Cotton
is used to make a number of textile products. These include terrycloth, used to make highly absorbent bath towels and robes, denim, used to make blue jeans, chambray, popularly
used in the manufacture of blue work shirts (from which we get the term "blue-collar"), along with corduroy, seersucker, and
cotton twill. Socks, underwear,
and most T-shirts are made
from cotton. Bed sheets are also often made from cotton. Cotton is also used
to make yarn used in crochet and knitting. Fabric
can also be made from recycled or recovered cotton that would otherwise be thrown
away during the spinning, weaving or cutting process. While many fabrics are
made completely of cotton, some materials blend cotton with other fibers, including
rayon and synthetic fibers such as polyester.
In addition to the textile industry, cotton is used in fishnets, coffee filters, tents and in bookbinding. The first Chinese paper was made of cotton fiber, as is the modern US dollar bill and federal stationery. Fire hoses were once made of cotton.
The cottonseed which remains after the cotton is ginned is used to produce cottonseed oil, which after refining can be consumed by humans like any other vegetable oil. The cottonseed meal that is left is generally fed to livestock.
Shiny cotton is a processed version of the fibre that can be made into cloth resembling satin for shirts and suits. However, its property of not easily taking up water makes it unfit for the purpose of bath and dish towels (although examples of these made from shiny cotton are seen.)
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1. What are the different uses of cotton?
2. What may cotton be blended with?
3. Can you find other uses of cotton?