The Thread Unraveling the Mysteries of Fibers, Fabrics and Floor Coverings LIVING WITH RAYON… Natural Shading And Nap Distortion Rayon Resurgence! pulp, bamboo, cotton trash or If the fibers are oriented away Rayon was the first other natural fiber by-products, from your line of sight, the area manufactured fiber and adding chemicals to break them will appear to have lightened. variations of it have been down, and then forcing the Conversely if the fibers are marketed since the mid 1800’s, mixture through spinnerets to pointing toward you, the area but it wasn’t officially named create a lustrous fiber that is will appear darker. With rayon until 1924. It is the oldest neither a true synthetic nor a continued use, the shading production fiber and for many natural fiber. Rayon is a semi- becomes more noticeable. years was out of favor with synthetic or artificial fiber known manufacturers because so as a manmade cellulosic fiber. many other new fibers were being invented. However, over the past few years, textile The Natural Shading producers have been using of Rayon much more rayon in both Because rayon is now being clothing and home furnishings used so frequently to make fabrics. velvets, chenilles and pile floor coverings, this article will focus Sometimes rayon is hard for on helping consumers to consumers to recognize understand rayon and what to because it has many names – expect when it is used as an This type of shading generally Bemberg, Viscose, upholstery fabric on sofas, does not distract from the Cuprammonium and Art Silk, chair, area rugs and carpet. overall beauty of the furnishing just to name a few. or floor covering. In fact, While rayon has many good shading is a natural occurrence Many textile manufacturers qualities, resiliency is not one of in all pile fibers. Interior choose rayon because it can them. Resiliency is the ability designers often choose fabrics mimic silk at a much lower cost of a fiber to recover from that can change their look to and dyes easily. Rayon can crushing, which happens with create interest in a room. add interest and highlights to sitting or walking. Rayon does blended fibers and can be not recover from those activities woven into pile constructions as well as some other fibers. When Shading Turns Into like velvet and chenille, which Nap Distortion are very fashionable. Because it does not have the It is important to include one ability to recover from crushing, very important fact about the tips of the rayon start to lie RAYON chenilles, velvets and How Rayon is Made over as the furnishing or the floor coverings – liquid spills Unlike natural fibers such as floor covering is used. This and water-based cleaners cotton and linen, rayon is bending of the fiber creates can be harmful to their created by gathering wood what is referred to as shading. beautiful nap. When rayon Superior Service, Smart Solutions Fiber-Seal Systems Dallas Texas 214.333.9400 www.FiberSeal.com pile fabrics and floor coverings because of the luster of rayon, When a spill occurs, try to are subjected to moisture, the the shading is much more absorb the spot with a paper fibers can start to lay flat and noticeable. towel…do not use pressure as not “bounce back” because it will mat the nap and make it rayon lacks resiliency. more difficult to correct. Instead of just slight shading, the flattened areas look like However, if it is a spill with dye spots…again lighter or darker such as Kool-Aid, tea, or coffee areas depending on which way it may be better to use pressure they are being observed. to blot the liquid/dye into the paper towel and worry about Water-based spills, damp cloths nap distortion later. and even perspiration with a little pressure can cause unsightly nap distortion. What Effect Will A Fabric Protection Have On Shading And Nap Distortion? While a fabric protection will In this picture, the nap in the hand print is make it easier to remove spots falling toward the camera, making the area and spills, it does nothing to look darker. change the poor resiliency of rayon. Brushing the nap with a velvet brush can help maintain the In fact independent laboratory beautiful appearance of chenille tests showed that Fiber-Seal or velvet furnishings. Brand Protectors neither helped, nor aided in shading or Vacuuming rayon floor nap distortion. coverings without a beater bar can be helpful, too. In some Need Help With Fabric cases a velvet brush could also Cleaning Or Fabric be used on floor coverings. In this picture the nap in the hand print is Protection? falling away from the camera making the Groom the nap when necessary Your local Fiber-Seal Service area look lighter (A dampened hand with Center is ready to help and just moderate pressure caused this rayon and before it becomes too chenille to mat down.) unsightly. In some cases it may a click away. take a professional to groom the more difficult nap distortion Some Helpful Hints on problems that occur from spots Living with Napped Rayon and spills, or when moisture Click Here First, understand that shading and pressure are introduced. For and nap distortion are going Locations to happen…they are Unfortunately if the matting is characteristics of any velvet, too severe even a professional http://fiberseal.com/locations/ chenille or pile floor covering no may not be able to correct the matter what the fiber, but matting problem. Copyright © 2014 by Fiber-Seal Systems. All rights reserved. .