Burnout
A burnout is a fabric that is patterned in the burnout process.
Manufacturing
The process is similar to screen printing . However, instead of paint, an etching paste is applied here, which destroys parts of the tissue by etching . This process is known as burnout.
The basic fabric is basically a mixture of at least two different fiber materials. A fiber material (mostly synthetic such as polyester ) is not damaged by the etching paste. The other (mostly cellulosic such as cotton , linen , viscose ) is removed during etching. That is why there is no hole in the burned-out area, but a more transparent area.
In addition to woven fabrics, knitted fabrics can also be burned out. Here, too, the prerequisite is that two different materials have to be processed.
commitment
The fabrics patterned in this way are mainly used in window decoration . They often fall into the category of so-called in-between fabrics, i.e. decorative fabrics that are more transparent than curtains but denser than blinds .
properties
However, the processing of two different fibers also has disadvantages. The cellulosic fibers can in the washing shrink and tend to wrinkle. The synthetic fibers, however, are dimensionally stable and less generally wrinkle-prone . Depending on the pattern, the fabric may shrink unevenly during washing, which can lead to an unsightly image.
For some years now, a technical innovation has also made burnouts possible that are fully synthetic. You no longer need cellulosic fibers. Two different polyester fibers are used. Therefore, flame retardant burnouts are now also possible. In addition, they do not have the unfavorable maintenance properties mentioned above.