Acrylic

Acrylic: What is it?

Acrylic has become an everyday presence in modern textiles and beyond. Known for its soft feel and its visual resemblance to wool, this synthetic fiber appears in mens and womens fashion, outdoor equipment, construction materials and even art supplies. Yet behind its versatility lies a story rooted in petrochemistry, heavy industrial processes and complex environmental concerns. This article explores how acrylic is made, why industries rely on it, and what consumers should know about its advantages and its limitations.

How Acrylic Originated and What It’s Made Of

The foundation of acrylic is polyacrylonitrile, a petrochemical compound also known as PAN. As with other synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon, the starting point is crude oil, which is chemically transformed into a plastic-like material.

Acrylic first appeared during the early 1940s and is generally attributed to German chemist Herbert Rein. A few years later, large-scale industrial manufacturing took off in the United States, with companies like DuPont playing a major role in its development and commercialization.

Where Global Acrylic Production Takes Place

Today, acrylic production is overwhelmingly concentrated in Asia. Countries including China, India, Taiwan and Indonesia dominate both manufacturing and export. Their factories supply the majority of acrylic used in clothing, home goods, industrial components and creative materials worldwide.

From Chemistry to Fiber: How Acrylic Is Manufactured

Creating acrylic fiber involves a series of chemical transformations:

The process begins when acrylonitrile molecules undergo polymerization, forming a thick, viscous material. This substance is then forced through fine nozzles to create long filaments. Before these filaments can be used in textiles, they must be treated with chemical solvents, washed, cut and eventually spun or woven. These steps require significant amounts of energy and industrial chemicals, which shape the fiber’s overall environmental footprint.

Beyond Clothing: The Many Uses of Acrylic

Although fashion is one of its largest markets, acrylic appears in a variety of surprising places.

In art, acrylic paints made from synthetic resins are valued for their strong pigmentation and fast drying time. The construction sector uses acrylic for roofing materials, floor coverings and a wide range of DIY products such as sealants, varnishes, adhesives and resins. Outdoor equipment manufacturers incorporate acrylic in sleeping bags, tent fabrics and other weather-resistant goods. In the transport industry, acrylic is involved in the production of carbon fibers found in aircraft components.

Acrylic in Fashion and Everyday Apparel

In textiles, acrylic rarely stands alone. It is typically blended with cotton, wool, silk or other synthetic fibers to balance softness, durability and cost. This blending explains why acrylic represents only a modest share of total global textile fiber production, despite being widely present in finished products.

Designers use it to recreate the softness and appearance of wool, making it popular for sweaters, cardigans, trousers, coats, socks, gloves and everyday basics. Its resistance to acids also makes it a practical choice for certain types of workwear. Faux furs and warm linings often rely on acrylic to achieve volume and texture without using animal-derived fibers.

The Practical Benefits That Make Acrylic Popular

Acrylic owes much of its popularity to its affordability: it is inexpensive to produce, which has made it a favorite of the fast-fashion industry. Yet cost is not its only strength.

The fiber is lightweight, flexible and soft against the skin. It does not itch the way wool sometimes can, and it offers moderate thermal insulation. It also resists UV exposure, moths and certain chemicals. Because acrylic absorbs dyes easily, brands can create vivid, long-lasting colors.

Acrylic’s wool-like appearance makes it an accessible, animal-free alternative. Consumers who avoid materials from sheep, alpacas, goats or rabbits often choose acrylic-based garments for this reason.

Care is also simple: acrylic fabrics resist wrinkles, dry quickly and can be machine-washed at low temperatures without special handling.

The Environmental Consequences of Acrylic Production

While acrylic delivers convenience and low-cost performance, its environmental impact is significant.

Because it relies on petroleum—a highly polluting, non-renewable resource—the environmental cost begins long before the fiber is produced. Factories commonly operate in countries with limited environmental regulation, where the chemicals used to manufacture acrylic are often released directly into waterways. These pollutants can damage ecosystems, harm biodiversity and contribute heavily to greenhouse gas emissions.

One of the most concerning aspects of acrylic is its release of microplastics. During washing, the fiber sheds microscopic plastic particles that wastewater treatment plants cannot filter out. These particles accumulate in rivers and oceans and now represent one of the most widespread forms of plastic pollution, with an estimated 240,000 tons released annually from synthetic textiles alone. Washing garments in a Guppyfriend bag can help reduce this pollution but does not eliminate it.

Acrylic does not biodegrade. At the end of its life, garments are often incinerated, releasing toxic compounds such as hydrogen cyanide, or they end up in landfills and open dumps, where they contribute to long-term environmental degradation.

Human Health and Social Impacts

The human cost of acrylic production is just as troubling. Workers in manufacturing facilities are regularly exposed to hazardous chemicals, including acrylonitrile, a compound known to be carcinogenic and harmful through skin contact or inhalation. In major producing countries, factory conditions often involve low wages, unsafe environments and, in some cases, child labor, forced labor and harassment.

Consumers are not exempt from exposure. Chemical residues present in acrylic textiles can trigger skin irritation or allergic reactions. Acrylic paints, widely used in creative fields, release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during drying—substances that require good ventilation to avoid inhalation risks.

Durability and Comfort: Limitations of the Fiber

Despite its practicality, acrylic is not considered a high-quality or long-lasting fiber. It tends to pill easily, suffers from friction, does not tolerate high heat in washing or drying and can yellow when exposed to alkaline products such as sweat or certain detergents.

In terms of comfort, acrylic garments trap moisture and lack breathability. This can lead to discomfort and unpleasant odors, especially in pieces worn close to the skin.

Recycled Acrylic: A Step Forward or an Illusion?

Recycled acrylic has gained attention as a more sustainable option. By reusing existing materials, it reduces the need for new petroleum extraction and helps decrease industrial waste. Many recycled acrylic fibers come from unused production scraps.

However, the recycling process still requires chemical treatments, and recycled acrylic continues to shed microplastics during washing. While it is less harmful than virgin acrylic, it does not fully address the core environmental challenges associated with synthetic fibers.