Viscose

What is Viscose Fabric?

Viscose is a versatile material that is highly appreciated in the fashion world for its pleasant feel and flowing drape. Viscose fabrics are particularly popular because they are lightweight and very skin-friendly. Viscose combines the advantages of cotton and silk, which has made it a staple in the textile industry. It is known for its softness, lightness, and excellent breathability, making it a popular choice for summer textiles.

Viscose: Definition and Origin

What exactly is viscose, and what is it made of?

Viscose is a semi-synthetic chemical fiber derived from the natural raw material cellulose.
Cellulose comes from wood, mainly from beech, spruce, or eucalyptus trees. It is processed into natural fibers through a complex chemical procedure.

The term "viscose" comes from the viscous (thick, sticky) consistency of the cellulose mass that forms during the production process.

Originally, the viscose process was developed in the 19th century to create a cheaper alternative to silk, which is why viscose became known as "artificial silk."

Viscose was once also referred to as rayon, a term still used in the United States today. Nowadays, viscose is widely used and highly popular in the textile world due to its versatility and pleasant wearing qualities.

Viscose Production Process

The production of viscose begins with the extraction of cellulose from wood. The cellulose undergoes several chemical processes:

First, the wood is processed into pulp.
The pulp is then soaked in caustic soda to create alkali cellulose.
This alkali cellulose is further processed by adding carbon disulfide, creating a viscous spinning solution.
This spinning solution is extruded through fine nozzles into a spinning bath, where it solidifies into viscose filaments.
These filaments are spun into viscose fibers, which can then be processed further.

This process, known as the viscose method, has been used for over 100 years, resulting in a fiber with a soft, flowing structure.

Key Characteristics and Applications of Viscose

Viscose is prized for several remarkable qualities that make it a popular fabric in the fashion world. The material is soft, lightweight, and airy, offering a beautiful, flowing drape that is particularly appreciated in summer clothing.

Some of viscose's outstanding characteristics include:

High moisture absorption, making the material highly breathable, with excellent moisture regulation and a pleasant skin feel.
Brilliant colours, as viscose takes dyes exceptionally well, resulting in vivid, long-lasting colours.
Lint-free and antistatic.
Very skin-friendly and generally suitable for people with allergies.
A loose, flowing drape that enhances its comfort and style.
Highly elastic.
Affordable.

Viscose is commonly used in lightweight blouses, T-shirts, dresses, skirts, linings, and undergarments. Its breathability makes it especially comfortable, ensuring that wearers sweat less.

Differences Between Viscose and Other Fabrics

Is viscose a natural fiber?

Technically, viscose is a regenerated fiber. This means it is made from natural materials (cellulose), but it undergoes chemical processing to achieve its final form.

This gives viscose its unique properties that set it apart from other fabrics. The feel and appearance of viscose fabrics can resemble those of silk, cotton, or even wool.

A common question is: Is viscose the same as cotton?

The answer is no. Despite some similarities, viscose and cotton are different materials. While cotton is a pure natural fiber derived from the seed hairs of plants, viscose is made from natural cellulose through a chemical process.

This difference leads to varying properties. For example, viscose is more absorbent than cotton, has a smoother, silk-like surface, and takes dye much better. On the other hand, viscose tends to wrinkle more easily. Viscose is often blended with other fibers to enhance its properties.

Cotton-viscose blends are common, combining the absorbency of cotton with the fluid drape of viscose. This material mix is ideal for producing home textiles such as bed linens or decorative fabrics, as they are comfortable and easy to care for.

Compared to synthetic fibers, viscose is much more breathable and absorbent. And compared to real silk, viscose is far more durable and affordable.

Caring for Viscose

Always check the care instructions on the label first.

In general, viscose fabrics are best washed on a delicate cycle using liquid detergent to avoid detergent residue and prevent the fabric from becoming dull. Washing in a laundry bag is ideal. Viscose should not be spun, and it is not suitable for tumble drying.

Since viscose tends to wrinkle, garments can be gently smoothed with a steam iron on the lowest setting after drying.