Cellulose Fibers in Textiles
Today's textiles are practical, strong, attractive, and absorbent-all because of the integration of cellulose fiber. The uses for pulp in textile manufacturing are extensive. Upholstery, curtains, blankets, and clothing are just some of the many applications.
Weyerhaeuser leads the way in new fibers for textiles. For regenerated cellulose (lyocell) applications, we created Peach™ pulp and the process of meltblown lyocell, which provides self-bonding fibers to create nonwoven material in just one step. Peach pulp is also used to make lyocell staple fiber. For viscose rayon applications, we developed Pearl™ pulp, an outstanding substitute for dissolving pulp.
Peach Pulp
Weyerhaeuser's Peach pulp is an outstanding component used in the manufacturing of meltblown lyocell nonwovens. The proprietary process developed by Weyerhaeuser imparts fiber characteristics that cannot be achieved with the dissolving pulps that are currently used for lyocell.
Lyocell is a man-made cellulosic fiber made from wood pulp using an advanced "closed loop" direct solvent spinning process. The process minimizes environmental impact and uses water and energy efficiently and economically, giving lyocell a significant advantage over viscose. Meltblown lyocell is a process that allows manufacturers of nonwoven textiles to make a 100 percent natural lyocell web in one continuous process directly from the lyocell dope.
Meltblown lyocell also comes with cost advantages. A modified kraft pulp has a higher yield because of the higher level of hemicellulose. The higher yield can lead to lower fiber supply costs for lyocell manufacturers. Weyerhaeuser's fiber also provides optimized pulp viscosity, purity, and stability, allowing for faster processing under optimized conditions. These advantages lead to improved fiber absorbency in textile and nonwoven applications and allow faster dye uptake in textiles.
Pearl Pulp
Viscose rayon manufacturers have discovered that Pearl pulp is an ideal substitute for dissolving pulps. A 100 percent softwood fiber, it is an effective component to blend with cotton linters and/or dissolving pulp. As the cost and availability of dissolving pulp become more of an issue, Pearl pulp is a cost-effective, reliable solution to help you keep the costs of raw materials steady.
Pearl pulp has these features:
- Smooth, supple fibers that are also strong and resilient
- Bright white for rich colors
- Pure, natural fibers
Customers can use Pearl pulp to replace up to 15 percent of the dissolving pulp used in a typical rayon blend. And its composition and quality are outstanding.
How can cellulose fibers be incorporated into your textile production? Our team of researchers is ready to help you count the ways.
