Growing organic cotton, rather than conventional cotton, also reduces levels of water pollution by 98 per cent, according to a 2011 report by the Water Footprint, as synthetic chemicals such as pesticides and fertilisers aren’t used.

Impacts. It is estimated that 97% of the water in the Indus River goes towards producing crops like cotton. Cotton’s most prominent environmental impacts result from the use of agrochemicals (especially pesticides), the consumption of water, and the conversion of habitat to agricultural use.

Food production contributes, for example, to climate change, eutrophication and acid rain, as well as the depletion of biodiversity. It is also a considerable drain on other resources, such as nutrients, land area, energy, and water.

Organic cotton, however, is grown without chemical pesticides or harmful fertilizers, which is why is it often seen as more environmentally friendly than conventional cotton. In turn, these natural pesticides can also be harmful

• Economy. • Closer relationship with the market.
• Market. • Soil fertility is maintained or improved.
• Soil fertility. • No health risks from pesticides.
• Health. • Increased bio-diversity.
• Organic Cotton. Conventional Cotton.

Cotton has been grown for food, fiber, and even fuel for over 6,000 years. You can find cotton in your clothes, sheets, and towels, but cotton is also used to make things like rope, U.S. currency, paper, cooking oil, animal feed, packaging, and biofuels.

Reduces environmental footprint No toxic chemicals are used in the growing of organic cotton. It doesn’t damage the soil, has less impact on the air, and uses 88% less water and 62% less energy. Conventional cotton uses about 16% of the world’s insecticides and 7% of pesticides.

Cotton lint Cotton is known for its versatility, performance and natural comfort. Cotton’s strength and absorbency makes it an ideal fabric to make clothes and homewares, and industrial products like tarpaulins, tents, hotel sheets, army uniforms, and even astronauts’ clothing choices when inside a space shuttle.

Disadvantages of Cotton

• Expensive.
• Natural fibers wear down faster.
• Holds moisture longer (can be an advantage in hot weather)
• Prone to shrinking.

Cotton has many uses, across a number of different industries.

• Woven fabrics. Cotton is used to make a variety of woven fabrics, including canvas, denim, damask, flannel, and more.
• Clothing.
• Bed sheets and towels.
• Underwear.
• Home decor.
• Cottonseed oil.

Cotton fabrics are breathable, absorbent and strong. They are used in the manufacture of clothing and outdoor equipment, but are not inherently water repellent.

To waterproof natural fabric like cotton, denim, or canvas, give it a thorough rubdown with a bar of Otter Wax. The wax won’t leave any residue, but will stiffen and darken the fabric to give it a rugged appearance: We recommend denim shirts, work jackets, and old canvas weekenders.

A thin waterproof coating is given to the cotton to make it waterproof. This version of waterproofing is also much more environmentally friendly than other sources as one side is a natural fabric. A water-resistant layer is bound to the back of the cotton, which enhances the waterproofing

Characteristics of Cotton Fibers and Products

• Comfortable to wear.
• Natural, cellulosic fiber.
• Made from the cotton boll.
• Absorbs water and “breathes”
• Slow to dry.
• Resists static electricity build-up.
• Wrinkles easily.
• Can withstand heat, detergents, and bleach.

Fiber Strength (grams/tex)

Cotton has a high tensile strength, making it strong, durable and less likely to rip or tear. It is 30 percent stronger when wet, withstanding many washings in hot water.

Chemical Properties of Cotton: Cotton is a natural cellulosic fiber and it has some chemical properties. Effect of Acids: Cotton is attacked by hot dilute acids or cold concentrated acids which it disintegrates. It is not affected by acids. Effects of Alkalis: Cotton has an excellent resistance to alkalis

After scouring and bleaching, cotton is 99% cellulose. Cellulose is a macromolecule –– a polymer made up of a long chain of glucose molecules linked by C-1 to C-4 oxygen bridges with elimination of water (glycoside bonds).

Conventionally produced Cotton High levels of potentially harmful pesticides and toxic chemicals are being used during the farming process, making it one of the agriculture’s most polluting crops. So even though cotton is natural and biodegradable, it doesn’t mean it is not harmful.

Cotton will stretch 8–10 percent before breaking. Size 35 cotton thread (an equivalent gauge to size 46 Nylon and Kevlar® thread) has a tensile strength of approximately 2 pounds (0.9 kilograms).

silk

Nylon> Polyester> Cotton> Wool> Silk. Nylon and polyester are two synthetic fibres. Wool is obtained from sheep, but silk is a product of silkworms. However, both nylon and polyester are filament fibres. Nylon has the highest tensile strength while silk has the least and is easily ripped

Which is stronger silk or cotton? Silk is a natural, strong fibre as it has great tensile strength, which allows it to withstand a great deal of pressure. Cotton is also a strong fibre but the strength is largely affected by moisture, as its wet strength is 20% (much higher than dry strength)

The truth is cotton is cooler than silk, but there’s a catch about the later fabric. Silk is a natural insulator, it is moderately breathable making heat escape through it and because of its insulating characteristics it will also make you feel warm during the colder months of the year.

No wonder then, they use Dyneema to make the packs. It is, after all, world’s strongest fabric that is said by manufacturers to be 15 times stronger than steel. It has been used to stop bullets, repair human joints, moor oil rigs and make really, really, light waterproof jackets.

Silk is Better for Hair than Cotton Cotton, however, is known for being absorbent. Along with acting as a natural moisturizer, silk is practically free of friction; this means hair gently glides across a silk surface

1 The Most Absorbent Fabric Is a Combination of Materials A composite fabric marketed under the brand name Zorb combines several materials including tangled cellulose fibers and poly microfibers, though the exact combination is a trade secret.

Water absorbing fabrics

• Wool.
• French Terry Towelling fabric.
• Fleece.
• Bamboo fabric.
• Microfiber.
• Plush fabric.
• Hemp.
• Flannel.

In addition to being the most absorbent natural fiber on the planet, kenaf is also hydrophobic (it does not absorb water). This combination is rare, and makes kenaf the perfect solution for any setting in which one would like to absorb harmful chemicals without also absorbing water (think BP oil disaster of 2019)

The aluminum and plastic are made from materials that do not attract water molecules. Also, the aluminum and plastic do not have spaces for the water to move into like felt and paper. Therefore, the aluminum and plastic do not absorb water.