What is Acrylic   

A manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is any long chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% by weight of acrylonitrile units.


Basic Principles of Production
Acrylic fibers are produced from acrylonitrile, which is derived from elements taken from natural gas, air, water and petroleum. The acrylonitrile is usually combined with small amounts of other chemicals to improve the ability of the fiber to absorb dyes. Some acrylic fibers are dry spun and others are wet spun. Acrylic fibers are used in staple or tow form. Acrylic fibers are made with many modifications to give special properties best suited for different types of constructions, to blend harmoniously with various other fibers or to meet particular requirements of an end-use product. Acrylic fibers are unique among manufactured fibers because they have an uneven surface, even when extruded from a round hole spinneret. Man made fibers, such as acrylic, begin with a polymer. The polymer, with an addition of a solvent, is forces through a spinnerete from which come the individual filament fibers. The uncrimped tow is then crimped and put through an annealer which via extreme high pressure and temperature enables the fiber to shrink, stabilize and become more receptive to dyeing later in the yarn or fabric process. This creates tow silver, which is more compact. In the next stage, the tow is cut into staple. At this point, the acrylic fiber can be successfully dyed during the production process rather than later in the yarn of fabric process. This is called "producer dyed" " acrylic. The staple is then shipped to the mills who create the carded silver and then Yarn.

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