THE FIBERS



Natural fibers

Cotton wool

The best known natural fiber is the cotton wool. In relation to dry cotton, the cotton wool has a high water retention capacity and a higher tear resistance. Cotton wool can be “equipped” very well, be treating with various additives to fullfill special aims. Cotton wool is used in the hygiene sector and also as a fully digestible nesting material for small animals (hamsters, rabbits, etc.)

Kapok

Kapok is a very fine fiber called “plant down”. It is a seed fiber and is harvested in southern countries like Brazil, India or Mexico. It is a natural hollow fiber with a natural fat content which makes the fiber water repellent. The density is very low (0.35 kg / dm³). Previously, it was therefore used as a filling material for safety buoys or lifejackets. We only use them as filling material for high quality pillows. 









































































Chemical fibers

Polyester

Polyester is a chemical fiber. It is produced by polycondensation by melt spinning. Polyester offers the best conditions for our applications. Only fibers according to ÖKO-TEX Standard 100 are processed.

The solid fiber is a “cheap” fiber. It has a high bulk, good “electrostatic” properties and a low moisture regain of 2%. We take advantage of this postive fiber aspects and use the solid fiber mainly in the outdoor sector for our high-quality chair pillows. We call this fiber RIWALON® standard.

In contrast to the often used foam, polyester has a lot of advantages. If you leave a foam-filled chair pillow in the rain, it sucks full of water like a sponge. In sunshine, only the surface dries and so it only feels dry.

A hollow fiber can be imagined as a “macaroni”. The hollow fiber is used when good insulation properties are needed (e.g. heat retention capacity). Hollow fibers ar mainly used for home textiles like sofa pillows or neck pillows. Through the hollow fiber, the body heat is isolated and you have a pleasant cuddly, warm feeling. Due to the capillary action of the fiber (moisture transport), the emitted body moisture is transported away from the body. These advantages are united by our fiber RIWADAN®HR.

This fiber is mainly used in the bed area. The fiber has as special “coating” made of silicone. The silicone prevents the fibers from “hanging together” (it counteracts frictional and form-fitting bonding). As a result, the fiber has a very soft “feeling” and is “down-like” like our brand RIWADAN®HR.



Polypropylene

Polypropylene is a polymer-derived fiber. The polypropylene fiber has a lower density than water, has a very high wet tensile strength and is almost rotproof.

Its rough surface structure makes it ideal for the use of filter material; in our case e.g. for pond filters. The fiber is also suitable for saltwater applications.