What Is Microfiber Fabric?

Microfibers are very small strands of material that can be knitted or woven together, or made into non-woven fabrics. Microfiber fabrics are highly versatile and popular for a wide variety of uses.

Size

The strands that make up microfiber fabric measure less than 1 denier, or about half as thick as a strand of silk. Some microfiber fabrics use strands that are only 10 microns in diameter, or about one-tenth as thick as a human hair.

Types

Most microfiber fabrics are made from synthetic materials such as polyester or nylon, or a combination of both.

Benefits

Microfiber fabric is lightweight, highly absorbent and does not stain or wrinkle easily. Microfiber fabrics that are electrostatically charged can pick up small particles, such as dust, without the use of cleaning solvents, and leave no lint behind.

Function

Microfiber fabric is popular in cleaning cloths, as well as in sports clothing, sleeping bag insulation, tablecloths, furniture covers and cloth diapers.

Considerations

Microfiber fabrics should be washed in detergent that is free of oils, soaps and fabric softeners, since the fabric can soak up these additives, causing it to retain odors.

History

Synthetic microfiber fabrics were invented by Dr. Miyoshi Okamoto in the early 1970s. Dr. Toyohiko Hikota developed the first major commercially available microfiber fabric, Ultrasuede.

Resources

• More information about microfiber
• How to clean microfiber fabrics