The textile world offers a wide variety of fabrics, both natural and synthetic, each with its own unique properties. Yet, this guide will introduce you to a comprehensive list of synthetic fabrics, in particular, ranging from popular materials like polyester to lesser-known options like lycra.
Understanding the characteristics of various fabrics allows us to make informed choices based on our needs and values. With that said, let’s dive right into it.
A Comprehensive List of Synthetic Fabrics
- Polyester
- Spandex
- Vinyon
- Saran
- Olefin
- Modacrylic
- PBI (Polybenzimidazole fiber)
- M-5 (PIPD fiber)
- Orlon
- Polyurethane (PU)
- Elastane (EL/EA)
- Chlorofibers (from PVC)
- Aramids (Nomex, Kevlar, Twaron)
- Fluorofibers (GORE-TEX)
- PLA (Polylactic Acid)
- Sulfar
- Acrylonitrile
- Cupro
- Trevira
- Acrylate
- Nylon
- Acrylic
- Lycra
- Microfiber
- Acetate
- Rayon (semi-synthetic)
- Carbon Fiber
- Dyneema
- Technora
- Vectran
- Spectra
- Teflon-coated fabrics
Below, we will explore distinct characteristics of 15 popular synthetics – exploring their durability, versatility, and environmental impact:
1. Nylon
DuPont introduced nylon, a synthetic polymer fiber, in 1938 as strong, durable, flexible nylon stockings. This completely synthetic material derives from petrochemical monomers like hexamethylenediamine, produced from crude oil.
Non-biodegradable nylon releases harmful substances, persisting for centuries and contaminating environments during production, use, and improper disposal.
Key traits of nylon are the following:
- Versatile, silky plastic made from petroleum
- Can be melted into fibers, films, shapes for various uses
- Highly elastic, retains shape when stretched
- Used in apparel, flooring, rubber reinforcement, molded parts
- High crystallinity from regular backbone enhances fiber properties
2. Acrylic
Germany first manufactured acrylic in 1893, exhibiting wool-like characteristics and properties. DuPont introduced it to the U.S. market in 1950. By 1991, manufacturers widely used acrylic for sweaters, blankets, and other wash-and-wear items.
A synthetic fossil fuel derivative of petroleum and coal chemicals, acrylic does not biodegrade. Its energy-intensive production releases harmful gases, toxic substances, and microplastics into the environment. Like other synthetic fibres examples, acrylic fabric degrades slowly, taking up to 200 years and contributing to plastic pollution.
Key traits of acrylic include:
- At least 85% acrylonitrile, a fossil fuel-based fiber
- Low breathability for heat retention in athletics/clothing
- Soft, fluffy, curly fibers resembling wool
- Poor moisture absorption, low abrasion resistance among synthetics
- Can be blended with wool-type fibers, viscose, or polyester
3. Polyester
Polyester, a synthetic fiber derived from oil, accounted for 52% of globally produced fibers in 2020. While light, strong, easily dyed, and versatile for weaving or knitting, its petroleum-based origins and manufacturing processes significantly impact the environment.
It is crucial to know that polyester is not an eco-friendly fabric. Its energy-intensive production emits harmful air pollutants. Moreover, it takes up to 200 years to biodegrade, and when washed, it sheds toxic microfibers that pollute oceans and drinking water worldwide. This makes it the most notorious choice in the list of synthetic fabrics in terms of its negative environmental impact.
Here are some of the main properties of polyester:
- Remarkably elastic, retains shape when stretched
- Highly resistant to environmental conditions for outdoor use
- Versatile uses in clothing, bedding, upholstery, industrial products
- Often blended with cotton for improved durability, shrink/wrinkle resistance
4. Spandex (Also Known As Elastane)
Spandex/elastane/Lycra is a synthetic polyurethane fabric that can stretch up to 600% then revert to its original size. Derived from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, its production utilizes toxic chemicals like carcinogenic TDI and MDI, harming health and the environment.
Spandex clothing can trigger allergic reactions from chemical dyes and formaldehyde, causing fungal/bacterial skin infections like ringworm due to moisture buildup. It can also increase the risk of yeast infection in warm conditions by restricting breathability.
Key properties of spandex include:
- Often blended with other fibers, such as cotton, polyester, or nylon, to add stretch and comfort.
- Used in athletic wear, swimwear, jeans, lingerie
- Toxic on skin, causing dermatitis and other skin irritations, and may contain latex, which can cause allergic reactions.
- Contains carcinogenic and mutagenic substances, such as polyurethane and TDI
5. Rayon (Also Known As Viscose)
Invented in the late 1800s as an artificial silk alternative, rayon is a regenerated cellulose fiber made from wood pulp or cotton plant materials. Due to its origins, the fabric is considered semi-synthetic, however, this does not mean it’s breathable or safe for consumer health.
Transforming from cellulose cast-offs into a fabric, rayon leaves a toxic trail of hazardous compounds. Its production, known as the ‘viscose process’, requires the use of formaldehyde resins, carbon disulfide, and other toxic solvents to mold natural cellulose into fibers.
These solvents can cause neurological damage, reproductive issues, dermatological problems, and even cancer – both in garment workers producing rayon and in end consumers who wear the fabric. This makes rayon a carcinogenic fabric, as it is treated with formaldehyde – which is used to make rayon wrinkle-free – a human carcinogen known to cause leukemia and nasopharyngeal cancer when inhaled or ingested from fabric fibers over time.
Here is what you need to know about the properties of rayon:
- Prone to wrinkling, requiring regular ironing or steaming
- Shrinks easily when washed
- Its fibers weaken when wet, making the fabric more vulnerable to damage during washing and drying
- Prone to pilling and fuzzing
- A popular choice for softness, drapability, and color quality
6. Modal
Some might claim that modal is a sustainable fabric due to its biodegradability, as it is a semi-synthetic fabric derived from beech tree pulp. The fabric also consumes far less water than conventional cotton — accounting for only 1/20 of cotton’s water footprint.
However, do not let this fool you. The chemicals required for modal production, such as sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide, still raise concerns about worker safety and ecological impacts.
In fact, the fabric chemically-heavy process, also known as, “xanthation”, involves dissolving the wood pulp into liquid — through the use of carbon disulfide, a highly toxic co-carcinogen, which causes dizziness, vision changes, and poor sleep in nylon workers.
In most cases, toxic chemicals do not get captured in the manufacturing process behind modal, nor do they get reused. Instead, they leach into the environment, posing risks to wildlife, aquatic life, and most importantly, human health.
Key properties of nylon include:
- Features excellent tensile strength and abrasion resistance, making it suitable for gears, seatbelts, ballistic cloth, machinery parts, and ropes
- Lighter in weight than polyester
- Boasts high elongation and elastic recovery
- Tends to be less flammable, as compared to viscose and cotton
7. Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a staple synthetic for activewear and outdoor apparel. This thermoplastic polymer excels at wicking moisture, dries quickly, and delivers lightweight insulation. Its durable fibers resist water, staining, and rigorous use. Major brands incorporate polypropylene into athletic gear, thermal underwear, swimsuits – that is, anything demanding lasting performance.
However, polypropylene’s practicality carries an environmental toll. Production guzzles non-renewable fossil fuels and belches greenhouse gases. When thrown away into landfills, polypropylene sheds microplastics that pollute ecosystems and harm wildlife.
Like other synthetics, it also contains migratory chemical additives posing potential health risks over time. Flame retardants, plasticizers, stabilizers, and dyes are just some of the potential chemical culprits that could lead to cumulative health effects from sustained contact with this fabric.
Here are some of the main properties of polypropylene:
- Features low density and high heat resistance
- Is very flammable, requiring flame-retardants and additives to reduce its flammability
- Versatile material used in packaging, automotive, medical, and consumer goods
- Is lightweight, high-strength, and cost-effective material
- Is waterproof and a great insulator
8. Cupro (Also Known As Ammonia Silk)
Cupro is a man-made fabric derived from cotton waste, specifically the short, downy fibers that stick out of the cottonseed, known as cotton linters. These fibers are too small to be used in the production of cottonseed oil, so they are repurposed to create cupro.
The manufacturing process involves dissolving the cotton linters in a solution of copper and ammonium, known as a cuprammonium solution. This process can be highly toxic, due to the use of caustic soda, which not only poses risks to the environment but also fosters occupational hazards at cupro factories.
At disposal, modal generates as much, if not more, toxic waste as synthetic fabrics.
Given that, here’s what you need to know about cupro:
- Often marketed as a more ethical, vegan alternative to silk (which is a form of greenwashing, as organic silk is more environmentally-friendly and non-toxic)
- Praised for its smooth texture, fineness, lightness, and ability to drape like silk
- Involves an energy-intensive production process, particularly, during the purification stages
- Used in high-end apparel, industrial materials, and home textiles
9. Modacrylic
A modified version of traditional acrylic, modacrylic fibers contain 35-85% acrylonitrile by weight. For a comparison, conventional acrylic is composed of at least 85% acrylonitrile. The fabric was created as a modified, flame-resistant version of acrylic – a property useful for chemical-resistant clothing, outerwear, and household furnishing.
Unfortunately, the key ingredient of the fabric, acrylonitrile, poses significant health risks to humans, as it causes respiratory problems, nausea, and dizziness even at lower doses. In fact, the chemical classifies as a probable human carcinogen – based on limited evidence in people and clear evidence in animal studies.
Despite these dangers, global production of acrylonitrile remains massive to supply the modacrylic and acrylic industries. It’s primarily manufactured through a catalytic ammoxidation process using propylene, with an estimated worldwide production capacity of 6 million tons by 2017.
10. Olefin
Olefin is a man-made fiber created from plastic materials like polypropylene or polyethylene. Its production involves combining ethylene gases and adding color to the polymer before melt spinning it into thin threads.
These olefin fibers are strong, resist fading, staining, mildew, abrasion, and sunlight. They also feel comfortable and can absorb some moisture while drying quickly.
All of these advantages, however, come at an environmental cost. Olefin is made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource, and it leaches toxic substances into water, air, and soil.
Here are the main properties of Olefin:
- Doesn’t easily get static cling and is difficult to melt
- Widely used for activewear and socks, car interiors, furniture upholstery, and curtains.
- Isn’t easily dyed, but is colorfast
- Features resistance to staining, mildew, and abrasion
11. Microfiber
Microfiber fabric combines ultra-fine fibers of polyester and nylon, making the fibers much thinner than human hair. This construction allows microfiber to absorb liquids and trap dust and dirt extremely effectively.
Initially, microfiber cloths gained popularity for their efficiency in cleaning without chemicals. However, today, concerns arise about its health risks.
During production, manufacturers craft microfiber from non-renewable, petroleum-based resources that do not biodegrade. What’s more, the fabric sheds tiny microplastic fibers that pollute water bodies, harming marine life and entering the human food chain.
Here’s what you need to know about microfiber:
- Used in cleaning textiles, as it reduces bacteria on surfaces better than cotton.
- Features ultra-fine fibers that are thinner than human hair
- Highly absorbent, lint-free, soft, and durable
12. Fleece
Fleece is a soft, lightweight, and insulating synthetic fabric made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or other man-made fibers. Malden Mills, now known as Polartec, first introduced fleece in the 1980s through a collaboration with Patagonia’s founder Yvon Chouinard. The fabric’s ability to wick away moisture, its light feel, and easy care make it popular among outdoor enthusiasts and casual wearers alike.
Manufacturers produce fleece by melting non-renewable petroleum derivatives and weaving them into thin filament threads, creating a tightly knit fabric. They then brush the fabric to create its signature bulky texture.
Unfortunately, the production process requires large amounts of energy and contributes to air and water pollution, using potentially harmful chemicals that can persist in the environment.
Moreover, to make fleece water- and wind-resistant, manufacturers coat it with fluorochemicals like perfluoro octane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which are per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals’. These toxins never fully break down in the environment and carry toxicological effects, such as birth defects, reproductive harm, and cancer.
Key properties of fleece include:
- Offers excellent insulation without the weight and bulk associated with other materials
- Features a cozy and plush texture
- Machine-washable and wrinkle-resistant
- Comes in various weights, textures, and styles and dries faster than some synthetics
- Susceptible to static cling
- Develops pilling quickly, where small balls of fiber appear on the fabric surface
13. Vinyon
Vinyon is a synthetic fiber made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that manufacturers first invented in 1939. Initially, the fabric served as a substitute for plant-based filters in tea bags, but its use has declined due to the health concerns around PVC and vinyl chloride.
Manufacturers produce vinyon using vinyl chloride, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies as a Group 1 carcinogen. Exposure to this compound can lead to an increased risk of liver cancer, brain cancer, and lung cancer.
Key properties of vinyon are the following:
- Known for being non-flammable, vinyon is highly resistant to chemicals and has low moisture absorption
- Suitable for industrial applications as a bonding agent for non-woven fabrics and products
- Features low moisture absorbption, which can lead to mildew
- Can release hydrochloric acid when heated
- Used in outdoor gear, such as backpacks and raincoats
14. Chlorofibers
Chlorofibers, also referred to as chlorofibre, is a lesser known fabric in our list of synthetic fabrics. They represent a type of synthetic fibers that derive from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which comes from salt and petrochemicals.
To make chlorofibers, manufacturers dissolve certain chemicals in a solvent mixture and spin the PVC solution into fibers. They can make different types by stretching the fibers varying amounts as they exit the spinning nozzle. Chlorofibers don’t absorb much water, get soft at around 70°C with shrinkage, and don’t take dye well at moderate temperatures.
The key downside of chlorofiber production is that it emits toxic gases, such as hydrogen chloride (HCl) and carbon monoxide (CO) when burned, which are hazardous to inhale. The disposal of the fabric can also contribute to environmental pollution by releasing harmful chemicals into the air, water, and soil.
Key properties of chlorofibers include:
- Non-flammable, quick-drying, water resistant, and crease resistant
- Features high thermal insulation, electricity, and acoustic insulation
- Suitable for clothing, linens, filter clothes, curtains, and fishing nets due to their excellent resistance to water, fading, and fire
15. Acetate
Acetate fabric is a synthetic material made from cellulose acetate fibers, developed in the early 1900s as an alternative to silk. Manufacturers commonly use it to produce women’s clothing like blouses, dresses, and skirts, as well as linings, ribbons, and lingerie.
The fabric gets its lustrous, silky appearance and lightweight feel through a process called wet spinning. In wet spinning, manufacturers first extract cellulose from wood pulp or cotton linters. Then, they treat it with acetone solvent to craft cellulose acetate.
Exposure to acetone and methylene chloride (another solvent used in acetate production) can be harmful to ingest or inhale, posing occupational hazards among acetate workers.
Key properties of acetate include:
- Boasts a luxurious appearance resembling silk
- Lightweight and airy
- More absorbent than synthetics, less than natural fibers
- Commonly used in gowns, lingerie, wedding dresses, linings, scarves, and ties
- Requires special care to avoid damage from high heat
List of Synthetic Fabrics: Final Thoughts
Fabrics come in many forms, ranging from sustainable, natural options to high-performance synthetics. While some prioritize durability and function, others focus on cost considerations. However, the often overlooked factors remain human health and environmental protection, which are areas where synthetic materials fall short.
In the end, consumers hold a lot of power over the textile industry through their purchasing decisions. By educating ourselves on different fabric varieties, we can select materials that resonate with our principles and lifestyles, contributing to a more sustainable fashion industry.
