What Is Viscose Fiber? A Complete Guide
Date: 2025/3/10 By: Winnie
Viscose fiber is a kind of regenerated cellulose fiber, with natural cellulose (such as wood pulp meal, cotton pulp meal, bamboo pulp meal, etc.) as raw material, through alkalization, sulfonation, yellowing and other chemical reactions made of cellulose flavonate solution, and then by wet spinning and post-treatment process made. Its nature is “from natural but better than natural” plant fiber, widely used in textile, medical, industrial, and other fields.
Viscose Fiber Production Process
- Pulp preparation: natural cellulose raw materials (such as wood and cotton fluff) are purified into pulp.
- Alkalization and sulfonation: pulp and sodium hydroxide reaction to generate alkali cellulose, and then with carbon disulfide to generate cellulose xanthate.
- Spinning and post-treatment: the viscose solution is extruded through the spinneret, cured into fibers by the coagulation bath, and then washed, dried, and treated in other ways.
Viscose Fiber Properties
Advantages of Viscose Fiber
- Moisture absorption and breathability: moisture absorption rate of up to 13%, better than cotton fiber, suitable for making underwear and summer clothing.
- Dyeing performance: easy to dye and high color fastness, can present bright colors.
- Environmental protection: the raw materials are renewable resources, and some of the products are biodegradable.
- Diversified applications: through modification can have antibacterial, flame retardant, and other functions, expanding to medical (such as hemostatic fibers), industrial (tire cord), and other fields.
Disadvantages of Viscose Fiber
- Low wet strength: the strength drops to 60%-65% of the dry strength in the wet state, which affects the durability.
- Easy to shrink and wrinkle: shrinkage rate of up to 8%-10%, and poor elasticity, requiring special care.
- Environmental pollution: the traditional production process requires the use of a large number of chemical reagents, which may produce hydrogen sulfide and other pollutants.
Classification of Viscose Fiber
Viscose fibers can be classified into the following main types based on their properties and uses:
1. Ordinary viscose fibers
- Rayon: short fibers, without curling treatment, good moisture absorption but low strength, used for daily textiles.
- Viscose: filament, gloss and feel close to natural silk, for high-grade clothing.
2. High wet modulus viscose fiber
High modulus in a wet state (wet elongation ≤ 15%), wrinkle resistance is better than ordinary fibers, suitable for high-end fabrics.
3. Strong Viscose Fiber
Dry strength over 30cN/tex, used in industrial fields such as tire cords, transport belts, etc..
According to the strength level, it is divided into super-strong yarn (above 38cN/tex), and two super to four super-strong yarns.
4. Modified Viscose Fiber
It is chemically treated to give flame retardant, antibacterial, and other functions to meet special needs.
Viscose Fiber Industry Trends in 2025
1. Environmental protection and sustainable development
- Green process innovation: adopt a closed-loop production system to reduce wastewater discharge, and promote Lyocell and other solvent method technologies to reduce the use of carbon disulfide.
- Diversification of raw materials: developing non-wood pulp raw materials such as bamboo pulp meal and agricultural waste to reduce dependence on forest resources.
2. High Performance and Functionality
- High Strength and Weather Resistance: Developing fibers with wet strength increased to over 80%, expanding outdoor and industrial applications.
- Smart Fiber: Integrate conductive and temperature-sensitive functions for wearable devices and military equipment.
3. Changes in Market Demand
Growing demand for substitution: Viscose fibers are expanding in packaging and nonwovens, driven by the “plastic ban”.
Defense and aerospace: additive manufacturing technologies (e.g., 3D printing of warhead components) are driving demand for high-performance fibers.
As a material that combines the advantages of both natural and synthetic fibers, viscose fibers have great potential in environmental protection, medical, and industrial fields. BOSTON Scrub is a medical scrubs manufacturer in China, producing surgical scrubs, scrub uniforms, doctor lab coats, patient gowns, etc. If you need to order scrubs in bulk, you can contact us.
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