Fiber Characteristics Chapter 2 Fiber Sources l Natural

Fiber Characteristics Chapter 2

Fiber Sources l Natural Fibers n Obtained from plants or animals n Plant Fibers l Flax, hemp, jute, ramie, cotton and kapok n Animal Fibers l Wool, cashmere, mohair and silk l Manufactured n Made Fibers from chemical solutions that are forced through tiny holes n The device used to form the filaments is called a spinerette

Fiber Structure l Fiber Length n Stable fibers are measure in inches (all manufactured fibers) n Fibers of longer length are called filament fibers (silk is the only natural one)

Fiber Shape l Hollow-core l Dogbone l Flat, Oval with Convolutions l Square with voids l Serrated l Round l Trilobal

Absorbency l The ability to take in moisture l It is usually expressed as a percentage of moisture regain l Fibers able to absorb water easily are called hydrophilic fibers l Fibers that have difficulty absorbing water and are only able to absorb small amounts are called hydrophobic fibers

Fiber Absorbency l Skin Comfort l Static Build-up l Dimensional Stability in Water l Stain Removal l Water Repellency l Wrinkle Recovery

Cover l The ability to occupy an area

Elasticity l The ability to increase in length when under tension and then return to the original length when released

Flammability l The ability to ignite or burn l Flammable fibers are relatively easy to ignite l Flame-resistant fibers have relatively high ignition temperature and slow rate of burning l Flameproof fibers will not burn

Flexibility l The capability of a fiber to bend easily and repeatedly without breaking

Hand l The way a fiber, yarn, or fabric feels when handled l It is affected by its shape, surface and configuration

Luster l Refers to the light reflected from a surface l Increased light reflection occurs from a smoother surface, less crimp, flatter cross-sectional shape, and longer fiber length

Pilling l The formation of groups of short or broken fibers on the surface of a fabric that are tangled together in the shape of a tiny ball called a pill l They are formed when the ends of a fiber break from the fabric surface, usually from wear

Resiliency l The capability of a material to spring back in shape after being creased, twisted, or distorted

Static Electricity l The frictional electric charge caused by the rubbing together of two dissimilar materials

Strength l. A fiber’s ability to withstand stress