What is Acrylic? All about this synthetic fabric

Acrylic: a synthetic material derived from petroleum

• What is Acrylic? Acrylic (or PAN: polyacrylonitrile, for insiders) is a synthetic chemical fiber obtained from mineral oil or other hydrocarbons. It therefore derives from the petrochemical industry. Simply put, it’s a form of plastic, like other synthetic materials, such as polyester.

• Why do we use acrylic? Easy to produce, it has a hand similar to that of wool, but costs much less than the latter, which is a natural material of animal origin. For this reason it is often found in the trade of sweaters, scarves, gloves made of acrylic, or precisely composed of a mixture of these two materials. Wool and acrylic are often confused.

• Is acrylic an eco-responsible material? As a derivative of the oil industry, acrylic is polluting for production, but also for its entire life cycle, as it releases microplastics with each wash. If in theory we know how to recycle it, this is rarely the case, precisely because at the moment we recycle clothes so little. Acrylic garments therefore frequently end up in open landfills, from where they are unlikely to degrade, polluting terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna. In this, acrylic is a very harmful material for the environment.

Acrylic Garment Care

What are the advantages of acrylic for our garments?

Acrylic garments have little benefit other than cost to the consumer. Being an economic material, it allows you to create inexpensive garments. Another advantage: acrylic does not crease.

What are the disadvantages of acrylic for our garments?

Acrylic clothing has many flaws:

• As it is a cheap material, it is often used to make poor quality clothing. They pill easily which can make you want to get rid of them quickly and thus generate more waste.
• Being a synthetic fiber, it wicks away moisture badly and retains odors (that’s why it’s a material to avoid when it’s hot in summer), which can quickly become unpleasant and make you want to wash your clothes more frequently.
• However, this very fragile material also releases many microplastics that escape wastewater treatment and end up polluting aquatic fauna and flora (acrylic ends up being ingested by marine animals and/or accumulated within the 7th continent of plastic).
• Since we generally recycle few clothes, the acrylic usually ends up in the incinerator. However, its combustion releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN), which is an extremely toxic gas for humans.

How to wash an acrylic garment?

Being a synthetic material, it cannot stand high heat, because it is thermoplastic: it could take folds that are impossible to undo. That’s why it’s better do not exceed 40°C (30°C is more than enough, Moreover). Placing them in a washing bag (or better in a Guppy Friend) will prevent pilling and limit the release of microplastics. We can choose a pprogram for synthetics or for wool.

It is also because it is a thermoplastic material that acrylic does not need to be ironed: it is wrinkle resistant (unless washed too hot). This material dries very quickly in the open air. In reverse, putting it in the dryer damages it from the high heat and contributes to its pilling.

The acrylic and the textile industry

How is acrylic obtained?

Today this synthetic chemical material is mainly produced in China and India. It is obtained by polymerization of acrylic nitrile, i.e. several monomers of acrylonitrile are combined to obtain fibers which can then be spun. It is a derivative of the petrochemical industry whose manufacture resembles what is commonly called plastic.

What is the impact of acrylic on the environment?

As a derivative of the petrochemical industry, acrylic pollutes right from the production stage. Furthermore, its production releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) which are two toxic gases for both humans and animals. The acrylonitrile that makes up this material is suspected of being an endocrine disruptor and carcinogen. The production of acrylic consumes more energy than that of polyester.

Through wear and washing, acrylic releases microplastics into the air and water, which pollute aquatic fauna and flora. This contributes to forming the 7th continent of plastic, when it is not ingested by animals.

What are the alternatives to acrylic?

There are many much more virtuous alternatives to acrylic. Starting from wool, a natural material of animal origin, antibacterial and anti-odour. Angora, cashmere, yak or alpaca are other quality, warm, resistant and eco-responsible wools. You can also turn to a plant-based material like cotton or a man-made material like lyocell.

Featured photo credit: elayne001 from pixabay via Canva; Ihor Kidnapped by Pexels via Canva.