 200 cm, and lastly, 300 cm.
Hospital Filament Fabrics
In the past decades, the textile industry has played a significant role in advancing medical fabrics, by producing different types of hospital textiles for various purposes. Some of these contributions include: textile used for transplant tissues, veins, artificial tendons, and so on.
Among hospital fabrics, in terms of diversity and consumption, general hospital fabrics like gowns, hats, masks, lids, and patient clothes, are among the most consumed items.
As the name of the filament fabric implies, this fabric is made of filament fibers and has a very affordable price. In terms of design, the fabric is either plain or patterned, mostly in blue, pink, and green, or it has a four color plaid pattern. Due to its affordable price, filament fabric is also used for patient clothing as a disposable garment.
Hospital Cotton Filament Fabrics
As the name indicates, the only distinction between cotton filament fabric and hospital filament fabric, is that the first one is combined with cotton. Therefore, this type of fabric, unlike the other one, is not dry and is softer as a result of its natural cotton fibers. However, this fabric is pricier compared to the other one.
Cotton fabrics and synthetic fibers are both warp and weft fabrics, which are classified in different groups such as sheeting, tenting, linen, curtains, carpeting, woolen, velvet, cleaning, and jersey according to their fabric and the type of yarn.
Viscose fibers are used alone or in combination with cotton or polyester. Moreover, this fabric is used in the production of various casual clothes such as suits, slack suits, blankets, workwear, and lastly surgical gowns. Since polyester fibers are not usually used alone, they are mostly combined with viscose cotton fibers. In this way, the length of the fiber is the most suitable with the weight ratio of 65% polyester and 35% cotton or viscose. This fabric is often used to produce various clothing and household items. It is worth noting that hospital filament fabric consists of filament fibers, mostly with the width of one or one and a half meters. This fabric is made in factories with various qualities and weights, and are sold at different prices.
Hospital filament fabric, which is even referred to as disposable fabric, is one of the suitable options for various patient clothing. This fabric is manufactured in different types as follows:
- Plain Filament
- Patterned Filament
- Plaid pattern Filament
It is important to mention that plaid pattern filament is very suitable for producing affordable clothes, especially hospital clothing, due to its inexpensive filament fabric. Also, its durability and wrinkle resistance characteristics of this fabric are among some of its features. Since dyed thread is used in its weaving, the color of fabric will not fade away with washing.
Various Use of Hospital Filament Fabrics
Each of the manufactured filament fibers are used in various sections of the hospital as follows:
- Patient clothing (As a result of its affordability, clothing made with this fabric is disposable and does not require washing.)
- Hospital beds linen
- Clothing lining
- Polyester filament yarn
Polyester filament yarn or one-piece yarn, which is also known as Trevira, Trilin, or Dacron in the market, falls into the category of ATY, DTY, and FDY yarn types. In addition, its usage includes sport or casual wear, various types of stretch fabric, curtains, and machine- made carpets. Polyester filament yarns are manufactured in matte, semi-matte, and glossy varieties.
After twisting the polyester filament yarn, it enters the dyeing machine, increasing in length. Due to the reduction in the surface oligomers, the process is carried out at a high temperature. After the dyeing process is complete, the process of removing the unabsorbed colors take place. Lastly, the finishing stage is carried out to obtain the desirable soft fabric.
Filament Lycra
Due to the presence of Lycra fibers, Lycra fabric is stretchy and comfortable. Filament Lycra gives a feeling of comfort and satisfaction, and clothes made with this fabric are resistant to abrasion and pilling. Moreover the filament Lycra fabric is very durable when it comes to washing, so no change is seen during the washing process. As a result, clothes made with this fabric maintain their original shape and do not sag.
Printing on Filament Lycra Fabric
Many people like to print on their clothes, especially young people. Some of these fabrics face problems during printing, such as cotton that does not absorb color well and it might smear. Since so many people like to print on their clothes, they need to choose a better fabric for this purpose. One of the interesting properties of this fabric is its excellent printing capability.
