Overview of Fibers and Textiles

Study Notes

Fibers are fundamental components of textiles, forming the basis for yarns and fabrics.
Yarns are produced by twisting fibers together, while fabrics are created through weaving or knitting these yarns.
Textile performance relies on fiber properties, which are influenced by physical structure, chemical composition, and molecular arrangement.

Durability: Strong fibers enhance fabric longevity.
Absorbency: Essential for clothing in contact with skin, as well as towels and diapers.
Fire Resistance: Critical for safety in children's sleepwear and for firefighters.
Other important properties include:
- Strength: Ability to resist pulling and twisting.
- Shrinkage: Capacity to maintain size.
- Warmth: Retaining body temperature.
- Wicking: Drawing moisture away from the body for evaporation.
- Wrinkle Resistance: Resisting creasing.
- Resiliency: Ability to recover shape after crushing or wrinkling.
- Elasticity: Returning to original size.
- Shape Retention and Abrasion Resistance: Maintaining form and resisting wear.
- Luster: Sheen or shine of some fibers.
- Static Resistance: Reducing electrical buildup.
- Fiber length affects strength, with staple and filament classifications; staple ranges from 2 to 46 cm.

Two main groups:
- Natural fibers (derived from plants and animals).
- Manufactured fibers (created from chemicals).

Examples include cotton, linen, wool, and silk; characterized by quality variations based on growth conditions and species.
Must be cleaned before processing into yarns; supply can be seasonal.

Derived from plant sources, primarily cotton and flax used in fashion.
Fiber length significantly influences processing and strength; longer fibers are preferred.

Cotton is a widely used natural fiber, known for its soft, fluffy texture and commonly characterized as a twisted ribbon under a microscope.
Comprises 88-96% cellulose, with the remainder consisting of proteins, pectic substances, and other minor components.
Stronger when wet, absorbs moisture well (50% water retention, 7% moisture regain), enhancing comfort in warm weather.

Features a multi-layered structure with a cuticle, primary wall, secondary wall, and lumen; influences processing and end-use.
Convoluted surface increases inter-fiber friction, supporting the spinning of fine yarns.
Typical convolutions per centimeter: approximately 60.

Major component is cellulose (around 90% of dry weight); characterized as a polymer of β-D-glucose with a high degree of polymerization (up to 5000).
Other components include:
- Protein (1.3%)
- Pectic substances (0.9%)
- Oils, fats, waxes (0.6%)
- Ash (1.2%)
This unique composition contributes to cotton’s strength, absorbency, and comfort properties in textiles.