Source of Acetate Fibers:
- Wood chips, cotton linters (the relatively short fuzz left on cottonseed after the cotton ginning process) and acetic acid.
Chemical Properties:
- Acetate fiber is easily weakened by strong alkaline solutions and strong oxidizing agents.
- Acetate upholstery fiber is dissolved by acetone and fingernail polish removers containing acetone.
- Resistant to moths, mold and mildew.
Cleaning Characteristics:
- Acetate fiber loses strength when wet.
- Acetates can usually be wet cleaned or dry cleaned and generally do not shrink.
- Can be damaged by detergents containing oxygen bleach.
- Always pre-check dye stability before cleaning any upholstery.
- Resists shrinkage.
- Heat sensitive.
- Low moisture absorbency.
- Fast drying.
DISADVANTAGES of Acetate in Upholstery:
- Not a good choice for tough every-day-use furniture.
- Poor resistance to abrasion.
- Weakens with age.
- Fades with sunlight.
- Stains and scratches easily.
- May require dry cleaning, based on cleaning code care tag.
- Destroyed by acetone, acetic acid and alcohol.
ADVANTAGES of Acetate in Upholstery:
- Crisp texture, soft hand.
- Resists shrinkage.
Fiber ID test:
- It blazes as it burns.
- The edge of the fabric puckers and curls as the material fuses and melts into a hard mass.
- It sputters and drips like tar. The ash of acetate is hard and brittle, and is difficult to crush between the fingers.
- Because of the acetic acid used in the manufacture of acetate, the ash has an acid odor similar to that of vinegar.