Modal fabric is a special kind of material that combines the best qualities of both natural and artificial processes. It is made from natural raw materials. Because of this, it has a unique set of qualities that make it very sought-after for textiles and apparel.
The exceptional softness of modal—often likened to cotton—is one of its most notable qualities. But modal fabric also has other advantages, like improved moisture absorption and resistance to fading and shrinking. These characteristics make it a popular option for everything from luxury clothing to daily wear.
Modal fabric is becoming more well-known for its superior comfort and environmentally friendly production as customers show an increasing interest in comfortable and sustainable clothing options. You can choose fabrics for your wardrobe more wisely if you know what modal is and how it differs from regular cotton.
| What is Modal Fabric? | Modal fabric is an artificial material derived from natural raw materials, specifically beech tree fibers. It has similar properties to cotton, such as softness and breathability. |
| Properties | Modal is known for its softness, smooth texture, and high moisture absorption. It is also breathable and has a natural drape, making it comfortable to wear. |
| Benefits | Modal fabric retains color well and resists shrinking and wrinkling. It also tends to be more durable and long-lasting compared to some other fabrics. |
| Uses | Modal is commonly used in clothing items such as t-shirts, pajamas, and underwear due to its comfort and soft feel. |
What is modal and when did it appear
In the textile industry, synthetic materials have essentially taken the place of natural materials. Modal, for instance, is an enhanced and variant of viscose.
Raw materials for the manufacture of modal were obtained in Japan in the 1930s as a result of experiments conducted by scientists who had long been trying to create an artificial material that would be soft and dense and have properties similar to those of soft cotton from natural cellulose.
Strong, thin threads were originally limited to use in blended fabrics. Twenty years later, the improved material started to be made from cellulose fibers from eucalyptus trees as a separate kind of textile. It was made without the use of chemicals harmful to humans, such as chlorine. Then, it was referred to as "Polynosic" (polynosic).
Within the category of modal fibers, polynosic fibers are unique modified viscose fibers. Polynosic is less elastic and stronger than modal. It resembles thick, washed silk.
Subsequently, in the 1960s, this fabric started to be produced in Austria, but it was known by the name modal, which means "capital" in Indonesian and "modal" in German and English.
By using a safe manufacturing process and natural cellulose from beech or eucalyptus, you can create artificial fabric with nearly natural-like qualities from plant fibers.
Made entirely of modal, the fabric is soft to the touch. It has good moisture absorption. superior thermoregulation to cotton, allowing the skin to "breathe." When compared to viscose fabric, modal has a substantially higher tensile strength.
Still, is modal considered a natural fabric? In order to respond to this query, keep in mind that natural fabric is created using raw materials that are naturally occurring, either from plants or animals.
Synthetic (made from gas, coal, or oil) and artificial (made from natural materials) fibers are the two categories of non-natural fibers. This classification indicates that modal is an artificial fabric, just like viscose. It is constructed from premium natural materials that go through particular processing.
In order to enhance the characteristics of blended fabrics or to produce a material with new features, cellulose fibers are mixed with cotton, viscose, polyester, and elastane.
Subtleties of production
With the aid of enhanced technological processes, a new fabric was created artificially with properties that were as near to natural as possible. Essentially, this is a better viscose derivative. Let’s examine the intricacies of its production to determine the type of material it is and whether it falls under the category of natural or synthetic fabrics.
Natural wood chips from eucalyptus, beech, pine, and ash are the source material from which the fiber is made. Similar to how viscose is made, the extracted cellulose is run through spinnerets, which are perforated forms, and treated with specific chemicals. Modal fibers are processed without the use of hazardous impurities or chlorine.
The fibers are used to create extremely thin threads. They range in thickness from 1.0 to 1.7 denier (den, where den is the thread density unit). Drawing a comparison between the thread and the thinnest women’s tights—whose density is between 10 and 15 den—will help you appreciate just how light and thin the thread is. Ten kilometers of thread weighs just one gram. However, this thread is elastic and quite strong. The fabric has a density of 190 g/m^2.
The processed fibers are finally dyed using safe, fade-resistant dyes. The content is created in a plain, plain-colored, designer, and printed format. On the fabric’s surface, a pattern with a sharp image and vibrant color can be printed.
You can buy the fabric itself and the threads needed to produce modal in Australia, China, Russia, and Italy.
Properties and characteristics
Soft and flexible, modal is a thin, flowing fabric. Its characteristics are similar to viscose. However, enhanced (modified) textiles are more resilient, elastic, and nearly weightless than it. Almost completely devoid of wrinkles and creases, resistant to tearing and mechanical damage, does not shrink in the wash, and effectively repels dirt.
Its hygienic qualities are identical to those of natural materials: it lets air through, doesn’t electrify, and absorbs moisture well. The fabric comes in a variety of hues and shades, drapes nicely, and is elastic. When properly cared for, modal products do not shrink or deform.
Types of fabric by composition
There are various types of modal fabric that are distinguished based on the purpose of the fabric and the amount of a specific type of raw material in the fabric.
- Pure – made from cellulose fiber without any additives. Products made from such fabric are expensive. But the performance characteristics are high.
- Blended – a combination of modal with wool, cotton, spandex, viscose. The share of additives in the composition can be up to 50%. Artificial threads improve the properties of natural threads. Among the mixed types, the most common combination is modal + cotton. Soft and warm tights, winter jumpers are sewn from a mixture of modal and wool. From a material with the addition of spandex – home clothes that wash well, do not wrinkle, and are long-lasting. Blended fabrics are cheaper than pure modal.
- Micromodal is the thinnest, lightest material. The thread of this fiber is 40 times thinner than human hair. At the same time, it is stronger and more wear-resistant than regular modal. Properties of micromodal – high hygroscopicity, bright colors, good fit, no fading, deformation, shrinkage after washing. The finest fabric is used to make leggings, women"s tights, socks, stockings, sportswear, and knitted underwear.
Types of fabric by weaving method
The composition of modal fabric affects its characteristics, appearance, and properties, but it also depends on whether the threads were woven in a single- or double-sided manner.
- The fabric obtained by single-sided weaving is smooth in texture, with a silky surface. Very light. Similar to natural silk.
- Modal, formed by double-sided weaving, is soft, delicate, like knitwear. At the same time, it is a fairly dense material. A slight fluffiness makes it similar to velor or terry.
Comparison with other fabrics
After discussing the properties, composition, and production technology, it is evident how modal material is different from other textiles.
Modal and viscose
There is a lot of similarity between these fabrics. Wood pulp is used to make both. On the other hand, modal production has some benefits due to its improved technology. For instance, the new product outperforms the traditional material in terms of tensile strength when comparing viscose and modal. However, viscose fabric has a marginally higher elasticity.
When it comes to strength and smoothness of surface, modal fabric is better than bamboo fabric. even though cellulose is the base material for both.
Modal and cotton
The raw materials for both kinds of fabric are derived from nature. However, modal objects are more robust and long-lasting. In contrast to cotton apparel, the material does not form pellets on the surface, hardly wrinkles, and better holds color. Similar to cotton, modal dries fast and effectively wicks away moisture. What it lacks is the possibility of an allergic reaction when skin comes into contact with clothing.
Modal fabric is an artificial material that combines the best qualities of cotton and is made from natural raw materials, specifically the cellulose found in beech trees. It has a smoother finish, more durability, and the same softness, breathability, and comfort of cotton. Because of this combination, modal is a great material for clothes that look great and hold up well over time.
Where modal is used
Seldom is 100% modal used in the manufacturing of textiles. It costs a lot. However, there are a lot of mixed options.
Sports and home wear, stockings, underwear, socks, tights, towels, bed linens, bath mats, and casual clothing are all made from blended fabrics that include modal, cotton, viscose, wool, and elastane fibers in different proportions.
Warmer fabric with a double-sided weave is used for home apparel.
Both men’s and women’s underwear is composed of breathable, elastic material.
Micro-modal is used to make stockings, socks, tights, and knee-highs.
Vests, T-shirts, and leggings are examples of first-layer sportswear, which is composed of blended materials with spandex added.
Skirts, dresses, and T-shirts are examples of everyday and dressy clothing made of materials with a glossy surface and a single-sided weave.
Blended materials (modal, cotton, and elastane) are used to make jeans.
To create bed linen sets that resemble silk, fabrics containing modal fibers from recycled eucalyptus wood are used. It requires no ironing, is wrinkle-free, and is simple to wash.
They manufacture washcloths, cleaning wipes, bath towels, and bath mats—home textiles with excellent absorption qualities.
This type of fabric practically never wrinkles, fades, or rolls down as curtains or light bedspreads.
Reviews
Those who have already used this fabric frequently comment in reviews on how comfortable the clothing is made of it. Items maintain their form, do not sag or wrinkle, and clean up nicely. The recommendation to wash modal bedding at low water temperatures confuses some people.
Customers frequently mention the following advantages of the fabric in their comments:
- modal clothing is practical, difficult to tear, suitable for everyday use;
- things look beautiful, the linen is pleasant to the touch, delicate, soft;
- clothes do not stick to the body and are not electrified;
- pile products do not shrink, do not fade when washed;
- clothes are easy to care for: they wash well, keep their shape, do not fade, almost do not wrinkle, do not shed when washed;
- towels absorb moisture well;
- textiles do not contain toxic substances, they are not used in the processing of raw materials;
- items are practically weightless;
- textiles "breathe", allow air to pass through well.
Drawbacks:
- rashes, itching on the skin are possible in people prone to allergies;
- not everyone is satisfied with the price (the average cost of pure modal ranges from 800 to 1800 rubles per meter, the price of blended modal is about 400 rubles per meter);
- not everyone likes the features of caring for products.
The unique blend of synthetic durability and natural comfort makes modal fabric stand out. It is made from pulp from beech trees and has many of the good things about cotton, like softness and breathability, but it also has more resilience. Because of this, it can be worn with a wide range of clothes, from more formal to more casual.
The capacity of modal to hold color and withstand shrinking and wrinkles is one of its main advantages. This makes the fabric a useful choice for daily wear by preserving its appearance and fit over time. Its moisture-wicking qualities and silky texture also make it comfortable to wear, particularly in warm or active environments.
Although modal’s production process is generally less harmful than that of many other synthetic fabrics, it is still not as environmentally friendly as some other natural fabrics. It offers a fabric that satisfies both functional and aesthetic needs, symbolizing a balance between the natural and artificial worlds. All things considered, modal is a useful addition to the selection of materials that are available to both consumers and clothing manufacturers.
