Which is better artificial or natural? Artificial swan down: what is it, properties, advantages and disadvantages

Down-feather filler is one of the types of natural fillers, consisting of a mixture of down and feathers of birds - domesticated (goose, duck) and wild (eider, swan, wild duck). Down only grows in the plumage of waterfowl, it protects them from low and high temperatures, that is, from cold and overheating.

The plumage of birds is divided into flight and outline feathers and down. Flight feathers are never used as a filler. Contour ( top part bodies) select only the fluffiest ones. The feather has a rigid shaft (awn), under which the down (the lower part of the body) is hidden, which forms a "layer" and does not allow the feather to come into contact with the body. Down does not have an awn like a feather, but only a core, from which goatees with processes that interlock with each other and give the feather a rounded shape.

Production

The total number of processing stages and operations that the fluff goes through is about eighteen.

• The first stage is the cultivation of waterfowl.
• Down is collected from live birds at a certain period.
• After collecting it is weighed and the quality and degree of moisture is determined, then it is dried, dedusted, sorted and down-feather mixtures are made.
• Then these mixtures are washed in machines with special detergents, squeezed in centrifuges to a moisture content of 45-50%, and fed into drying machines, where they are finally dried with hot air (at a temperature of 80-120 degrees). Hot steam cleaning is sometimes used.
• With the help of a fan, the fluff is fed into the collection and pressed into bales.

All raw materials must undergo tests, veterinary certificates are issued for them. If the down comes from disadvantaged areas where poultry diseases occur, it undergoes mandatory disinfection.

Categories and properties

The most expensive type of filler is the one with the most fluff - 99-100%. It is called Exclusive Quality Down and has the following properties:

• very durable;
• has low thermal conductivity - the fluffs touch each other and create air layers, a barrier is formed that does not allow heat or cold to pass through;
• hygroscopic - able to absorb large amounts of moisture and evaporate it into the environment;
• has a very low weight - light and delicate fluff in comparison with all other fillers, including synthetic ones, has a better mass-to-heat ratio;
• breathable - provides good circulation of air flows;
• unfoiled - the fluffs do not fall off, as they are very strong, flexible and resilient.

When a feather is added to such a filler, the category decreases. A filler with a down to feather ratio of 95% to 5% belongs to the Premium category, 70% to 30% - to the Highest, 50% to 50% - to the First, 30% to 70% - to the Second category.

The more feathers are added, the poorer the filler properties. If a small or crushed feather of a killed bird is added to it (as a waste of meat production), it will have a higher thermal conductivity, low hygroscopicity, greater weight and dumping. It is also necessarily treated with chemicals.

FEEL POWER

There is a special indicator of the quality of down and feather filler - index FEEL POWER(the higher the better).

It shows how elastic the fluff is and is able to recover after compression.

If the index of 750 and higher is an exclusive quality down, it is harvested by hand and only in the spring from the breast part of a bird that is constantly kept in selective conditions.

A value below 400 indicates a very low quality of the filler, such fluff was collected from a dead bird.

Raw materials

Eider

The most valuable is the down of the northern bird of the eider, which lives in the Arctic climate of Iceland (also eider down is collected in Canada, Denmark, Finland and Norway). Collect it by hand directly from the nests. She pluck it out of herself to warm her offspring with the warmth of her skin.

All subsequent stages of processing are also carried out manually, since the fluffs have the greatest degree of adhesion, and in the product being filled they form a dense elastic layer that does not change shape during operation. Products with eider down are incredibly light, airy and warm. This type of filler is the highest quality and most expensive.

Goose

Next comes the goose, which is also divided into categories. The most valuable is the white goose, followed by the gray one. Its quality depends both on the breed of bird and on the habitat: the more severe the climate in which the goose lives, the higher the quality. The best is Canadian. Next come European breeds: Hungarian, Italian, North German and others.

The fluff of birds that live in harsh conditions, but fly to wintering countries with a warm climate (Turkey, China, Germany) is of lower quality.

Duck

In addition, duck plumage has a specific smell and requires additional processing. Very high quality Canadian duck down.

Hen

Has only a feather. It is used for the production of goods of the lowest price segment.

Manufacturers

The best manufacturers of such filler are Canada and Hungary, and products using down-feather raw materials are Canada, Europe (Germany, Hungary) and the Scandinavian countries. Japan is the main exporter of the highest quality eider down.
In Russia, for a long time, raw materials were produced from the down of a dead bird, so it was of low quality and inexpensive, then it gained popularity (high-quality and cheap).

Application and care

Down and feather mixture is used as a filler for those products that have the purpose of insulation. These are outer winter clothing (down jackets, jackets, coats) and bedding (blankets and pillows).

clothing

For men's, women's and children's down jackets and overalls, the down is additionally treated with water-repellent compounds. Usually the filler is of the highest category (70/30%). Such clothing is very light, but protects well from winter frosts.

Modern down jackets are sewn in such a way that fluffs and feathers do not crawl out through the layer of the upper fabric. To do this, the filler is placed in special bags made of fabric, additional interlining fabric is used, and the seams with which the product is quilted are treated with special compounds. To prevent such a down jacket from letting in the cold in the quilted areas, the bags are overlapped.

Care

It is recommended to give the down jacket for cleaning, but machine wash with liquid detergent on a delicate cycle is also allowed. In order to prevent the fluff from straying into lumps, three tennis balls are put into the washing machine.

You should not wring out and dry the product in a typewriter, you need to let the water drain by spreading the down jacket on a horizontal mesh or lattice. Then dry with a fan or hair dryer.

Bed dress

And with this natural filler very light, soft and warm. They keep their shape well, do not fall off. It is recommended to beat the pillows by hand every morning (not in the evening).

Care

Dry cleaning in specialized institutions is recommended for such products. You can wash yourself in a machine at a temperature of 40-60 degrees. Only high quality products are washed. In cheaper ones, the filler is more fragile and can be damaged.

Do not dry in direct sunlight or on a radiator. It is best to do this in a well-ventilated area or outdoors in hot weather (shade only) with occasional shaking.

Duvets and pillows are contraindicated for allergy sufferers and asthmatics, but many modern manufacturers carry out special anti-allergic processing of raw materials.

How to define quality

In order to understand whether the filler in the product is of high quality, it is not enough to know the country of manufacture of the clothing or. Much depends on the country where the raw materials were produced, but there is no such information on the label.

Visually, the quality can be checked by pressing on the product and seeing how soon it will regain its shape. If quality raw materials were used, the shape is restored by 50-70% in 15 seconds, and completely in 2-3 minutes.

Terms of operation

Garments and blankets filled with goose down can last up to 20 years. But bedding (pillows and blankets) is recommended to be changed every few years (or cleaned once a year), since they absorb all substances that are released through human skin.

Thanks to modern technology, down and feather filler is a very high quality and environmentally friendly material. With proper care, products with it will last a very long time.

White as snow, stuffed like fur ... The answer to this riddle is simple. This is, of course, a goose, which, like a duck, has long been present in the folklore of almost all countries of the world.

The plumage of these birds is truly unique. In addition to the so-called contour feathers, they have down, which creates an air cushion that reliably retains heat. He came out like a goose dry out of the water - they say about a man who does not care about anything. After all, geese and ducks not only fly, but dive and swim, while remaining dry and not freezing.

Amazing thermal insulation properties of goose and duck down people have used it for a long time. Information about domestic geese and ducks has been known since antiquity. All birds, including chickens, have down feathers, but they have nothing to do with the down of waterfowl.

Goose and duck down is still one of the most valuable natural fillers and heaters.

Which down is better: goose or duck?

The undisputed favorite is the down of the wild duck - eider nesting in the Northern latitudes. It is collected from abandoned nests, which the birds spread with plucked down from themselves. Needless to say, the fluff of birds that have adapted to raise offspring on the shores of the Arctic Ocean has truly unique properties... It was never possible to tame these wild ducks. Therefore, eiderdown is very expensive and is more often used for the manufacture of down jackets than. A blanket with such a valuable "filling" is comparable in price to an inexpensive car.

Domestic ducks also produce very high quality down, but its characteristics are significantly inferior to goose down.

Goose down can also be different. The most valuable raw materials are obtained from geese raised in the northern regions. Their down is lighter and warmer than that of their southern relatives. Very high quality and expensive down is provided, in particular, by the white Siberian goose and Arctic breeds, which rightfully compete with the eider duck.

The characteristics and price of down also depend on the conditions in which the bird was raised. Free-grazing geese fluff is always of higher quality and warmer.

• eiderdown
• down of northern and arctic geese
• goose down
• duck down

But even here not everything is simple. For example, musky duck down is valued almost as much as goose down.

Goose down and duck down: what's the difference

The structure of the down and feather of ducks and geese is almost the same, but there is still a difference. In order to avoid falsification, manufacturers are especially attentive to the species origin of raw materials. There are, in particular, special devices that allow you to accurately identify down. So, at 100x magnification, the monitor shows the difference between the feather barbs of geese and ducks.

Goose down - larger, bulkier and lighter. Down feather ducks are slightly smaller, but denser and heavier. The thing is that the “core” to which the fluffy villi in duck down are attached is slightly larger than in goose down.

All waterfowl protect their feathers with the secretion of the sebaceous glands, but duck down, unlike goose down, contains much more of this fat protection. Thus, the purification of raw materials requires additional efforts from manufacturers. To destroy the specific smell, duck down has to be seriously treated with special detergents, which shortens the life of such down in pillows and blankets. If it can last 20-25 years, then from duck down - only 10-15 years.

And finally, last but not least. The goose turned out to be the only domestic bird that allows itself to be plucked during its lifetime. During the collection of down, only ripe feathers are removed, which guarantees the quality of the final product.

How fluff is harvested

If eiderdown is collected from nests only once a year, then goose down is obtained without damage to the birds during their natural molt - in autumn and spring or early summer.

Geese live for 5-7 years, reaching a weight of up to 10 kg. During the molting period, each individual can produce up to 300 grams of feathers, including 50-60 grams of down. That is, almost a kilogram of fluff for the productive period.

This fluff, obtained from live birds, is especially prized. Considering that the weight of the filler in a duvet measuring 150x200 cm (all-season version) is about 500-600 g, a simple calculation shows that to produce one duvet, you will need to collect down from at least 10 birds. This explains a lot why duvets are so expensive..

Unlike goose down, duck down is obtained only after the slaughter of the bird. The average weight of a duck does not exceed three kilograms and at the output can give a maximum of 600 grams of raw material, which still needs to be sorted into down and feathers.

However, all organic raw materials are sorted by fractions, washed, disinfected and dried, and fluff is no exception. Tough standards of technological processes have been established, which are strictly followed by both European and Russian manufacturers.

Down and feather fillings

Only specialists can distinguish goose down from duck down. For us, consumers, only the weight of the product can serve as an indirect sign. So, with the same heat-conducting qualities, a duck down blanket will turn out to be slightly heavier than a 100% goose blanket. In this case, a goose down blanket will not only be light, but also more airy, fluffy.

Down is used as a filler both in pure form and in mixtures with feathers. Feather tips are added particularly to pillows. This gives them elasticity, not allowing them to fall under the weight of the head.

The proportions of down and feathers are one of the important parameters of down mixtures. Qualitative down products should contain no more than 10 percent of the pen.

Our store presents products that can rightfully be considered the standard of European quality.

These are blankets and pillows from OBB, Paradies, Billerbeck (Germany), Ringsted Dun (Denmark) and other European manufacturers.

Russian manufacturers can also compete with them. This, in particular, is the company "Constant", whose products are attractive in price, but can compete and even surpass foreign counterparts in quality. After all, the Shadrinsky goose is found only in Siberia and is not like the same white, but European.

All products of these companies are certified in accordance with international standards and they are members of the EDFA down and feather association.

Buyers ask questions: how they produce artificial fluff, what is it used for and is it really safe? Which material should you prefer - natural or synthetic? Read more about the properties, characteristics and scope of artificial swan down.

During the production of the material, polyester microfibers are twisted into spirals and treated with silicone. Thus, artificial swan down is a soft synthetic material. The finished down looks like natural down and has a number of similar characteristics. It is soft, fluffy to the touch, instantly regaining its shape after compression.

Artificial fluff: benefit or harm?

Artificial fluff

Currently, a considerable number of synthetic fabrics and fillers are produced. The word "synthetic" itself means that the material is obtained chemically, and not taken in finished form from nature. The production method does not mean that synthetics are inferior. Most often the other way around - chemical materials have greater wear resistance and hold their shape better. For example, polyester fibers, of which artificial fluff is composed, provide minimal crease, strength, and resistance to organic solvents.

Analogs of artificial swan down include:

• holofiber (lasts up to 10 years);
• (also serves for about 10 years);
• synthetic winterizer (average service life is only a few years).

All of these materials are also composed of polyester fibers.

The real fluff from the breast and abdomen of swans is collected by hand during the natural molt of birds. The quality of natural down depends on the breed. From one adult bird, only 40 g of pure fluff are obtained (feathers constitute the bulk).

Even powder puffs are made from this material, and household items or natural insulated clothing can be very expensive. Purchase synthetic material contributes to the protection of living creatures and is therefore eco-friendly.

Material characteristic

Like any synthetic or natural material, artificial fluff has its positive and negative sides... It is worth noting that the list of positive aspects is impressive:

• the material is suitable for people prone to allergies, with sensitive skin;
• synthetic fiber does not create a favorable development environment for living organisms, therefore, artificial fluff is not susceptible to fungi and dust mites;
• it is lightweight and weightless material;
• resiliently holds its shape, does not get lost and does not cake;
• it is easy to care for artificial down - it can be washed in a regular washing machine and no special storage conditions are required;
• the material does not absorb extraneous odors, and also does not itself have a specific aroma;
• fluff dries very quickly;
• the material retains heat perfectly;
• air freely passes through the fibers of the down, provides air exchange;
• the fabric cover easily holds the artificial down and does not allow it to fall out;
• artificial swan down costs much more economical than natural;
• long period of operation - with proper care, the material will last about five years.

There are very few disadvantages of this material:

• almost does not absorb moisture - under a swan blanket, a sauna effect can occur;
• may cause overheating when used in a well heated room;
• accumulates static electricity and requires additional treatment with an antistatic agent.

Where is fluff used?

The soft and delicate material is mainly used for filling and insulation. Using this material they sew:

• outerwear (jackets, down jackets, coats);
• insulated winter suits (pants, overalls);
• bedding sets (pillows, blankets);
• baby products (soft toys).

Pillows are especially popular

Pillows with swan down are especially popular - they retain their shape with daily use, help maintain the head in proper condition, do not smell of anything outsiders, and the down does not leave the cover and does not prick. Down pillow can be downloaded in washing machine and simply wash, while the product will not deteriorate in any way.

When purchasing products with swan down, you need to look at the composition indicated on the label. If specified (second name for polyester), it is artificial fluff. The affordable price also indicates that the material was produced chemically and not harvested from live birds.

Care

Care rules are not complicated

Artificial swan down does not require special care, like natural. It is enough to wash the product at a temperature of up to 40 degrees and dry it flat to keep the shape of the product longer.

Synthetic fluff is afraid of high temperatures and open sources of fire, therefore it is better to dry naturally. It is also allowed to spin things in a centrifuge. washing machine... This material is "afraid" only of aggressive bleaching agents that violate the microfiber structure. For pillows, it is best to set the delicate cycle so as not to damage the cover.

After washing, you need to shake the thing so that the fluff does not fall off. Quilts and pillows with artificial down should be ventilated several times a year outside or on the balcony. When storing products in vacuum bags, their shape does not deteriorate.

Let's sum up

Artificial swan down is a modern and practical material that is used as a filler and insulation. Such fluff is in no way inferior to natural. The artificial material is easier to clean, does not absorb odors, does not cake and keeps its shape.

For the production of fluff, polyester fibers are used - they are obtained by combining polybasic acids at the molecular level. At the same time, live swans do not suffer and manual labor is saved, which is used to assemble natural fluff.

The finished garments retain their firmness and elasticity because the structure of the polyester fibers prevents them from slipping through the textile weave and seam lines.

Artificial down is widely used in the manufacture of various warm clothes, it is easy to wash and retains its softness and shape for a long time.

Let's compare various natural and artificial fillers for pillows: