Azlon fiber
Description
Azlon is the generic name for a manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is composed of any regenerated naturally occurring proteins (Federal Trade Commission definition). By the turn of the 19th century, methods for regenerated protein had been developed but they resulted in a hard, brittle material. It was not until the 1930s, that an Italian chemist, Antonio Ferretti developed a successful method to make regenerated protein fibers. Lanital was first sold in 1936. Azlon fibers were made from peanuts, corn, Zein, cottonseeds, and Casein. The fibers were often blended with Wool, Cotton, or synthetics for weaving. Fabrics made from azlon were soft, lustrous and had a good hand. They dyed well and were used as a silk substitutes by many European fashion designers. Azlon, however, has been replaced by other synthetic fibers, because it was weak when wet and was susceptible to microbiological growths.
See also Casein fiber, Zein fiber, and Chinon.
- For Azlon fiber identification and photomicrographs, see http://cameo.mfa.org/wiki/Category:FRIL:_Azlon
Synonyms and Related Terms
azlon fibre; zein fiber; casein fiber; Lanital [Snia Viscosa, Italy]; Aralac; Chinon [Toyobo Co., Japan]; Ardil [England]; Merinova [Italy]; Fibrolane [Courtaulds, England]; Vicara [Virginian-Carolina Chemical];
Risks
Combustible. Unpleasant odor when wet. Fibers very weak when wet.
Physical and Chemical Properties
Insoluble in dilute acids, hydrogen peroxide and most organic solvents. Affected by alkalis.
Filaments are smooth. Cross sections = circular, bean-shaped.
| Density | 1.25-1.3 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 20-30 micrometers |
| Tenacity | 0.9-1.1 g/denier (dry); 0.3-0.6 (wet) |
| Elongation | 60-70% |
| Moisture regain | 14% |
Comparisons
Properties of Synthetic Fibers
Resources and Citations
- Joan Kiplinger 'Vintage Fabrics' at Fabrics.net
- G.Cook, Handbook of Textile Fibres:II. Man-made Fibres, 5th edition, Merrow Publishing Co., Durham, England, 1984.
- Rosalie Rosso King, Textile Identification, Conservation, and Preservation, Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ, 1985
- Marjory L. Joseph, Introductory Textile Science, Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Fort Worth, TX, 1986
- Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
- Thomas Gregory, The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Reinhold Publishing, New York, 3rd ed., 1942
- G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971 Comment: p. 640