| ACETATE | - Luxurious feel and appearance
- A wide range of colors and lusters
- Excellent drapability and softness
- Relatively fast-drying
- Shrink-, moth-, and mildew-resistant
| - Apparel: Blouses, dresses, and foundation garments. Lingerie, linings, shirts, slacks, and sportswear.
- Fabrics: Brocade, crepe, double knits, faille, knitted jerseys, lace, satin, taffeta, tricot.
Home Furnishings: Draperies and upholstery. - Other: Cigarette filters, fiberfill for pillows, quilted products
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| ACRYLIC | - Soft and warm
- Wool-like
- Retains shape
- Resilient
- Quick-drying
- Resistant to moths, sunlight, oil, and chemicals
| - Apparel: Dresses, infant wear, knitted garments, ski wear, socks, sportswear, sweaters.
- Fabrics: Fleece and pile fabrics, face fabrics in bonded fabrics, simulated furs, jerseys.
- Home Furnishings: Blankets, carpets, draperies, upholstery.
- Other: Auto tops, awnings, hand-knitting and craft yarns, and industrial and geotextile fabrics.
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| ARAMID | - Does not melt
- Highly flame-resistant
- High strength
- High resistance to stretch
- Maintains its shape and form at high temperatures
| - Hot-gas filtration fabrics, protective clothing, military helmets, protective vests, structural composites for aircraft and boats, sailcloth, tires, ropes and cables, mechanical rubber goods, and marine and sporting goods.
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| BICOMPONENT | - Thermal bonding
- Self-bulking
- Very fine fibers
- Unique cross sections
- The functionality of special polymers or additives at reduced cost
| - Uniform distribution of adhesive and fiber remains a part of the structure and adds integrity; customized sheath materials bond various materials; a wide range of bonding temperatures, cleaner and environmentally friendly (no effluent) and recyclable processes; and lamination/molding/densification of composites are used.
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| LYOCELL | - Soft, strong, absorbent
- Good dyeability
- Fibrillates during wet processing to produce special textures
| - Dresses, slacks, and coats.
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| MELAMINE | - White and dyeable
- Flame resistance and low thermal conductivity
- High-heat dimensional stability
- Processable on standard textile equipment
| - Fire Blocking Fabrics: Aircraft seating, fire blockers for upholstered furniture in high-risk occupancies (e.g., to meet California TB 133 requirements)
- Protective Clothing: Firefighters’ turnout gear, insulating thermal liners, knit hoods, molten metal splash apparel, and heat-resistant gloves.
- Filter Media: High capacity, high efficiency, high-temperature baghouse air filters.
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| MODACRYLIC | - Soft
- Resilient
- Abrasion- and flame-resistant
- Quick-drying
- Resists acids and alkalies
- Retains shape
| - Apparel: Deep pile coats, trims, linings, simulated fur, wigs, and hairpieces.
- Fabrics: Fleece fabrics, industrial fabrics, knit-pile fabric backings, non-woven fabrics.
- Home Furnishings: Awnings and blankets. Carpets, flame-resistant draperies and curtains, and scatter rugs.
- Other: Filters, paint rollers, stuffed toys.
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| NYLON | - Exceptionally strong
- Supple
- Abrasion-resistant
- Lustrous
- Easy to wash
- Resists damage from oil and many chemicals
- Resilient
- Low in moisture absorbency
| - Apparel: Blouses, dresses, foundation garments, hosiery, lingerie and underwear, raincoats, ski and snow apparel, suits, and windbreakers.
- Home Furnishings: Bedspreads, carpets, draperies, curtains, upholstery.
- Other: air hoses, conveyor and seat belts, parachutes, racket strings, ropes and nets, sleeping bags, tarpaulins, tents, thread, tire cords, and geotextiles.
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| OLEFIN | - Unique wicking properties that make it very comfortable
- Abrasion-resistant
- Quick-drying
- Resistant to deterioration from chemicals, mildew, perspiration, rot, and weather
- Sensitive to heat
- Soil-resistant
- Strong; very lightweight
- Excellent colorfastness
| - Apparel: Pantyhose, underwear, knitted sports shirts, men’s half hose, men’s knitted sportswear, sweaters.
- Home Furnishings: Carpet and carpet backing, slipcovers, and upholstery.
- Other: dye nets, filter fabrics, laundry and sandbags, geotextiles, automotive interiors, cordage, doll hair, and industrial sewing thread.
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| POLYESTER | - Strong
- Resistant to stretching and shrinking
- Resistant to most chemicals
- Quick-drying
- Crisp and resilient when wet or dry
- Wrinkle- and abrasion-resistant
- Retains heat-set pleats and creases
- Easy to wash
| - Apparel: Blouses, shirts, career apparel, children’s wear, dresses, half hose, insulated garments, ties, lingerie and underwear, permanent press garments, slacks, and suits.
- Home Furnishings: Carpets, curtains, draperies, sheets and pillowcases.
- Other: Fiberfill for various products, fire hose, power belting, ropes and nets, tire cord, sails, and V-belts.
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| PBI | - Highly flame resistant
- Outstanding comfort factor combined with thermal and chemical stability properties
- Will not burn or melt
- Low shrinkage, when exposed to flame.
| - Suitable for high-performance protective apparel such as firemen’s turnout coats, astronaut space suits, and applications where fire resistance is important.
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| RAYON | - Highly absorbent
- Soft and comfortable
- Easy to dye
- Versatile
- Good drapeability
| - Apparel: Blouses, coats, dresses, jackets, lingerie, linings, millinery. Rainwear, slacks, sports shirts, sportswear, suits, ties, and work clothes.
- Home Furnishings: Bedspreads, blankets, carpets, curtains, draperies, sheets, slipcovers, tablecloths, and upholstery.
- Other: Industrial products, medical and surgical products, non-woven products, and tire cord.
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| SPANDEX | - Can be stretched 500 percent without breaking
- Can be stretched repeatedly and recover original length
- Light-weight
- Stronger and more durable than rubber
- Resistant to body oils
| - Articles (where stretch is desired): Athletic apparel, bathing suits, delicate laces, foundation garments, golf jackets, ski pants, slacks, support and surgical hose
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