Natural cellulosic fibers, derived from plants, feature cotton and linen most commonly in upholstery, and sisal, jute, coir, and seagrass most commonly in floor coverings. Though each of these fibers possess their own unique qualities, cellulosic fibers as a class share several common properties. An example would be their poor reaction to low pH substances (acids); moderate acidic cleaners will degrade and damage cellulosic fibers causing them to discolor and lose strength. On the other end of the pH spectrum, cellulosic fibers are very resistant to strong alkalis (high pH).
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Cellulosic fibers tend to be hydrophilic meaning they are more absorbent than other textile fibers. Fabrics made up of these fibers have a much longer drying time than others, leaving them prone to potential problems like mildew and bacteria growth.
Polyester staple fiber (PSF) is a type of synthetic fiber made from polyester polymers. The term 'staple' refers to the fiber's cut length, distinguishing it from continuous filament fibers. Here are some key points about polyester staple fiber:
Production Process: PSF is produced by melting the polyester polymer, extruding it through a spinneret to form continuous filaments, and cutting them into short, staple-length fibers.
Lengths: PSF can come in various lengths, typically ranging from 10mm to 120mm, depending on the intended end-use.
Varieties: It can be produced in different deniers (a measure of linear density) and is either hollow or solid. The fiber can also be siliconized to give it a smooth feel or remain non-siliconized.
Silicon additiveAdvantages: Polyester staple fiber is known for its durability, resilience, and ability to retain shape. It's also hydrophobic, dries quickly ,and is resistant to water-based stains.
Recycled PSF: With growing environmental concerns, recycled polyester staple fiber, made from recycled PET bottles or old polyester garments, has gained popularity. It offers a sustainable alternative to virgin PSF without compromising much on quality.
There are two types of staple fiber.
When spinning liquid polymer, the size of holes on the spinneret will make it into a hollow or solid fiber.
Hollow ' There is more space in the fiber, giving a fluffy and light appearance.
Solid (microfiber) ' the fibers have tiny diameters with no space between them. These look thinner and finer.
The manufacturing company then uses chemicals to treat the two types of fiber. The treatment gives them various properties. These are fire-resistant, non-static, non-shrinking, anti-fungal, conjugated, siliconized, and non-siliconized.
For conjugated, the treatment works on the bonding to increase stability and elasticity.
Siliconization is fiber-coating with silicon oil to give it an alluring soft feel. Spraying an anti-static additive will reduce static electricity.
As you may notice on our website, PSF products come with names like HCS, HCNS, etc.
We combine these properties to produce staple fiber options available in the market.
These include:
· Hollow conjugated siliconized fiber (HCS)
· Hollow conjugated non-siliconized fiber (HCNS)
· Low melt fiber(LMF)
· Solid microfiber
Staple fiber, specifically polyester staple fiber (PSF), can be categorized into two main types based on their origin: recycled staple fiber and virgin staple fiber. Here are their primary differences:
Source:
Recycled Staple Fiber: Derived from post-consumer or post-industrial recycled materials, most commonly from recycled PET bottles or old polyester garments.
Virgin Staple Fiber: Produced directly from raw materials, PTA, and MEG
Environmental Impact:
Recycled Staple Fiber: Offers a more sustainable option as it reuses existing materials, reducing the need for virgin resources and lowering the environmental footprint regarding energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation.
Virgin Staple Fiber: The production process typically has a higher environmental impact due to the extraction and processing of raw materials and the energy-intensive nature of the manufacturing process.
Quality and Consistency:
Recycled Staple Fiber: The quality can vary based on the source of the recycled material and the recycling process. However, technological advancements have allowed for recycled fibers that closely match the quality of virgin fibers.
Virgin Staple Fiber: Generally offers consistent high quality as it's produced from standardized raw materials under controlled conditions.
Cost:
Recycled Staple Fiber: Often more cost-effective due to using recycled materials. However, the price can fluctuate based on the availability of quality recycled feedstock.
Virgin Staple Fiber: Typically more expensive due to the cost of raw materials and the production process.
Recycled staple fiber, mainly when referring to polyester staple fiber derived from recycled PET sources, undergoes a specific production process. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how recycled staple fiber is made:
Collection and Sorting:
Collecting post-consumer or post-industrial recycled materials, such as used PET bottles or old polyester garments.
These collected materials are sorted based on color, type, and other criteria.
Cleaning and Shredding:
The sorted materials are cleaned to remove impurities, labels, and any leftover contents.
Once cleaned, the PET items are shredded into smaller pieces, often called 'flakes.'
Washing:
Flakes undergo a thorough washing process using hot water and detergents to remove contaminants, adhesives, and residues.
In some cases, a further purification process using chemicals might be employed to enhance the purity of the flakes.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of pp staple fiber. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Extrusion :
The clean flakes are melted in an extruder. During the extrusion process, the melted polymer is passed through a fine filter to remove any remaining contaminants.
Spinning:
The pellets are melted again and extruded through a spinneret, producing continuous filaments.
As these filaments are cooled and solidified, they are gathered together to form a tow.
Drawing and Crimping:
The tow of continuous filaments undergo a drawing (stretching) process to align the polymer chains and improve the fiber's strength.
The fibers are then crimped to introduce texture and bulk, making them resemble the feel and appearance of natural fibers.
Cutting:
Finally, the continuous filaments are cut into the desired staple length, making recycled staple fiber ready for further processing or textile production.
Packaging:
The produced recycled staple fibers are packaged into bales or other suitable packaging forms, ready for shipment to textile manufacturers or other users.
Virgin staple fiber, especially when referring to polyester staple fiber (PSF), is produced directly from raw petrochemical materials. Manufacturing virgin staple fiber is somewhat similar to recycled staple fiber but begins with primary raw materials. Here's a step-by-step breakdown of how virgin staple fiber is made:
Raw Materials:
The primary raw materials for virgin polyester staple fiber are PTA and MEG.
Polymerization:
PTA and MEG undergo a polymerization process, typically using a catalyst, to produce polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer. This reaction occurs at high temperatures and has a thick, viscous liquid.
Extrusion and Pelletizing:
The molten PET polymer is then extruded and cut into small pellets. These pellets serve as the primary feedstock for fiber production.
Spinning:
The PET pellets are melted and extruded through a spinneret to produce fine continuous filaments. As these filaments emerge, they are cooled, typically by air or water, which causes them to solidify.
Drawing and Crimping:
The continuous filaments are drawn or stretched to align the polymer chains and enhance fiber strength and properties.
After drawing, the fibers are crimped to introduce texture and bulk, providing the fibers with a more natural feel and appearance.
Cutting:
The crimped, continuous filaments are then cut into desired staple lengths, yielding virgin staple fiber ready for further processing or textile production.
Finishing:
Depending on the desired end-use, the fibers might undergo additional finishing treatments, such as applying finishes to make them more hydrophilic or to enhance other properties.
Packaging:
The produced virgin staple fibers are packaged into bales or other suitable forms, ready for shipment to textile manufacturers or other users.
The polyester staple fiber (PSF) industry has several key players globally, producing both recycled (RPSF) and virgin (VPSF) products. Here are some of the prominent manufacturers
Indorama Ventures: A global chemical company with a diversified portfolio, they are a significant producer of virgin and recycled polyester fibers.
Reliance Industries Limited (RIL): Based in India, RIL is a significant petrochemical player, producing virgin and recycled polyester fibers.
Far Eastern New Century Corporation: This Taiwanese company is a significant petrochemical conglomerate with a broad portfolio.
Alpek: Based in Mexico, Alpek is involved throughout the polyester value chain and produces recycled and virgin fibers.
Sinopec Yizheng Chemical Fibre Company: Located in China, this company is one of the world's largest producers of polyester, including both virgin and recycled PSF.
Toray Industries: A Japanese multinational, Toray is involved in various materials and produces recycled and virgin polyester products.
Zhejiang Hengyi Group Co., Ltd.: A major petrochemical firm from China, they produce a wide range of polyester products, including virgin and recycled fibers.
Jiangsu Sanfangxiang Group: Another significant Chinese player involved in virgin and recycled PSF production.
These are just some of the prominent companies in the global PSF market. The industry is vast, with many manufacturers, especially in regions with solid textile industries, like China, India, and Southeast Asia. For B2B businesses like Heda, keeping an eye on these major players and understanding the competitive landscape can be invaluable for strategizing and building partnerships.
The world's natural resource reserve is decreasing fast. There is a need for sustainable alternatives. Polyester staple fiber offers that solution. There was concern over the environmental challenges of using synthetic fiber. However, recycled PSF has gone a long way in making this option more favorable to the market. That means the global market demands will keep rising.
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