Natural Fibres

Natural Fibres

• Obtained from plants and animals
• Examples:
  • Plant fibres: cotton, jute, flax, hemp
  • Animal fibres: wool, silk, cashmere, mohair

Production of Natural Fibres

• Cotton:
  • Grows around seeds of cotton plant
  • Harvested through ginning (separating cotton fibres from seeds)
• Wool:
  • Obtained from sheep and other animals
  • Harvested through shearing (cutting of wool fibres)
• Silk:
  • Produced by silkworms
  • Harvested through sericulture (rearing of silkworms)

Processing of Natural Fibres

• Carding:
  • Brushing fibres to align them in the same direction
  • Produces a rope-like strand called a sliver
• Spinning:
  • Drawing out the sliver to create a continuous thread
  • Twisting the thread to create yarn
• Weaving or knitting:
  • Interlacing yarns to create fabric
  • Can be done using a loom or needles

Synthetic Fibres

• Made from chemical compounds
• Examples: polyester, nylon, acrylic, polyamide

Production of Synthetic Fibres

• Extrusion:
  • Melting and forming chemical compounds into long strands
• Texturizing:
  • Crimping or twisting the strands to create texture
• Drawing:
  • Stretching the strands to align molecular structure

Properties of Fibres

• Strength: ability to resist breaking
• Elasticity: ability to stretch and return to original shape
• Durability: ability to resist wear and tear
• Breathability: ability to allow air to pass through
• Softness: texture of the fibre

Fabric Types

• Woven fabrics: created through weaving (e.g. cotton, polyester)
• Knitted fabrics: created through knitting (e.g. wool, nylon)
• Non-woven fabrics: created through bonding or felting (e.g. fleece, felt)

Natural Fibres

• Obtained from plants and animals
• Plant fibres: cotton, jute, flax, hemp
• Animal fibres: wool, silk, cashmere, mohair

Cotton Production

• Grows around seeds of cotton plant
• Harvested through ginning, which separates cotton fibres from seeds

Wool Production

• Obtained from sheep and other animals
• Harvested through shearing, which involves cutting of wool fibres

Silk Production

• Produced by silkworms
• Harvested through sericulture, which involves rearing of silkworms

Fibre Processing

• Carding: brushing fibres to align them in the same direction, producing a rope-like strand called a sliver
• Spinning: drawing out the sliver to create a continuous thread, and twisting the thread to create yarn
• Weaving or knitting: interlacing yarns to create fabric, which can be done using a loom or needles

Synthetic Fibres

• Made from chemical compounds
• Examples: polyester, nylon, acrylic, polyamide

Synthetic Fibre Production

• Extrusion: melting and forming chemical compounds into long strands
• Texturizing: crimping or twisting the strands to create texture
• Drawing: stretching the strands to align molecular structure

Fibre Properties

• Strength: ability to resist breaking
• Elasticity: ability to stretch and return to original shape
• Durability: ability to resist wear and tear
• Breathability: ability to allow air to pass through
• Softness: texture of the fibre

Fabric Types

• Woven fabrics: created through weaving, examples include cotton and polyester
• Knitted fabrics: created through knitting, examples include wool and nylon
• Non-woven fabrics: created through bonding or felting, examples include fleece and felt

Learn about natural fibres obtained from plants and animals, including cotton, jute, wool, silk, and more. Explore their production processes and harvesting methods.