**Bamboo Fiber Production**:
– Bamboo fibers are cellulose fibers extracted from bamboo for textiles.
– Textiles labeled as bamboo are often synthetic rayon made from bamboo cellulose.
– Bamboo can be cut into strips for various items like hats and shoes.
– Bamboo fiber products should be made directly from bamboo to carry the label.
– Bamboo strips can be used for basketry and woven into hats and shoes.
– Rayon is a semi-synthetic fiber made by reshaping bamboo cellulose into viscose rayon.
– Viscose process involves treating fibers with lye and carbon disulfide.
– Viscose made from bamboo has environmental advantages over wood-pulp viscose.
**Occupational Safety and Regulations**:
– Rayon manufacture exposes workers to carbon disulfide, causing health issues.
– Legal limits for occupational exposure to carbon disulfide can be too high.
– Some workers in rayon factories are not adequately protected from harmful substances.
– The FTC regulates the labeling of bamboo-derived fibers to prevent false advertising.
**Environmental Impact and Sustainability**:
– Bamboo is a fast-growing crop that can be cultivated in impoverished regions.
– Bamboo cultivation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
– Bamboo is a natural fiber, contrasting with synthetic materials like polyester.
– Bamboo forests release 35% more oxygen than equivalent stands of trees.
– Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource requiring minimal water and pesticides.
– Bamboo helps reduce carbon dioxide levels and soil erosion.
**Bamboo Fabric Properties**:
– Bamboo fabric is known for its softness, breathability, and antibacterial properties.
– It is highly absorbent, wicking moisture away from the skin.
– Provides UV protection, is biodegradable, and drapes well.
– Bamboo textiles have a lower environmental impact compared to conventional fabrics.
– Bamboo fabrics decompose naturally without releasing harmful chemicals.
**Applications and Benefits of Bamboo Textiles**:
– Bamboo fabrics are used in clothing, bedding, towels, and household textiles.
– Popular for baby clothes due to softness and breathability.
– Suitable for sensitive skin with hypoallergenic properties.
– Used in technical textiles like sportswear.
– Versatile and eco-friendly choice in the fashion industry.
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2017) |
Bamboo textile is any cloth, yarn or clothing made from bamboo fibres. While historically used only for structural elements, such as bustles and the ribs of corsets, in recent years different technologies have been developed that allow bamboo fibre to be used for a wide range of textile and fashion applications.
Examples include clothing such as shirt tops, pants, and socks for adults and children, as well as bedding such as sheets and pillow covers. Bamboo yarn can also be blended with other textile fibres, such as hemp or spandex. Bamboo is an alternative to plastic that is renewable and can be replenished at a fast rate.
Modern clothing labeled as being made from bamboo is usually viscose rayon, a fiber made by dissolving the cellulose in the bamboo, and then extruding it to form fibres. This process removes the natural characteristics of bamboo fibre, rendering it identical to rayon from other cellulose sources. Only products made directly from bamboo fiber should carry the "bamboo" label.