TT1101 - Raw Materials and Fiber Science I

Introduction and classification of fiber

A fiber or staple fiber is a unit of matter which is usually at least 100 times longer than its cross
section (Diameter). Textile Fiber is classes of materials which consist of fibrous structure and length
is 1000 times higher than its diameter and can be spun into yarn, appropriate for weaving and
knitting. And also, most of the textile fibers are easily colored by suitable dye stuff.

Among all the natural fibers, which are found in staple form, silk is an exception, which can be found
as filaments. Most apparel staple fibers range in length from about 15mm to 150mm with exception.
Fibers are several thousand times longer than their thickness. The thickness of fibers ranges from
about 10μm to 50μm.

A filament is a very long, continuous fiber strand of indefinite length. The length of filaments may
range from a few hundred meters, as in the case of silk, to several kilometers in the case of man-
made fibers. The thickness of filaments is similar to that of fibers. They exist either in monofilament
or multifilament.

Generic name and trade name

Fibers are classified into groups, each of them given a generic name. For natural fibers, generally this
generic name is the name of the plant which fiber generate or the name of the animal which fiber
comes. As an Example, cotton fibers are manufactured in cotton plant and camel fibers are taking
from camel. There are some exceptions like wool fibers.

The manmade and regenerated fibers industries used generic name and trade name to designate a
fiber. Generic name is the name which refers to the chemical group present in the fiber while trade
name is giving by fiber producers. For example, Polyester is the generic name while Dacron and
Terylene are tread names given by different producers.

Fiber classification

Fibers for textiles are classified in many ways. In broad term thy can be classify according to their
nature and origin:

• Natural
o Cellulose (Vegetable)
o Proteins
• Man-made
o Synthetic
o Regenerated
o Other technical fiber (carbon, glass, metal, etc.)

Natural fibers

These fibers made form the nature. The fibers taken from plants, is categorized as vegetable of
cellulose fiber. Most widely use classification for cellulose fibers s based on their location in the
plant. Accordingly, three main categories are;

o Seed fiber – cotton and coir are the most common seed fibers.
o Bast fiber – Jute, flax and banana is the examples for bast fibers.
o Leaf fiber – Sisal, Pineapple fibers are most widely used leaf fibers.

Protein fibers are formed by natural animal sources, as example silk, wool, camel, spider silk can be
given.

1
National Diploma in Technology NDT – Semester 1
TT1101 - Raw Materials and Fiber Science I

Fiber Advantages Drawbacks

Cotton Absorbent; strong wet; ample supply; Wrinkles; swells in water (fabric
soft (fine) cool hand shrinks); mildews

Flax (linen) Absorbent; strong dry and wet; wicks; Wrinkles; limited supply; mildews
smooth; lustrous; cool hand

Wool Absorbent; soft, warm, dry hand, Felts; weaker wet; eaten by insect
moldable; elastic recovery; lofty larvae; limited supply; can irritate skin

Silk Absorbent; lustrous; smooth; soft; dry Weakened by light and perspiration;
hand; drapes well; strong; good elastic limited supply
recovery

Viscose rayon Absorbent; economical to produce Wrinkles; swells in water (fabric

(cupro less shrinks or stretches); mildews; fair
important) strength; much weaker wet

HWM rayon Absorbent; economical to produce; dry Wrinkles; swells in water (fabric
(modal) strength fairly good- better than of shrinks); mildews
standard viscose; loses less strength wet

Lyocell Absorbent; good strength Wrinkles; swells in water (fabric

shrinks); mildews; loses some strength
wet

Acetate (as Drapes well; soft, silky hand; smooth; Weak; low abrasion resistance; fairly
filament) economical to produce heat sensitive; much weaker wet

Nylon (polyamide) Greatest strength and resistance to Collects static; low UV light resistance
abrasion; permanent heat set (can be stabilized); stubborn pilling
(staple)

polyester Good strength and resistance to Collects static and oily stains; low
abrasion; permanent heat set; resilient. perspiration absorbency; stubborn
pilling (staple)
acrylic Soft, warm hand; resilient; lofty Collects static; low perspiration
absorbency; somewhat heat sensitive

modacrylic Soft, warm hand; resilient; flame Collects static; low perspiration
resistant absorbency; heat sensitive
Spandex Elastic; up to 10 times the strength or Yellows in chlorine bleach
(elastane) rubber; can be used uncovered; more
resistant to oil and dry heat than rubber;
takes dye

2
National Diploma in Technology NDT – Semester 1