The difference between knitted cotton, mercerized cotton, ice silk cotton and other types of cotton

Differences between various types of cotton Cotton is the most widely used natural fiber in home textile fabrics. It is favored by everyone because of its moisture absorption, breathability, softness, and comfort. In the home textile industry, cotton four-piece sets are also known as evergreen products all year round. There are many types of "cotton", and it is often difficult to distinguish their characteristics and performance. Today I will teach you how to distinguish them.

What kind of cotton can be called long-staple cotton?

Long-staple cotton refers to cotton varieties with relatively long fiber lengths. Its main feature is that the length of the cotton fiber is significantly longer than that of ordinary cotton varieties, usually more than 1.25 inches (about 3.2 cm), and sometimes even longer. These longer fibers give long-staple cotton unique advantages in weaving and manufacturing high-quality cotton products, such as being softer, more durable, wrinkle-resistant, and shiny. Long-staple cotton is often used to produce high-end bedding, clothing, towels, and other textile products and is popular for its higher quality. Egyptian long-staple cotton, American Pima cotton, and super long-staple cotton are all different varieties of long-staple cotton.

Several common types of long-staple cotton

Xinjiang cotton: In my country, it is only produced in the Xinjiang region, so the long-staple cotton produced in China is also called Xinjiang cotton. Egyptian cotton: It is a long-staple cotton produced in Egypt. The quality is better than Xinjiang cotton, especially the strength and fineness. Generally, cotton with a count of more than 150 must be added with Egyptian cotton, otherwise, the fabric will be easily broken. In addition to Xinjiang cotton and Egyptian cotton, long-staple cotton also includes American Pima cotton, Indian cotton, etc.

High-count cotton yarn is defined by the thickness of the cotton yarn. The finer the yarn, the higher the count, the thinner the fabric, the more delicate and soft the feel, and the better the gloss. For cotton, those with more than 40 thread counts can be called high-count cotton. The common ones are 60 thread count and 80 thread count, and there are also higher-end ones with 100 thread count, 120 thread count, 140 thread count, and 200 thread count. Combed cotton yarn refers to the removal of shorter cotton fibers and impurities during the spinning process. Compared with ordinary cotton, combed cotton is flatter and smoother, has better wear resistance and strength, and is less prone to pilling.

Combed cotton is used to make worsted clothing. High count and combed generally correspond to each other. High-count cotton is often combed cotton, and combed cotton is often finer high-count cotton. Both are mostly used in the production of close-fitting clothing, bedding, and other fabrics that require higher smoothness. Here is a knowledge point: knitted cotton is combed cotton, but it is not necessarily high-count cotton.

Mercerized cotton refers to fabrics in which cotton yarn or cotton cloth has been mercerized in alkali. There are also cotton yarns that are mercerized and then spun into cotton cloth, and then the mercerization process is performed again, which is called double mercerized cotton. Mercerized cotton feels softer and has better color and gloss than cotton without mercerization. The drape, wrinkle resistance, strength, and color fastness are increased. The fabric is crisp and not easy to pilling. Mercerized cotton is generally made of high-count cotton or high-count long-staple cotton. Of course, some are also made of ordinary low-count cotton. It also feels good to the touch. When purchasing, pay attention to the thickness and weave of the yarn. Density, the yarn is too thick, the density is low, and the lines are curved, they are all low-count fabrics. Therefore, serious friends should see that Tencel cotton, which is the raw material of Tencel brushing, is a kind of mercerized cotton.

Ice silk cotton generally refers to mercerized cotton. It is a man-made fiber made by dissolving cotton linters into a solution with chemicals and then spinning it. It is a type of plant-regenerated cellulose fiber, also called viscose fiber, and is similar to Tencel and Tencel. Modal and acetate fabrics belong to the same category, but their quality is not as good as Tencel and Modal. Although ice silk cotton has the same hygroscopicity and breathability as cotton, its strength is relatively low, it tends to become hard and brittle after washing, and it is not as good for human health as natural cotton. The biggest advantage of ice silk is that the upper body is very cool, so it is especially suitable for use in summer.

100% cotton, 100% cotton, 100% polyester cotton. Finally, let’s talk about 100% cotton, which everyone is very familiar with, and related pure cotton and polyester cotton. The meaning of pure cotton is very simple, it is a fabric made of 100% natural cotton fiber. As long as the cotton fiber content reaches 75% and above, it can be called pure cotton fabric. Polyester-cotton refers to fabrics made of polyester and cotton blends. Polyester-cotton fabrics with a polyester content greater than cotton content are called polyester-cotton fabrics, also called TC fabrics. Cotton-polyester fabrics with cotton content greater than polyester content are called cotton-polyester fabrics, also called CVC fabrics.

It is worth mentioning that polyester cotton is not necessarily inferior to pure cotton. In some hot, rainy, and humid areas, polyester cotton has its own advantages.