Transcript Textile Fibre Properties

Materials for Textile
Fibres properties and end uses
Abrasion Resistance
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Abrasion resistance is the (fibre) ability to resist to
wear from rubbing which contributes to fabric
durability.
Garments made from fibres that possess both
high breaking strength and abrasion resistance
can be used for a long time before signs of
physical wear.
Nylon is used extensively in action outwear, such
as ski jacket because it is very strong and resists
abrasion extremely well.
Acetate is often used for linings in coats and
jackets because of its excellent drapability and low
cost.
Absorbency
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Absorbency is the ability to take in moisture. It
is usually expressed as a percent of moisture
regain.
 Moisture regain is the amount of water a bonedry fibre will absorb from the air under
standard conditions (70%F, 65% relative
humidity)
 Fibres able to absorb water easily are called
hydrophilic fibres (e.g cotton and wool fibres
plus rayon and acetate).
Absorbency
Those fibres that have difficulty in
absorbing water are called hydrophobic
fibres (e.g polyester, nylon).
 The moisture regain for most man-made
fibres are 4%.
 Glass fibre absorbs no water at all.
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Effect of fibre absorbency
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Skin comfort: little absorption of perspiration results in
a clammy feeling
Static Build-up: Problems such as sparks occur with
hydrophobic fibres because there is little moisture
content to help dissipate the built-up charge on fibre
surface.
Dimensional Stability in water: Hydrophobic (polyester)
fibres shrink less when washed than hydrophilic fibre
(cotton).
Wrinkle recovery fabric: Hydrophobic fibres usually
possess better wrinkle recovery, particularly when
laundered.
Cover
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Cover is the ability to occupy an area. A thick
fibre or one with a crimp or curl will give the
fabric better cover than a thin, straight fibre.
 The fabric will also be warmer, look and feel
more substantial and require fewer fibres to
make it.
 Wool is a widely used fiber for blankets and
winter wear because its crimp gives excellent
cover, resulting in large amount of air being
trapped in the fabric. The “dead air” spaces
provide insulation against the cold.
Elasticity
Elasticity is the ability to increase in
length when under tension (elongation)
and then return to the original length
when released (recovery).
 Fibers that can elongate at least 100%
are called elastomeric fibres. Spandex
and rubber are two fibres that are in this
category.
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Environmental Conditions
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The effect of environmental conditions on fibres vary.
How fibres react and ultimately, how the fabrics react
to certain exposure or storage is important.
 Wool garments (animal fibres) should be mothproofed
when stored.
 Nylon and silk show strength loss when extended
exposure to sunlight. Therefore, they normally are not
used for curtains and drapes.
 Cotton has poor resistance to mildew and should not
be allowed to remain wet for long periods of time.
Flexibility
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Flexibility is the ability of a fiber to bend easily
as well as repeatedly without breaking.
 A flexible fibre such as acetate can be made
into a highly drapable fabric and garment
(hangs with graceful folds).
 A rigid fibre like glass usually makes a fabric
that is relatively stiff.
 Usually the thinner the fiber, the better its
drapability.
Pilling
Pilling is the formation of groups of short
or broken fibers on the surface of a fabric
which are tangled together in the shape
of a tiny ball called a pill.
 These pills are formed when the ends of
a fiber break from the fabric surface.
 Pilling is not a desirable property since it
makes fabrics look worn and unsightly.
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Pilling
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Hydrophobic (polyester) fibers tend to pill much more
than hydrophilic fibres since the hydrophobic fibers
have a greater attraction for each other and do not fall
off the fabric surface.
Pills are not found on the collar of a 100% cotton shirt
but are quite common after a period of wear on similar
shirt made of cotton and polyester.
Wool although hydrophilic, pills because of its scaly
surface.
The fibers snag each other, tangle, and form a pill.
Strong fiber tends to hold pills to the fabric surface.
Because weak fibres break, pills fall off easily and
pilling is not noticeable.