What is cotton?

Definition of cotton fiber

Cotton fiber is a seed fiber which is elongated and thickened by epidermal cells of fertilized ovule, which is different from ordinary bast fiber. Its main constituent is cellulose. Cellulose is a natural polymer compound with a chemical structural formula of (C6H10O5)n. The normal mature cotton cellulose content is about 94%. In addition, it contains a small amount of polypentose, wax, protein, fat, water-soluble substances, ash and other accompanying organisms. Because cotton fiber has many excellent economic traits, it has become the most important raw material for the textile industry.

Cotton fiber properties:

Cotton fiber has high strength, good wrinkle resistance and poor stretchability; good heat resistance, second only to hemp; poor acid resistance, resistant to dilute alkali at room temperature; good affinity for dyes, easy dyeing, complete chromatography The color is also brighter.

Definition of cotton fabric

Cotton fabric refers to a fabric woven from cotton yarn or cotton and cotton-type chemical fiber blended yarn.

Features of cotton fabrics:

1. It has strong hygroscopicity and a large shrinkage rate of about 4~10%.

2. Alkali resistance is not acid resistant. Cotton cloth is extremely unstable to inorganic acids, even if it is very dilute sulfuric acid, it will be destroyed, but the organic acid is weak and hardly destructive. Cotton cloth is more resistant to alkali. Generally, dilute alkali does not affect cotton at normal temperature, but the strength of cotton will decrease after strong alkali action. The "silked" cotton cloth can be obtained by treating the cotton cloth with 20% caustic soda.

3. Light resistance and heat resistance are general. In the sun and the atmosphere, the cotton will slowly oxidize, causing the strength to drop. The long-term high temperature action will damage the cotton cloth, but it can withstand a short period of high temperature treatment at 125~150 °C.

4. Microorganisms have a destructive effect on cotton fabrics. It is not resistant to mold.

Variety of cotton fabrics

1. Cotton fabric

Pure cotton fabrics are woven from pure cotton yarns, with a wide variety of fabrics and different colors. Pure cotton fabric, good breathability, strong hygroscopicity, comfortable to wear, but has a prominent shortcoming - easy to wrinkle and deform after washing and wearing. It can be divided into primary color cotton cloth, dyed cotton cloth, printed cotton cloth and yarn-dyed cotton cloth according to the dyeing method; it can also be divided into plain cloth, twill cloth and woven cloth according to the fabric structure.

2. Cotton blended, interwoven fabric

A fabric blended and interwoven with cotton and other fibers, collectively referred to as a cotton blend, interwoven fabric. This includes the combination of cotton and other natural fibers, as well as the combination of cotton and various chemical fibers. Usually, cotton and chemical fiber are combined into various varieties and practical fabrics with various advantages.

(1) Viscose and fiber-rich and cotton-mixed textiles generally use 33% cotton fiber, 67% viscose or rich fiber. This kind of fabric has the characteristics of abrasion resistance, higher strength than viscose fabric, better hygroscopicity than pure cotton cloth, less wet strength drop and soft and smooth hand feeling. The main varieties are sticky cotton cloth and rich cotton fabric.

(2) Polyester/cotton fabrics are usually blended with 35% cotton and 65% polyester. This kind of fabric is mainly woven from high-knit plain weave, which is mostly used for thin shirt fabric, fine flat cloth, poplin and so on. Polyester/cotton cloth is commonly known as “the good one”. It not only maintains the high strength and elastic recovery of polyester fiber, but also has the characteristics of strong hygroscopicity of cotton fiber. It is easy to dye and dry after washing. Polyester cotton fabrics have many varieties and specifications, such as primary color cloth, color cloth, printed cloth and yarn-dyed fabric.

(3) Fabrics of cotton fabric blended with cotton and cotton. The fabric has good moisture absorption and permeability, and because the vinylon is resistant to salt water corrosion, the cotton blended fabric is suitable for making underwear, underwear, pajamas and the like. The disadvantage of the vellum is that the dyeing is not bright enough and the elasticity is poor. The main varieties are cotton fabrics such as Weimian cloth, Wei cotton flat cloth, Wei cotton fine cloth and Wei cotton plaid fabric.

(4) Plain cotton fabric made of polypropylene fiber and polypropylene blended with 1:1 ratio. Commonly used are cotton cloth and cotton yarn.

a. C-cotton fine cloth: plain weave fabric blended with 50% cotton and 50% polypropylene. Its appearance is crisp, the shrinkage rate is small, it is durable and durable, easy to wash and dry, and has a polyester-cotton fabric style. However, hygroscopicity, heat resistance, and light resistance are poor, and it is suitable to make a coat.

b. C-cotton yarn: A thin fabric blended with 50% cotton and 50% polypropylene or 65% polypropylene and 35% cotton. The appearance is the same as pure cotton yarn fabric, but the hygroscopicity, light resistance and heat resistance are not as good as cotton yarn. Suitable for summer shirts or military raincoats, mosquito nets, etc.

Editor in charge: Zhu Ling