Lyocell in textiles

Lyocell can be processed via established yam manufacturing routes, using, for example, 1.7 dtex 38 mm, 1.4 dtex 38 mm and 1.25 dtex 38 mm fibre for short staple routes. The fibre can be processed on conventional machinery, usually requiring a few setting changes in order to optimise processing performance. 

Lyocell s processing performance is mostly influenced by the following properties  

The effects of fabric structure on fabric properties such as weight, bulk, warmth, flexibility, smoothness, cost, etc. are generally well appreciated in the trade. However, the fundamental influence of fabric stmcture on other important factors such as stability and susceptibility to creasing are often ignored or poorly understood. 

It should be appreciated that lyocell fibres are stable in length when wetted and dried (i.e. they do not shrink). Fabric shrinkage arises only from the fact that the fibres and yams swell in diameter swelling in diameter forces yam crimp to increase so that the fabric will contract (shrink) and become thicker. Thickness is due to an increase in the yam crimp amplitude. 

together with more space within the fabric, creates useful fabric bulk. Contraction can be altered to some degree by dimensional control during finishing. However, it is the fabric stracture and not finishing that largely determines the dimensions at which the fabric wiU be stable. Stmcture (ends/cm, picks/cm and yam tex) can be adjusted to tailor fabrics to meet specific shrinkages. 

---