Physical properties of

textile fibers

Lili
M.sc(C.T) 3rd sem.

Cotton
Polymer

Elongation

1% 2% 3% 5%

Chemical
composition

Cellulose

Elastic recovery

91% 74% 66% 45%

Dimensions

Extremely long

Handle

Medium to hard
crisp

Approx. length

5000 nm

Hygroscopic
nature

Absorbent

Approx. thickness

0.8 nm

Moisture regain %

Degree of
polymerization

5000

At 65% RH

7.0-8.5%

Polymer system

Crystalline

At 95% RH

18.8-19.6%

Amorphous region

35-30%

At 100% RH

23.6%

Crystalline region

65-70%

Thermal properties Very heat resistance

Tenacity

Strong

Softening range

150c begins to
discolor

Dry

27-44g/tex

Melting point

Does not melt

Wet

27-46g/tex

Decomposition

240c

Flax
Polymer

Elongation

1% 2% 3%

Chemical
composition

Cellulose

Elastic recovery

90% 70% 60%

Dimensions

Extremely long

Handle

Hard, very crisp

Approx. length

18 000 nm

Hygroscopic
nature

Absorbent

Approx. thickness

0.8 nm

Moisture regain %

Degree of
polymerization

18 000

At 65% RH

7.0%

Polymer system

Crystalline

At 95% RH

Unavailable

Amorphous region

Less then cotton

At 100% RH

Unavailable

Crystalline region

More then cotton

Thermal properties Very heat resistance

Tenacity

Very strong

Softening range

280c begins to
discolor

Dry

59 g/tex

Melting point

Does not melt

Wet

64 g/tex

Decomposition
begins

310c

Silk
Polymer

Elongation

1% 2% 4% 10% 15%

Chemical
composition

Fibroin

Elastic recovery

99% 92% 70% 51%

40%

Dimensions

Short

Handle

Medium, warm

Approx. length

140 nm

Hygroscopic
nature

Very absorbent

Approx. thickness

0.9 nm

Moisture regain %

Degree of
polymerization

Not known

At 65% RH

8.9-10.1%

Polymer system

Very crystalline

At 95% RH

21.5-23.0%

Amorphous region

35-20%

At 100% RH

30.0%

Crystalline region

65-70%

Thermal properties Very heat sensitive

Tenacity

Strong

Softening range

100c begins to yellow

Dry

30-41 g/tex

Melting point

Does not melt

Wet

23-32 g/tex

Decomposition
begins

170c

Wet/ Dry

77-78%

Ignition temp

420c

Wool
Polymer

Elongation

2% 5% 10% 15%
20%

Chemical
composition

Keratin

Elastic recovery

99% 98% 90%

82%75%

Dimensions

Short

Handle

Medium to soft,
warm

Approx. length

140 nm

Hygroscopic
nature

Very absorbent

Approx. thickness

1 nm

Moisture regain %

Degree of
polymerization

Not known

At 65% RH

14.0-16.3%

Polymer system

Extremely
amorphous

At 95% RH

25.6-27.9%

Amorphous region

70-75%

At 100% RH

33.3%

Crystalline region

30-25%

Thermal properties Heat sensitive

Tenacity

Weak

Softening range

100c handle
harshness

Dry

9-18 g/tex

Melting point

Does not melt, 130c

begins to yellow

Viscose
Polymer

Elongation

2% 3% 10% 15%
20%

Chemical
composition

Regenerated
cellulose

Elastic recovery

82% 52% 40% 34%

30%

Dimensions

Short

Handle

Medium to soft, limp

Approx. length

180 nm

Hygroscopic nature Extremely absorbent

Approx. thickness

0.8 nm

Moisture regain %

Degree of
polymerization

175

At 65% RH

12.0-14.0 %

Polymer system

Very amorphous

At 95% RH

25.0-30.0%

Amorphous region

65-60 %

At 100% RH

45.0%

Crystalline region

35-40%

Thermal properties

Heat sensitive

Tenacity

Fair

Softening range

130c begins to yellow

Dry

14-45 g/tex

Melting point

Does not melt

Wet

7-24 g/tex

Decomposition
begins

230c

Wet/ Dry

50-53 %

Ignition temp

430c

Acetate
Polymer

Elongation

2% 5% 10% 15% 20%

Chemical
composition

Secondary
cellulose acetate

Elastic recovery

94% 73% 39% 27%

23%

Dimensions

Short

Handle

Very soft, limp

Approx. length

160 nm

Hygroscopic nature Slightly absorbent

Approx. thickness

2.3 nm

Moisture regain %

Degree of
polymerization

130

At 65% RH

6.5-9.0%

Polymer system

Very amorphous

At 95% RH

13-16%

Amorphous region

60 %

At 100% RH

18%

Crystalline region

40%

Thermal properties

Extremely heat
sensitive

Tenacity

Very week

Softening range

175-190c

Dry

12-27 g/tex

Melting point

260c

Wet

8-24 g/tex

Decomposition
begins

Unavailable

Wet/ Dry

60-70 %

Ignition temp

520c

Nylon
Polymer

Elongation

2% 5% 10% 15%
20%

Chemical
composition

Polyhexamethylene
diaminoadipate

Elastic recovery

100% 98% 90%

82% 75%

Dimensions

Short

Handle

Medium to hard,
waxy

Approx. length

90-140 nm

Hygroscopic
nature

Not absorbent

Approx. thickness

0.3 nm

Moisture regain %

Degree of
polymerization

50-80

At 65% RH

4-4.5%

Polymer system

Very crystalline

At 95% RH

6%

Amorphous region

35-15%

At 100% RH

8%

Crystalline region

65-85%

Thermal properties Heat sensitive

Tenacity

Strong to very
strong

Softening range

220-230c

Dry

36-65 g/tex

Melting point

250-260c

Wet

32-55 g/tex

Decomposition

315c

Polyester
Polymer

Elongation

2% 4% 5% 8% 10%

Chemical
composition

Polyethylene glycol
terephthalate

Elastic recovery

97% 90% 87% 89%

77%

Dimensions

Short

Handle

Medium to hard waxy

Approx. length

120-150 nm

Hygroscopic nature

Completely
hydrophobic

Approx.
thickness

0.6 nm

Moisture regain %

Degree of
polymerization

115-140

At 65% RH

Polymer
system

Extremely crystalline At 95% RH

0.4%

Amorphous
region

35-15%

At 100% RH

0.4%

Crystalline
region

65-85%

Thermal properties

Heat sensitive

Tenacity

Strong to very
strong

Softening range

220-240c

Dry

29-50 g/tex

Melting point

250-260c

0.1-0.3%

Acrylic
Polymer

Elongation

2% 4% 5% 8% 10%

Chemical
composition

At least 85%
polyacrylonitrile

Elastic recovery

97% 84% 81% 75%

72%

Dimensions

Very long

Handle

Soft, waxy

Approx. length

500 nm

Hygroscopic
nature

Hydrophobic

Approx. thickness

0.3-0.53 nm

Moisture regain %

Degree of
polymerization

2000

At 65% RH

1.2-2.0%

Polymer system

Very crystalline

At 95% RH

1.5-3.0%

Amorphous region

30-20%

At 100% RH

4.0%

Crystalline region

70-80%

Thermal properties Very heat sensitive

Tenacity

Fair to strong

Softening range

235c

Dry

20-27 g/tex

Melting point

Does not melt

Wet

16-24 g/tex

Decomposition
begins

280-330c

Wet/ Dry

80-90%

Ignition temp

560c

Elastomeric
Polymer

Elongation

5% 10% 20%
50%

Chemical
composition

85% segmented polyElastic recovery

urethane, polyether type

100% 100%
100% 95%

Dimensions

Long

Handle

Medium waxy

Approx. length

Unavailable

Hygroscopic nature Hydrophobic

Approx. thickness

0.7 nm

Moisture regain %

Degree of polymer.

Unavailable

At 65% RH

0.4-1.3 %

Polymer system

Extremely amorphous,
when not stretched, to
extremely crystalline,
when fully extended

At 95% RH

Unavailable

Amorphous region

------------------

At 100% RH

3.0%

Crystalline region

------------------

Thermal properties

Extremely heat
sensitive

Tenacity

Very weak

Softening range

110-120c

Dry

5-7 g/tex

Melting point

230c

Wet

5-7 g/tex

Decomposition
begins

Unavailable

Thank
you