What are the characteristics of modal fabric?

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Modal fabric, which is also known as HWM rayon, is a type of rayon that is commonly used in consumer textiles. This fabric is considered to be semi-synthetic since it is made from a combination of organic and synthetic materials. The base material for modal rayon is cellulose from hardwood trees like birch and oak, but this raw tree material goes through a complex manufacturing process before it is rendered into a weavable fiber.

The process of making modal fabric is highly similar to the process used to make viscose rayon. Essentially, modal fabric is an update of viscose rayon that eliminates some of the most wasteful or harmful aspects of the viscose production process. Most consumers and manufacturers also agree that modal rayon is a structurally superior product to viscose rayon.

The modal fabric production process begins with the harvesting of trees to be rendered into cellulose. These trees are broken down into chips that are approximately the size of postage stamps, and they are transferred to the manufacturing floor. These chips are then purified to extract their cellulose content, and the leftover tree products are discarded.

Next, this extracted cellulose is formed into sheets, and these sheets are then immersed or "steeped" in vats of sodium hydroxide, which is also called caustic soda. It's important to note that far lesser concentrations of sodium hydroxide are used to create modal rayon than are used to create viscose rayon, which results in the production of less toxic waste.

Why Choose Modal Fabrics?

The major characteristics to look for in any fabric is its physical properties and (more importantly) its cost. Modal fabric is cheaper than silk, but it’s slightly more expensive than viscose rayon and roughly equal to the cost of cotton and lyocell. The cost of modal fabric always depends on the manufacturing method. Fabric that is made in a more sustainable way is obviously much too expensive, so manufacturers may cut down a few of the steps. Fabrics produced by such methods are available at a cheaper cost.

Looking at the physical properties alone, modal fabric is highly durable. It is also resistant to heat and is a good breathable material. In fact, modal fabric is 50% more absorbent than cotton and does not trap perspiration and odor. Thus, it is most suitable for leisure wear, such as yoga pants and underwear. Spandex provides the necessary stretchy elements. Modal fabric can also keep its shape and finish even after multiple washes. Modal has all the properties of cotton, as well as the properties that cotton does not possess, including resistance to shrinkage and less fading.