Bamboo Fabric

Bamboo fabric is the natural fabric that is made from pulp of bamboo grass. Bamboo fabric is more sustainable, light, anti bacterial, hypoallergenic and stronger than any other fabric. Because of these properties bamboo fabric is extensively used in almost all types of industries ranging from bedding to clothing. The properties like softness, appearance and durability make it such a widely accepted fabric in various industries.

When unspun bamboo fabric closely resembles the cotton. Bamboo fabric manufacturers and companies use bleaching chemicals to whiten the bamboo fabrics but to make organic bamboo fabric no such bleaching agents are used and mostly these are kept unbleached. Strong anti bacterial and water absorbing tendency make it fit to use directly on skin. Therefore people using it does not complaint of any itching or irritation as caused by wool or hemp. It is because, bamboo fibers naturally does not have any sharp spurs like these two fibers.

Along with these properties there are many other things that make it the most favorable fabric among suppliers, exporters and bamboo fabric wholesale manufacturers. One of these is the growth of bamboo plant. If proper soil is there then bamboo plant can grow up to 60 cm in a day because of the unique rhizome dependent system. This in turn means more production. Along with this no pesticides are used to grow the bamboo plant thus making it organic.

Process of Making Bamboo Fabric

• Soft leaves and inner pith of the bamboo trunk are taken & crushed to form bamboo cellulose.
• Bamboo cellulose is then soaked in solution of 15-20% hydrogen peroxide for one to three hours at 20-25 degrees C. The resultant will be alkali cellulose.
• Then through the processing, excess of hydrogen peroxide is removed from alkali cellulose. This followed by crushing of cellulose and drying it for 24 hours.
• Carbon disulfide (about one third) is added to bamboo alkali cellulose to sulfurize it and to convert it in the form of jell.
• Then the remaining carbon disulfide is evaporated that results in sodium xanthogenate.
• In sodium xanthogenate, diluted solution of sodium hydroxide is added. This creates the viscose solution containing 7-15% of bamboo fiber cellulose and 5% sodium hydroxide.
• The viscose solution is then passed through the spinneret nozzle into a container containing diluted sulphuric acid. This results in the hardening of viscose bamboo cellulose sodium xanthogenate and reconvert it into bamboo fiber threads that are now spun to form bamboo fiber yarn. The bamboo fiber yarn is then used to make bamboo fabric.

Uses of Bamboo Fabric In Various Industries

Apparel Industry and Bamboo Fabric
Because of unique luster and softness of bamboo fabric, it is used in apparel industry. Socks, undergarments, bathing suits, bath robes, sleepwear etc are made from bamboo fabric. Bamboo fabric are also hypoallergenic so the best for children and pregnant women. It is very comfortable because of the good absorbent property. Because of this it will not stick to your skin and you will feel cooler during summer and warm in winters.

Traditionally bamboo hats were worn by the farmers in Japan and China. Even it is also used to decorate women's dress in west.

Bamboo Fabric in Non Woven Industry
Bamboo fabric manufacturers use the non-woven bamboo fabric extensively in making sanitary napkins, face masks for industrial and medical use and in mattress. Bamboo has high anti bacterial properties because of the bamboo kun that is a bio agent in bamboo and it is part of its molecular structure. It does not allow bacteria to incubate in bamboo.

Bamboo Fabric in Home Furnishings
Most of the home furnishing products like comforters, pillow covers, mattress pads, bed skirts,bed covers, bed sheets, towels, bath rugs, shower curtains et al are made from bamboo fabrics. Top brands are also promoting the use of bamboo fabric because of its natural and organic properties. Pottery Barn has the range of bed linen and other home furnishing products that are made from bamboo fabric along with other natural fabrics like cotton, hemp, silk, wool, hemp etc. These products are highly beneficial to use as these causes no harm to the body. They absorb moisture to a large extent keeping you free from that and thus making the furnishing comfortable to use. It is not that these

Advantages of Bamboo and Bamboo Fabric

• Bamboo fabric is naturally grown plant that requires no pesticide or fertilizer. If we compare it with cotton then to grow conventional cotton 25% of the total pesticides used in the world are consumed that are harmful to the environment.
• Bamboo fabric is extremely soft and luxurious to touch. It just feels like silk or cashmere.
• Bamboo is a type of grass, which means that once you cut this it will regrow from the same roots leading to no problem in growing plant each year.
• Bamboo is also the fastest growing plant. Moso bamboo grows up to a meter each day making it very sustainable.
• As compare to cotton the yield per acre is more as bamboo plant can grow very densely. Also bamboo plant absorbs 35% more carbon dioxide than the other equal trees.
• Bamboo fabric absorbs 60% more water as compared to cotton. This makes it favorite among bamboo fabric manufacturers. Because of this property bathroom furnishing like bath robes, towels, bath mats are extensively made from bamboo fabric.
• Thermo regulating property makes bamboo fabric wearable in every season. It is cool in summers and warm in winters.
• Bamboo fabric is also hypoallergenic and has anti bacterial properties.
• Natural sheen on bamboo fabric makes it excellent choice to sew fashionable clothes.
• Clothes made from bamboo are easy to wash and dry.
• Bamboo clothing is wrinkle resistant and requires less ironing and that too at low temperature. It is also prone to less shrinkage in warm water.