2. Fibre
Fibres are the basic
unit of all textile
materials and products.
They are slender
thread-like structures
that can be spun into
yarns and thread, and
woven, knitted or felted
into materials.
4. Composed of atoms of various elements,
such as carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,
sometimes of nitrogen and other elements
(sulphur) in lower quantities
Come from plants, animals and minerals.
Have short fibres, called staple fibres.
The exception to this rule is silk, a natural
fibre whose continuous filaments are up to
one kilometre in length.
Sources of natural fibres
• Cotton from the cotton plant
• Linen from the flax plant
• Wool from sheep
• Silk from silkworms
7. Synthetic fibres and regenerated
fibres are man-made, usually from
chemical and natural polymer sources.
Continuous filament fibres: Fibres are
long and do not always have to be spun
into yarn.
Sources of synthetic fibres
• Viscose comes from pine trees or
petrochemicals.
• Acrylic, nylon and polyester come
from oil and coal.
Viscose
Man-made Fibres
8. Slick and abrasion resistant
Strong and resilient
Resistant to most common
fibre degradants: sunlight
(except for nylon)
Flame resistance varies widely
Low density
Non-biodegradable
Common Properties
9. Man-made – Synthetic
Fibres
• Fibers made by
chemical synthesis are
often called synthetic
fibers.
• Examples:
Polyester
Acrylic
Lycra
Nylon
Polyester
Nylon
12. Polymerization
• Process of macromolecules formation through
repetition of basic units (synthesis fibres).
• Activated and controlled during the process
by various parameters: Temperature,
pressure, catalysers and reaction stabilizers
• Two mechanisms of chemical reaction available
for the synthesis of linear polymers:
Poly-condensation - two molecules of same type
or of different types are joined together to form
macromolecules by removing simple secondary
products as water, hydrochloric acid, alcohol.
Poly-addition - joins together several molecules
and redistributes the valence links existing in the
monomers, however without removing secondary
products.
13. Spinning
• The term spinning defines the extrusion process
through spinnerets of fluid polymer masses which are
able to solidify in a continuous flow.
• The polymer processing from the solid to the fluid
state can take place with two methods:
Melting: applied on thermoplastic polymers
which show stable performances at the
processing temperatures (used by 70% of the
fibres)
Solution: the polymer is solved in variable
concentrations according to the kind of polymer
and of solvent, anyhow such as to produce a
sufficiently viscous liquid. (used by 30% of the
fibres)
14. Drawing
• The polymer extruded by the spinnerets
in form of filaments has not yet the
properties which are typical of a textile
fibre: poor thermal and chemical
stability, low resistance to ageing, high
plasticity
• To develop strength, pliability,
toughness, and elasticity properties.
15.
16. Issue 1:
Silk Production Causes
Painful Death for Insects
• Silkworm is a domesticated insect.
• Undergoes stages of metamorphosis:
egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
• Silk derived from the cocoons of larvae.
Most of the insects raised by the
industry don’t live past the pupa stage
• They are steamed or gassed alive in
their cocoons. Approximately 3,000
silkworms are killed to make every
pound of silk.
18. General Properties of Nylon
• Functional group is amide
• Light in weight
• Incredible tensile strength
• Durability
• Resistance to damage
• Takes dye easily
• Absorbs most water
• Greater stretchability
• Dries slower
• smoother and softer fabric than
polyester
• Somewhat UV resistant
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19. Type of Nylon and its
Manufacture
• In nylon, the repeating units
contain chains of carbon atoms.
• There are various different types
of nylon depending on the nature
of those chains for example:
– Nylon-6,6
– Nylon-6
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23. • Hexamethylene diamineHexamethylene diamine and adipic acidadipic acid are combined withcombined with
water in a reactorwater in a reactor. This produces nylon salt.produces nylon salt.
• The nylon salt is then sent to an evaporatorevaporator where excessexcess
water is removedwater is removed.
• The nylon salt goes into a reaction vesselreaction vessel where a continuous
polymerization process takes placepolymerization process takes place. This chemical process
makes molten nylon 6-6.molten nylon 6-6.
• The molten nylon -6,6 undergoes a spinning process,spinning process, where the
nylon 6-6 is extruded and sent through a spinneret, which is a
small metal plate with fine holes.
• The nylon is then air-cooled to form filaments.
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24. Uses of Nylons
• Synthetic replacement for silk
• It replaced silk in military
applications such as parachutes
and flak vests, and was used in
many types of vehicle tires.
• Used in many applications,
including fabrics, bridal veils,
carpets, musical strings, and
rope.
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32. • Artificial muscles have been crafted out of
materials including metal wires and carbon
nanotubes, but they have proven to be costly to
make and tricky to control.
• According to research published in the journal
Science on 20th
February 2014, these scientists
instead turned to high-strength polymer fibres
made of polyethylene and nylon, materials found in
everyday items like fishing line and sewing thread.
They twisted the fibres into very tight coils and
used changes in temperature to make the artificial
muscles contract and relax.
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43. Drawing
• When polyester emerges from the spinneret, it is
soft and easily elongated up to 5 times its original
length.
• This helps to reduce the fibre width.
• This fibre is now ready and would into cones as
filaments. It can also be crimped and cut into staple
lengths as per requirement
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44. Some Major
Polyester Fibre Uses
Apparel: Every form of clothing
Home Furnishings: Carpets, curtains, draperies,
sheets and pillow cases, wall coverings
Other Uses: hoses, power belting, ropes and
nets, thread, tire cord, auto upholstery, sails,
floppy disk liners, and fiberfill for various
products including pillows and furniture
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49. Nylon Polyester
Functional group is amide Functional group is ester
Absorbs most water Absorbs some water
Greater stretchability Resistant to stretching
Dries slower Dries quickly
smoother and softer fabric
than polyester
polyester has always been a
rougher fabric than nylon
Somewhat UV resistant More UV resistant
lightweight and durable synthetic fabrics
Mildew resistant
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