American Fiber Manufacturers Association and

Manufactured fibers comprise a broad spectrum of products with an almost endless potential for engineering in specific physical, chemical and aesthetic properties. World fiber consumption is about 40+ % cotton; 40+ % polyester; 7-8 % nylon, with all the other fibers representing only about 10 % of the total (Table 1). So it is obvious that both cotton and polyester are very important, whether used alone or together. Historically, fiber manufacturers and cotton producers have focused on the competitive aspects of the marketplace. However, there have also been notable successes for materials containing both fiber types. When mixed in intimate blends, the advantages of different fiber types can be combined to yield superior fabric properties. Cotton/polyester blend fabrics are the quintessential example of utilizing the best attributes of both fibers to produce fabrics with price, performance and aesthetics not achievable with either fiber alone. Similarly, flame resistant fabrics and high-loft battings have been developed using the char forming ability of FR cotton enhanced by the flame poisoning ability of modacrylics and/or FR polyesters. And more complex ternary and quaternary fiber blends are in use to produc