Fabric modal: what it is, advantages and disadvantages, rules of care

Modal is a unique environmentally friendly material and is widely used when sewing clothes. Its growing popularity is due to its high performance and the optimal combination of the properties of artificial and natural fibers.

Modal belongs to the category of semi-synthetic viscose fabrics and has been known since the 30s of the last century. However, at that time, the material was used exclusively for industrial purposes and was not used for tailoring. But approximately in the 1950s, pragmatic Japan became interested in the production of modals, and at the end of the 1960s Austria joined the modal release. Today, many companies around the world are engaged in fabric manufacturing, supplying high-quality and very practical material to the market.

By its composition, modal is a form of viscose., for the production of which is used exclusively chlorine-free cellulose beech, eucalyptus or pine. The production process of modal consists in processing wood chips by extracting cellulose fibers from it, followed by chemical treatment of the obtained substance.

The essence of this treatment consists in passing cellulose through dies - perforated forms of high strength, followed by dipping in a special solution. As a result of this technology, it is possible to obtain durable fibers, characterized by extraordinary lightness and fineness. Due to such features of the production of modal can be attributed to artificial materials that are based on natural fibers.

At the next stage of production, thin threads arrive at weaving machines, where, in fact, the fabric is produced. The weaving of fibers in the manufacture of modal can be done in two ways, giving two completely different types of canvas.

• First view The fabric is made using one-sided weaving and is a thin and smooth material, vaguely reminiscent of silk.
• Second kindon the contrary, it has a terry cloth that looks like a velvet surface and looks like soft jersey. Such cloths are made by means of bilateral weaving and have wider scope of application, rather than fabric with unilateral weaving.

In addition to the weaving technique, modal can be classified by two more signs: the composition and structure of the fibers. According to these criteria, micromodal and mixed fabrics are isolated.

The micromodal is a sophisticated version of the traditional modal and is distinguished by its increased strength and even longer service life than its prototype. The thickness of one micromodal thread is almost 40 times thinner than a human hair, which makes the fabric extraordinarily elastic and light. So, the thread length of 10,000 meters weighs only 1 gram.

This modal modification is widely used for underwear sewing., clothes for sports, as well as for the manufacture of women's tights and leggings.

In addition, such products are easily washable and do not require ironing.

Blended fabrics are made by adding spandex, wool and cotton to the cellulose fibers.This significantly reduces the cost of material and gives it the additional qualities of its constituent fibers. The most popular is the combination of modal-cotton, where the proportion of the natural component can reach 50%. This ratio significantly improves the performance of the modal, makes it pleasant to the touch and contributes to the improvement of air exchange.

Another popular combination is a modal, viscose and wool blend. The result is a warm and soft to the touch material, which is perfectly suited for the manufacture of winter jumpers and tights. For sewing home clothes often use modal with the addition of spandex: such things are well erased, absolutely not wrinkled, and for a long time retain the original appearance.

High consumer demand for clothes made from modal, due to several important advantages of this material.

• An important operational property of the material is the absence of deformation and shrinkage during the process of wearing and after washing. Due to this quality, modal and micromodal are often used for tailoring sports trousers and pantyhose and do not allow knees to be dragged off.
• The material has a high wear resistance, does not roll and does not wipe.
• The fabric has a pronounced dirt-repellent property, and is also easy to wash and does not require soaking.
• Hypoallergenic material, due to the absence of toxic substances and harmful impurities in its composition, allows people with especially sensitive and problem skin to use it.

• Due to the special structure of cellulose yarns and modern dyeing technologies, the dye penetrates deep enough into the fabric fibers and is not washed off after numerous washes.
• The modal has a pronounced hygroscopicity: the fibers quickly absorb sweat and just as quickly evaporate it out. In addition, the modal is very well ventilated and facilitates proper air exchange between the human body and the environment.
• The fabric has high decorative characteristics, which allows using it not only for home and sports wear, but also for casual wear. Things from modal differ in softness and unusually small weight.

Along with a lot of obvious advantages, Modal's weaknesses are still there:

• the disadvantages include the likelihood of irritation of the skin, which can be manifested by itching and redness;
• in addition, the cost of products from modal is slightly higher than the cost of things from other synthetic materials with similar properties;
• The flaws include a rather high flammability of the fabric, which is why it is strictly forbidden to wear such clothes near an open flame.

By itself, a 100% modal is not very often used and is quite expensive. Basically used mixed fabrics, having in its composition, in addition to modal, other materials. These canvases are used for sewing bedding sets, home wear, household textiles, including wipes for wet and dry cleaning, and underwear.

Socks and tights are made of modal, as well as sewn skirts, blouses, robes, T-shirts, T-shirts, tracksuits, nightgowns and pajamas. Such a wide distribution of modal due to its high hygienic properties and ability to thermoregulation.

Modal does not apply to moody fabrics and does not require specialized care.

• Wash material can be both on the hands and in the car at a water temperature not higher than 40 degrees. If automatic washing is used, the delicate washing mode or any other mode with the same number of turns will be the most optimal.As a detergent, you can use any type of powder, except bleaching. Squeezing clothes should be done at medium speed, and when hand washing things need to be slightly squeezed, blotted with a towel and hung on a hanger or rope.
• In no case can not leave a wet thing in a crumpled state. The material dries quickly enough, and if the clothes are dry in this form, then smoothing the creases and folds will be problematic. In order to correct the situation and bring the thing in a neat appearance, you will have to wet it again and re-dry it. However, if the product is dried by all the rules, then it does not need ironing. The fibers are capable of self-distribution and do not require additional measures to smooth out.

• If, nevertheless, clothes have to be ironed, then this should be done on medium heating, stripping the fabric through gauze. You can stroke without gauze. To do this, turn the product over, lower the temperature to the “silk” mode, which corresponds to one point on the iron regulator and gently smooth it. If other fibers are present in the modal composition, then when ironing it is necessary to take into account their properties. Ironing recommendations are always indicated on the product label, so before you start ironing, you should carefully read them.
• A number of manufacturers, in general, do not recommend washing products from modal and allow for exceptionally dry cleaning. This requirement also needs to be taken into account and in no case should they not be neglected.

If we compare the modal with other fabrics, we can note the following: the material is far superior to cotton in its ability to retain color and, unlike natural linen, it does not wrinkle. In addition, it removes sweat much better and dries faster. Also in comparison with a cotton cloth, modal is more comfortable to touch and can last much longer than cotton. In terms of its effect on the skin, it loses noticeably to cotton products and, unlike them, can cause local allergic reactions.

However, the indicators of elasticity are slightly lower than those of viscose linen, therefore, viscose wins here. In addition, modal is far superior to bamboo, similar to it, in its durability and silkiness, and in terms of smoothness and brilliant surface it can compete on equal terms only with silk.

In general, consumers appreciate the working qualities of the modal. Among the advantages they note good moisture absorption, which makes towels and bath sheets made of this material very comfortable to use. Attention is drawn to the fact that the modal is often used when sewing clothes for pregnant women, which speaks of its harmlessness and environmental safety. Not neglected is the fact that the fabric practically does not need to be ironed, and things from it can be put on immediately after drying, which, by the way, also occurs fairly quickly.

However, several people who left feedback about the modal were confused by its flammability. But for the sake of justice, it is worth noting that this is probably the only drawback attributed to modal consumers. In general, the modal is evaluated as a convenient, wearable and practical material that quickly and easily washes, does not stretch and does not roll, and also retains the original appearance throughout the whole time of wearing and pleases the owners with the brightness of colors.

An overview of several types of modal presented in the video below.