Transcript Fiber Characteristics - Kecoughtan Marketing

Fiber Characteristics
Chapter 2
Fiber Sources

Natural Fibers
 Obtained
from plants or animals
 Plant Fibers
 Flax,
hemp, jute, ramie, cotton and kapok
 Animal
 Wool,

Fibers
cashmere, mohair and silk
Manufactured Fibers
 Made
from chemical solutions that are forced
through tiny holes
 The device used to form the filaments is called a
spinerette
Fiber Structure

Fiber Length
 Stable
fibers are measure in inches (all
manufactured fibers)
 Fibers of longer length are called filament
fibers (silk is the only natural one)
Fiber Shape
Hollow-core
 Dogbone
 Flat, Oval with Convolutions
 Square with voids
 Serrated
 Round
 Trilobal

Absorbency
The ability to take in moisture
 It is usually expressed as a percentage
of moisture regain
 Fibers able to absorb water easily are
called hydrophilic fibers
 Fibers that have difficulty absorbing
water and are only able to absorb
small amounts are called hydrophobic
fibers

Fiber Absorbency
Skin Comfort
 Static Build-up
 Dimensional Stability in Water
 Stain Removal
 Water Repellency
 Wrinkle Recovery

Cover

The ability to occupy an area
Elasticity

The ability to increase in length when
under tension and then return to the
original length when released
Flammability
The ability to ignite or burn
 Flammable fibers are relatively easy to
ignite
 Flame-resistant fibers have relatively
high ignition temperature and slow rate
of burning
 Flameproof fibers will not burn

Flexibility

The capability of a fiber to bend easily
and repeatedly without breaking
Hand
The way a fiber, yarn, or fabric feels
when handled
 It is affected by its shape, surface and
configuration

Luster
Refers to the light reflected from a
surface
 Increased light reflection occurs from a
smoother surface, less crimp, flatter
cross-sectional shape, and longer fiber
length

Pilling
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
 They are formed when the ends of a
fiber break from the fabric surface,
usually from wear

Resiliency

The capability of a material to spring
back in shape after being creased,
twisted, or distorted
Static Electricity

The frictional electric charge caused
by the rubbing together of two
dissimilar materials
Strength

A fiber’s ability to withstand stress