Textiles, degradation synthetic fibers

The versatility of rayons, coupled with their lower price, makes them suitable for many textile applications. Rayon is used in clothing and home furnishings. Disposable nonwoven garments and products of rayon have been introduced to the consumer in recent years. The stronger rayons have been used in tire cord for several decades but have lost a significant portion of this important market in recent years. Rayon has been used more and more in blends with synthetic fibers, since rayon undergoes less degradation than cotton with durable press and wash-and-wear finishes. 

Geotextiles are available as mats, textiles, webs, nets, grids, and sheets. When retention of the contained material is desired synthetic polymers such as polypropylenes, polyesters, nylons, PEs, and PVCs are used because they resist rapid degradation. When only shortterm retention is needed natural materials such as cotton are used. Geotextiles are not always made from fibers, but include film materials such as PE and polypropylene sheets used to retain moisture but retard weed growth in gardens. 

Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is a synthetic polymer with the hnear formula (C3H3N) . Although it is thermoplastic it does not melt under normal conditions, since it degrades before melting at above 300 °C. Almost all PAN resins are copolymers made from mixtures of monomers, with acrylonitrile as the main component. It is a versatile polymer used to produce a large variety of products, including fibers for textiles, ultra-filtration membranes, hollow fibers for reverse osmosis, etc. PAN fibers are the precursor in the production of high-quality carbon fibers. 

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