thumb|upright|Mattress with Lyocell as cover material
thumb|upright|Label of a coat containing Tencel (a brand of Lyocell)
Lyocell is a semi-synthetic fibre used to make textiles for clothing and other purposes. It is a form of regenerated cellulose made by dissolving pulp and dry jet-wet spinning. Unlike rayon, which is made by the more common viscose processes, Lyocell production does not use carbon disulfide, which is toxic to workers and the environment.
Names
Other trademarked names for Lyocell fibres are Tencel (Lenzing AG), Newcell (Akzo Nobel), and Seacell (Zimmer AG). The Aditya Birla Group also sells it under the brand name Excel.
History
The development of Tencel was motivated by environmental concerns; researchers sought to manufacture rayon by means less harmful than the viscose method.
The Lyocell process was developed in 1972 by a team at the now defunct American Enka fibres facility at Enka, North Carolina. In 2003, the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) awarded Neal E. Franks their Henry E. Millson Award for Invention for Lyocell. In 1966–1968, D. L. Johnson of Eastman Kodak Inc. studied NMMO solutions. From 1969 to 1979, American Enka tried unsuccessfully to commercialise the process. (the holding company of Akzo). In the 1980s the patent was licensed by Akzo to Courtaulds and Lenzing. By 2004 production had quadrupled to 80,000 tons. When an explosion hit the plant in 2003 it was producing 20,000 tonnes/year, and planning to double capacity by the end of the year. In 2004 Lenzing was producing 40,000 tons [sic, probably metric tonnes]. who combined the Tencel division with other fibre divisions under the Accordis banner, then sold them to private equity firm CVC Partners. In 2000 CVC sold the Tencel division to Lenzing AG, who combined it with their "Lenzing Lyocell" business, but maintained the brand name Tencel. They took over the plants in Mobile and Grimsby, and by 2015 was the largest Lyocell producer at 130,000 tonnes/year. Lyocell also is used in conveyor belts, speciality papers, and medical dressings.
Properties
thumb|Fibrillation of Lyocell may produce a "peach-fuzz" feel.
Lyocell shares many properties with other fibres such as cotton, linen, silk, ramie, hemp, and viscose rayon (to which it is very closely related chemically). Lyocell is 50% more absorbent than cotton, and has a longer wicking distance compared to modal fabrics of a similar weave.
Compared to cotton, consumers often say Lyocell fibres feel softer and "airier", due to their better ability to wick moisture. Industry claims of higher resistance to wrinkling are as yet unsupported. Lyocell fabric may be machine washed or dry cleaned. It drapes well and may be dyed many colours, needing slightly less dye than cotton to achieve the same depth of colour. 99 per cent of the amine oxide is recovered. NMMO biodegrades without producing harmful products.
See also
- Modal (textile)