Circularity potential
Ultra low
Strength
High
Production energy
Very high
Stiffness
Low
Embodied CO2
Medium
Density
Medium

Acrylic 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.


Sustainability concerns
Non-renewable ingredients
Low circularity potential
Microplastics
Raw material generates polluting by-products


Modacrylic tends to be weaker than acrylic fibre, and it has reduced resilience and wear resistance, which can lead to pilling and matting on the surface of fabrics. The exact properties depend on the ingredients and proportion of acrylonitrile, which ranges from 35-85%. A higher proportion of acrylonitrile yields a stronger and more resilient fibre.

While acrylic will readily burn, modacrylic is inherently flame retardant. As a result, it is used in applications where built-in flammability is critical, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), construction, transportation and industrial applications. As well as conventional woven and knitted textiles, it is used in flock (short fibre coatings), paint rollers and filters.

Examples of trade names include Dynel (acrylonitrile and polyvinyl chloride) and Verel (acrylonitrile and vinylidene chloride).


Design properties
Cost usd/kg
2.5-4
Embodied energy MJ/kg
155-195
Carbon footprint kgCO2e/kg
3-5
Density kg/m3
1350
Tensile modulus GPa
2.1-3.4
Tensile strength MPa
150-360
Hardness Mohs
2
Melt temperature ºC
200
Temperature min-max °C
-40 to 120
Thermal
insulator
Electrical
insulator