Classification and Application of Rattan

Classification and Application of Rattan

Different types of rattan have different characteristics. But they are the same in one point, that is, they can be widely used in home decor. In this article, we will introduce the classification of rattan and also its applicaitons.

Classification of rattan

According to the different compositions, rattan can be divided into natural rattan, PE rattan, PVC rattan.

1. Natural rattan

In the primitive old forests along the border between Tengchong, Yunnan, China and Myanmar, there is a vine with a tough texture and an extremely long body – natural rattan. Its outer layer is bright in color and smooth in touch. What’s more, it has an excellent elasticity, which is a kind of great woven material.

The geological distribution of natural rattan
The growing environment of natural rattan
The growing environment of natural rattan
The processed natural rattan
The processed natural rattan

Natural rattan is a strong and tough material. They can withstand the force of the harvesters climbing up their long vines. They are then cut down and brought to the factory to be cleaned and bleached without any blemishes. 

The rattan product generally has to go through rattan cutting (cut off the knots on the rattan), picking rattan, washing rattan, drying rattan, twisting rattan, pulling rattan (planing rattan), peeling rattan, bleaching, dyeing, weaving, painting, etc, more than a dozen processes. With rattan branches, rattan core or bamboo as the skeleton,  woven with rattan bark or young rattan core, it gives full play to the characteristics of rattan that is soft and not easy to break. 

Natural rattan - washing
Natural rattan - washing
Natural rattan - peeling
Natural rattan - peeling

In terms of color, most of them are in the light yellow of the original natural rattan. Or they are processed and bleached into white or ivory, which looks soft and elegant. What’s more, some are matched with coffee and brown. Finally, they are processed into sizes that are suitable to make furniture.

After it is harvested, it will grow back quickly. This makes it green friendly and the production of the natural rattan furniture won’t contribute to deforestation. But natural rattan remains a costly material.

With times, the artificial rattan is becoming more popular than the natural rattan due to its outstanding character.

Natural rattan
Natural rattan
Natural rattan chair - SERENA & LILY
Natural rattan chair - SERENA & LILY

2. Synthetic Rattan

We will introduce 2 kinds of common synthetic plastic rattans below. They are respectively the PE rattan and PVC rattan.

2. 1 PE rattan

PE rattan is a polyethylene polymer product. The common outdoor rattan furniture products are mainly made of PE rattan.

Unlike other synthetic materials, PE rattan is recyclable and more durable than the cheaper PVC rattan. The PE rattan is designed with a similar appearance as natural rattan and also with some color variations throughout the material. If you take a close look at it or touch it, you can easily tell the difference between natural rattan and PE rattan. But PE rattan is still very attractive as long as it is manufactured well. There are the detailed introductions about the manufacturing process of PE Rattan. If you are interest in the pe rattan manufacturing, you can refer to these 2 articles:

They can be woven in the same way as real rattan, but they are even better in that they are usually coated with UV additives that prevent fading and abrasion. And for that, PE rattan is also weatherproof, UV resistant, and can stay outdoors all year round.

PE Rattan - JR2160
PE Rattan - JR2160
PE Rattan JR2160 - Outdoor Furniture
PE Rattan JR2160 - Outdoor Furniture

2.2 PVC rattan

PVC rattan is a polymer product of polyvinyl chloride polymer. This kind of plastic material is one of the most widely used ones and it is cheap.

Besides, PVC is an amorphous material, usually in the form of white resin or pale yellow powder, which must be modified before use because it cannot be used alone. In the actual use, additives such as stabilizers, lubricants, auxiliary processing agents, and reinforcing agents are often added into the PVC material. And PVC rattan is covered with a shiny finish that can look cheap.

PVC rattan
PVC rattan
PVC Rattan -1
PVC Rattan -1

* The difference between PVC rattan and PE rattan

Both PE and PVC are plastics. However, they are quite different in hardness, transparency, use, strength and other aspects.

Apart from the influence of designs and brands, the selling price of plastic rattan furniture also varies depending on the type of resin the rattan is made of. Therefore, knowing the difference between PE and PVC rattan can help you choose the right and cost-effective rattan product. Now, let’s take a moment to learn about how to distinguish the PE and PVC plastic rattan.

How to distinguish the PE and PVC Rattan:

1) Elongation test: With the professional equipment, tensile test can be done. The elongation of PVC is 250%-350%, while the elongation of PE is 500%-1000%. If there is no equipment, pull it by hand (pull it off), and the extensibility of PE will be better.

2) Combustion test: Use a lighter to light the rattan. If the rattan will shrink quickly and drip, producing less smoke and less smell. Then, we can know that rattan is PE rattan. Because the PVC rattan shrinks less when ignited, and doesn’t drip, but with a lot of black smoke.

Application of rattan

1. Furniture Items

Applied to furniture items, such as beds, lamps, cabinet doors, etc. Our rattan weaving products are also “a common participant” in desgin and making of the Rattan Furniture.

Rattan application - Bed
Rattan application - Bed
Rattan application - Lamps
Rattan application - Lamps
Rattan application - cabinet door
Rattan application - cabinet door

2. Other Home Decors

Applied to screens, ceilings, walls, panes, etc

Rattan application - Screen
Rattan application - Screen
Rattan application - Ceiling&Wall
Rattan application - Ceiling & Wall
Rattan application - Pane
Rattan application - Pane

3. Outdoor Furniture

PE Rattan JR2026 Outdoor Furniture(4)
PE Rattan JR2470 Outdoor Furniture(1)
Outdoor PE rattan leisure chairs
Outdoor PE rattan dining chairs

* The above pictures of the Rattan application are all from 材料美学馆.

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