Investigation topic 2: Producing and using ‘greener’ polymers
Both natural and synthetic polymers play an important role in everyday life. The cells in animals and plants are built of, and metabolise, natural polymers. Proteins and carbohydrates in our food are both polymers. Synthetic polymers are used for a myriad of purposes in everyday life but may present challenges in terms of the by-products resulting from their manufacture or breakdown, and their persistence in the environment. The sustainability of polymers can be considered in terms of whether these plastics can be avoided by using different products or activities, reduced through design, or replaced by different materials.
Questions that may be explored in this investigation include:
· What are the risks and benefits to the environment of the manufacturing, production and application of synthetic fibres for the textile industry (for example, synthetic grass, active wear, shoes and single-use plastics such as takeaway cups, containers, and electrical and electronic products such as mobile phone cords and USB flash drives)?
Synthetic Fibres
Synthetic fibers are fibers made by humans through chemical synthesis, as opposed to natural fibers that are directly derived from living organisms, such as plants (like cotton) or fur from animals. They are the result of extensive research by scientists to replicate naturally occurring animal and plant fibers. Synthetic fibers account for about half of all fiber usage, with applications in every field of fiber and textile technology.
Bing AI - Bing. (2023). Bing. https://www.bing.com/search?form=MY0291&OCID=MY0291&q=Bing+AI&showconv=1&sydconv=1
Production volume of chemical and textile fibers worldwide from 1975 to 2021(in 1,000 metric tons)
In 1975, approximately 24 million metric tons of textile fibers were produced worldwide. By 2021, that number had nearly quintupled, surpassing 113 million metric tons. Natural fibers such as cotton or wool had a production volume of 25.4 million metric tons, whereas chemical fibers accounted for the remaining 88.2 million. Chemical fibers include synthetic fibers such as polyesters or polyamides, and manmade cellulosic fibers like viscose or rayon.
Chemical and textile fibers production worldwide 2021 | Statista. (2021). Statista; Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/263154/worldwide-production-volume-of-textile-fibers-since-1975/
Types of synthetic fibres
Synthetic fibres are of four types, namely:
- Rayon
- Nylon
- Polyester
- Acrylic
Read about them here.
Admin. (2019, February 21). Types of Synthetic Fibers- Rayon, Nylon, Polyester and Acrylic. BYJUS; BYJU’S. https://byjus.com/biology/types-of-synthetic-fibers/
THE CHEMISTRY OF SYNTHETIC FIBRES - Synthetic fibre composition
Synthetic Fibres & Plastics. (2021, July 12). Embibe Exams. https://www.embibe.com/exams/synthetic-fibres/
There are several advantages associated with using synthetic fibers. Some of them include:
- Most synthetic fibers have good elasticity.
- They do not wrinkle easily and remain crisp.
- They are easily washable.
- Since these fibers are man-made, they are available in a variety of colors.
- They are very strong and durable and can withstand heavy weight without breaking.
Synthetic Fibres & Plastics. (2021, July 12). Embibe Exams. https://www.embibe.com/exams/synthetic-fibres/
There are also several disadvantages associated with using synthetic fibers. Some of them include:
- Most fabrics made from synthetic fibers require careful ironing as they melt easily .
- Most fabrics made from synthetic fibers absorb very little moisture. They become sticky when the body sweats, which makes them uncomfortable to wear in hot weather .
- Most fabrics made from synthetic fibers catch fire very easily. Therefore, it is dangerous to wear them near a source of fire (e.g., while working in the kitchen) .
Bing AI - Bing. (2023). Bing. https://www.bing.com/search?form=MY0291&OCID=MY0291&q=Bing+AI&showconv=1&sydconv=1
Synthetic fibre manufacturing
Textile Vlog. (2021). Polyester Fiber - Production process, Properties and Uses [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9r_ChCqlB8&ab_channel=TextileVlog
FOR VIDEOS ON ALL SYNTHETIC FIBRE MANUFACTURING PROCESSES
SEARCH TEXTILE VLOG ON YOUTUBE.
ENVIRNOMENTAL CHALLENGES OF SYNTHETIC FIBRES
Accredited Degree Programmes. (n.d.). Www.rsc.org. https://www.rsc.org/images/Synthetic%20fabrics_tcm18-114532.pdf
Green method developed for making artificial spider silk
Green method developed for making artificial spider silk. (2017, July 10). University of Cambridge. https://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/green-method-developed-for-making-artificial-spider-silk
Recent progress in biobased synthetic textile fibers
Tian, W., Huang, K., Zhu, C., Sun, Z., Shao, L., Hu, M., & Feng, X. (2022). Recent progress in biobased synthetic textile fibers. 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmats.2022.1098590
Textile industry
Share of chemical fiber production worldwide 2021, by country or region
In 2021, China was the largest producer of chemical fibers across the globe, accounting for some 73 percent of the production worldwide. India ranked second, but by a wide margin, with a seven percent share of the global chemical fibers production. Meanwhile, the United States produced three percent of the world's chemical fibers that year.
Global chemical fiber production share by region 2021 | Statista. (2021). Statista; Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/271653/distribution-of-global-chemical-fiber-production-by-region/
GRETE Project. (2020). Textile industry: limits and new possibilities for cellulose-based textile fibers [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og3HdkUv6QU&t=30s&ab_channel=GRETEProject
Why Fashion Needs to Be More Sustainable
Cho, R. (2021, June 10). Why Fashion Needs to Be More Sustainable. State of the Planet. https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/06/10/why-fashion-needs-to-be-more-sustainable/
Product specific
Synthetic Turf - health and environmental impacts
A set of over 20 research articles on synthetic grass.
Synthetic Turf. (2020). Plone Site. https://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/ssrc/research/synthetic-turf-health
Synthetic fibres for active wear.
New fibers can make breath-regulating garments
Chandler, D. L. (2021, October). New fibers can make breath-regulating garments. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://news.mit.edu/2021/fibers-breath-regulating-1015
Nylon fibers made to flex like muscles
Chandler, D. L. (2016, November). Nylon fibers made to flex like muscles. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://news.mit.edu/2016/nylon-muscle-fibers-1123
Synthetic fibres in shoes
Chu, J. (2013, May). Footwear’s (carbon) footprint. MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. https://news.mit.edu/2013/footwear-carbon-footprint-0522
SYNTHETIC FIBRES IN TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
Aramid fiber was the first organic fiber used as reinforcement in advanced composites with high enough tensile modulus and strength. They have much better mechanical properties than steel and glass fibers on an equal weight basis.
Aramid fibers
Aramid fibers. (2017). ResearchGate. https://doi.org/10.1016//B978-0-08-101871-2.00007-2
New synthetic fiber armored cable for freezing-in thermal ice probes
Zhang, N., Liu, H., Pavel Talalay, Sun, Y., Li, N., Fan, X., Li, B., Gong, D., Hong, J., Wang, T., Liu, A., Li, Y., Liu Yunchen, Wang Rusheng, Yang, Y., & Wang, L. (2020). New synthetic fiber armored cable for freezing-in thermal ice probes. 62(85-86), 179–190. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2020.74
No limit yet for carbon nanotube fibers
No limit yet for carbon nanotube fibers. (2020). Rice News | News and Media Relations | Rice University. https://news.rice.edu/news/2020/no-limit-yet-carbon-nanotube-fibers
