Fibres Classification and properties

Introduction
A unit of matter which is capable of being spun into a yarn or made into a fabric by bonding ( Non woven) It is a smallest textile component which is microscopic hair like substance that may be man made or natural. They have length at least hundred times to that of their diameter or width

Classification
Classification of fibers can be done by: Type (Natural and manufactured) Length (Short staple, long staple, continuous filament) Size (Ultra fine, fine, regular, course)

General classification

Classification based on type

Classification based on length

Natural fibers
Any hair like raw material directly obtainable from an animal, vegetable or mineral source that can be convertible after spinning into yarns and then into fabric. Under them there are various categories:
Plant Animal Minerals

Manmade fibres
Made from chemical compounds produced in manufacturing

facilities, original form not recognized as fiber.

Cotton
Cotton is a natural vegetable fibre produced in the cotton plant in many countries of the world Cotton is widely used Textile Fiber in Textile Industry, due to it s versatile uses.

Properties of cotton
It is soft It breathes It absorbs body moisture It is comfortable It is strong and durable

Properties of cotton
It has good colour retention It is easy to print on It wrinkles easily It is easy to care for, easy to wash It is a natural resource that is fully renewable

Physical properties of Cotton

Length of cotton fiber
Length of cotton fibre varies from 16mm to 52 mm depending upon the type of cotton.

Fineness of cotton:
Longer the fibre, finer the fibre in case of cotton fibre. It is expressed in term of decitex and it varies from 1.1 to2.3 decitex

 Cross-section:
Cross-section of cotton fibre is some what ribbon like

Linen
Linen Fiber is a natural fiber which is made from Flax. On the other hand, linen fiber is called as Vegetable fibre. Fibre extracted from the stems of the flax plant

Linen
Characteristics of Linen Fiber:
Clothes that made by linen is comfortable to use Linen fiber is stronger than cotton Hand washable & dry cleanable Crisp feeling

Linen
Tailors Well Absorbent Dyes & Prints well No Static & Pilling problems Good Abrasion Resistant

Properties of linen
Strength:
Two to three times stronger than cotton

Elasticity:
Linen is the least elastic natural fabric.

Resilience:
Linen is quite stiff and wrinkles easily

Absorbency:
fiber absorbs moisture and dries more quickly

Properties of linen
Heat Conductivity:
Heat conductivity of linen is five times as high as that of wool and 19 times as that of silk

Crisp
The linen fabric has a crisp feel with a distinctive outlook and feel

Properties of linen
Good Abrasion Resistant
it also has good abrasion resistance

No static electricity
Another property of linen is that it does not accumulate static electricity

Linen
Microscopic view of linen cross sectional and longitudinal

Jute
Jute is one of the cheapest natural fibres and is second only to cotton. Jute fibres are composed primarily of the cellulose and lignin

Jute
Properties:
Ultimate Jute Length: 1.5 to 4 mm. Ultimate Diameter of Jute: 0.015 to 0.002 mm. Jute Color: Jute fiber can be White, Yellow, Brown or Grey. Strength of Jute: 3.5 to 5 G/Den.

Jute
Specific Gravity: 1.48 Moisture Regain of Jute: 13.75 % (Standard). Elasticity: Breaking Extension 1.8% and Elastic Recovery very low. Resiliency: Bad. Dimensional Stability of Jute: Good on average.

Jute
Cross sectional and longitudinal structure of jute

Silk
Silk is a natural fiber and an animal fiber too The life cycle of Silk worm is as

Silk
Characteristics:
Soft or Crisp Feeling Luxurious Drapes Property is Good Silk Fiber Is Very Much Thin Dyeing Property is good on Silk

Silk
Prints Well Hand Washing & Dry Cleaning Is Possible Silk Creates Static Charges Silk has no pilling problem Abrasion Resistance Is Good Light Fastness Is Poor

Cross sectional and longitudinal view

Silk
Physical properties Tenacity:
The silk filament is strong

Hygroscopic nature
Because silk has a very crystalline polymer system, it is less absorbent than wool.

Thermal properties
Silk is more sensitive to heat than wool.

Silk
Chemical properties: Effect of acids
Silk is degraded more readily by acids than is wool.

Effect of alkalis
Alkaline solutions cause the silk filament to swell.

Effect of sunlight and weather

The resistance of silk to the environment is not as good as that of wool

Wool
Wool is a protein fiber and it is produced by the animals known as sheep. It is unique fire with scales on its surface. Wool, is a multicellular fiber and very expensive in price.

Wool
Wool s unique cellular structure gives it a number of desirable properties Absorbency:
Wool has the potential to soak up 30% of its weight in moisture without ever seeming overly moist or damp

Wool
Flame-Resistance:
fiber largely flame-retardant. Wool does not combust

Resilience: 50 % when wet, 30% when dry Insulator Odor absorbent Durable

Wool

Viscose Rayon
Rayon is a manufactured regenerated

cellulosic fiber. It has a serrated round shape with smooth surface. It loses 30-50% of its strength when it is wet.

Rayon
Rayon is produced from naturally occurring polymers and therefore it is not a synthetic fiber, but a manufactured regenerated

cellulosic fiber. The fiber is sold as artificial silk There are two principal varieties of rayon namely viscose and cupra ammonium rayon

Rayon
Moisture Absorption:
Moisture Content -13%

Tensile Strength
It is 1.5-2.4 gpd in the dry state and 0.7-1.2 gpd in the wet state

 Elasticity
less than 2-3%

Elongation at Break
15-30% elongation at break

Density
1.53 g/cc

Rayon
Chemical properties: Action of Solvents
Textile solvents can be used on Viscose rayon without any deteriorating effect

Effect of Iron
weakens viscose rayon yarns

Action of Microorganisms
affect the colour, strength, dyeing properties and lustre

Rayon

Polyester
The most common polyester for fiber purposes is poly (ethylene terephthalate), or simply PET. PET is made by reacting ethylene glycol with either terephthalic acid or its methyl ester in the presence of an antimony catalyst Then by melt spinning fibres are extracted

POLYESTER
Characteristics:
Strong Resistant to stretching and shrinking Resistant to most chemicals Quick drying

Polyester
Crisp and resilient when wet or dry Wrinkle resistant Mildew resistant Abrasion resistant Retains heat-set pleats and crease Easily washed

Polyester
Denier: 0.5 15 Tenacity : dry 3.5 - 7.0 : wet 3.5 - 7.0 %Elongation at break : dry 15 - 45 : wet 15 45% Moisture Regain: 0.4

Polyester
Specific Gravity: 1.36 - 1.41% Elastic Recovery @2% =98 : @5% = 65 Melting point : 260 - 270 degree C Effect of Sunlight : turns yellow, Can be dyed only by Disperse dyes

Polyester
Resistance to Weathering: good Rot Resistance: high Alkali Resistance: damaged by CON alkali Acid Resistance: excellent Organic Chemical Resistance: good

Nylon
Nylon was the first truly synthetic fiber to be commercialized It is a polyamide fiber The two most common are nylon 66 (polyhexamethylene adiamide) and nylon 6 (Polycaprolactam, a cyclic nylon intermediate)

Nylon
Properties of Nylon 66
Tenacity-elongation at break ranges from 8.8g/d18% to 4.3 g/d-45%. Its tensile strength is higher than that of wool, silk, rayon, or cotton. 100% elastic under 8% of extension

Nylon
Specific gravity of 1.14 Melting point of 263oC Extremely chemically stable No mildew or bacterial effects 4 - 4.5% of moisture regain Degraded by light as natural fibers

Nylon
Permanent set by heat and steam Abrasion resistant Lustrous- Nylon fibers have the luster of silk Easy to wash Can be pre colored or dyed in wide range of colors; dyes are applied to the molten mass of nylon or to the yarn or finished fabric.

Nylon
Resilient Filament yarn provides smooth, soft, long lasting fabrics Spun yarn lend fabrics light weight and warmth

Nylon
The fibre has a smooth rod like shape with a smooth surface

Acrylic
Acrylic is another man-made fibre where development in Germany paralleled that in the USA. 75 % of acrylic fibres are used in apparel, 20% in home furnishing and 5% in industrial enduses Also called as artificial wool

Acrylic
Feels like wool, with high bulk. Very good heat retention and fastness to light. Very good shape retention, durability, easy care and quick dry qualities low water absorption, light and weather resistance.