Textile Fibres

Introduction

Textiles have such an important bearing on our daily lives that everyone should know something about the basics of fibres and their properties.

Textile fibres are used for a wide range of applications such as covering, warmth, personal adornment and even to display personal wealth.

Textile technology has come a long way in meeting these requirements. A basic knowledge of textile fibres will facilitate an intelligent appraisal of fibre brands and types and help in identifying the right quality for the application.

This bulletin covers various textile fibres and the properties that are important for a suitable textile application.

Fibre Classification

Textile fibres can be broadly classified into two categories:

Natural fibres

Man-made fibres

Natural Fibers

Natural fibres are subdivided further, as outlined below, by their origin.

Table below when available.

Fibre name	Source	Composition
Vegetable
Cotton	Cotton boll	Cellulose
Kapok	Kapok tree	Cellulose
Linen	Flax stalk	Cellulose
Jute	Jute stalk	Cellulose
Hemp	Hemp or Abaca	Cellulose
Ramie	Rhea and China	Cellulose
Sisal	Agave leaf	Cellulose
Coir	Coconut husk	Cellulose
Pina	Pineapple leaf	Cellulose
Animal
Wool	Sheep	Protein
Silk	Silkworms	Protein
Hair	Hair bearing animals	Protein
Mineral
Asbestos	Varities of rock	Silicate of Magnesium and Calcium

Man-made Fibres

Man-made fibres are subdivided as shown below with their various compositions and origin. 

Fibre Name	Source
Cellulosic
Rayon	Cotton linters or wood
Acetate	Cotton linters or wood
Tri-acetate	Cotton linters or wood
Non-Cellulosic Polymers
Nylon	Aliphatic polyamide
Aramid	Aromatic polyamid
Polyester	Dihydric alcohol and terephthalic acid
Acrylic	Acrylonitrile
Modacrylic	Acrylonitrile
Spandex	Polyurethene
Olefin	Ethylene or propylene
Vinyon	Vinyl chloride
Saran	Vinylidene chloride
Novoloid	Phenol based navolac
Polycarbonate	Carbonic acid (polyester derivative)
Fluorocarbon	Tetrafluoroethylene
Protein
Azlon	Corn, soybean, etc.
Rubber
Rubber	Natural or synthetic rubber
Metallic
Metal	Aluminum, silver, gold, stainless steel
Mineral
Glass	Silica sand, limestone, other minerals
Ceramic	Aluminium, silica
Graphite	Carbon

1. Natural Fibers

Cotton

Cotton, the natural fibre most widely used in apparel, grows in a boll around the seeds of cotton plants. A single fibre is an elongated cell that is a flat, twisted, hollow, ribbon-like structure.

Characteristics

• Fair to good strength
• Very little elasticity
• Less resilient and prone to wrinkling
• Comfortable and soft feel
• Good absorbency
• Conducts heat well
• Damaged by insects, mildew, rot and moths
• Weakened by extended sunlight exposure

Applications

• Widely used in number of textile products
• Commonly used in woven and knitted apparel
• Home textile – bath towels, bath robes, bed covers etc.
• Used as a blend with other fibres as rayon, polyester, spandex etc.                      

Linen

Linen, one of the most expensive natural fibres, is made from the flax plant. It is labour-intensive to produce, hence produced in small quantities. However linen fabric is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather.

It is composed of 70% cellulose and 30% pectin, ash, woody tissue and moisture.

Characteristics

• Strongest vegetable fibre
• Poor elasticity, hence wrinkles easily
• Relatively smooth, becomes softer when washed
• Highly absorbent
• Good conductor of heat and feels cool
• Lustrous
• More brittle, constant creasing in the sharp folds, tends to break
• Damaged by mildew, perspiration and bleach
• Resistant to moths and carpet beetles

Applications

• Apparel – suits, dresses, skirts, shirts etc.
• Home and commercial furnishing items – table cloths, dish towels, bed sheets, wallpaper / wall coverings, window treatments etc.
• Industrial products – luggage, canvas etc.
• Used as blend with cotton