the benefits of Modal
Modal is a man-made cellulosic fibre known as a breathable and absorbent fabric fibre. Modal is biodegradable and can be recycled.
raw material
The semi-synthetic fabric Modal is made from the pulp of beech trees
the production
- Beech trees are harvested, chipped, and pulped for cellulose.
- Next, cellulose is made into sheets, which are soaked in sodium hydroxide.
- Those sheets are broken into smaller pieces and soaked in carbon disulfate. This produces sodium cellulose xanthate.
- In this step, cellulose xanthate is soaked again in sodium hydroxide. The next step is to put the liquid solution through a spinneret, which has holes to create fibers
- To form yarn, the fibers are soaked in sulfuric acid. Spools are loaded with yarn after it has been washed, bleached, and dried.
- From there, the yarn can be woven or knit into a fabric to form modal.
Environmental Impact
Modal is still semi-synthetic, however, it is a biodegradable fabric made from spun reconstituted beech tree cellulose. Because beech trees do not require much water to grow, Modal has generally been considered a more eco-friendly alternative to cotton.
When compared to other types of rayon, Modal is produced from regenerative plants and uses fewer chemicals.
What Is the Difference Between Modal and Lyocell?
- Tencel Lyocell is more eco-friendly than modal because lyocell is made using an organic solution that replaces the sodium hydroxide used in modal.
- Lyocell can be made from different types of trees, including beech trees and eucalyptus.
