Acrylic fibre (PAN)
1.5-4 usd/kgAcrylic fibre is prized for its soft, wool-like properties. It is textured and spun into bulky yarns that are used to make sweaters, knits and faux fur. It is is a synthetic material produced from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and known as acrylic when the polymer contains more than 85% acrylonitrile. Below that and it is known as modacrylic.
Acrylic is used to make garments, upholstery and interior textiles. It is inherently resistant to UV, moisture, mould and mildew and so suitable for use outside, such as awnings, umbrellas, outdoor furniture, convertible car roofs and yacht upholstery. Modacrylic is copolymerised with chlorine-based units (such as vinyl chloride) to produce flame retardant fibres for application such as bay clothes, industrial fabrics and contract interior textiles.
Acrylonitrile is an important industrial chemical, but it is polluting and poisonous – it is an extremely hazardous material to work with. The spinning process for acrylic uses solvents, which are expensive to recover. On top of this, durable exterior fabrics made of acrylic are often chemically treated to enhance water and oil-repellency, UV resistance and fire resistance. This reduces end of life options, because to be recycled, these chemicals first need to be separated. And some of these chemicals are hazardous, including fluorocarbons, melamine, acrylic resin and anti-mould agents.