PROPERTIES &

CHARACTERISTICS OF
FIBER, YARN AND FABRIC
The performance of any textile structure Different end uses will require different
depends on its properties and characteristics. levels of performance from fibres, yarns
These are dependent upon a combination of and fabrics in terms of resistance to :
factors including component 1. deformation (stress and strain)
properties (fibres and yarns), as well as the 2. elongation and extensibility
geometrical arrangement of fibres in 3. elastic recovery (degree of return to the
yarns and of yarns in fabrics. initial state after extension)
4. stiffness
5. abrasion resistance
6. flexibility
7. moisture regain (the weight of moisture
in a material expressed as a percentage of
the oven-dry weight)
8. heat resistance
9. combustibility
10. resistance to light, etc.
KEY PROPERTIES OF
TEXTILE MATERIALS
• Abrasion resistance- The degree to which
loss of appearance through surface wear,
rubbing, chafing, and other frictional ac-
tions is withstood
• Absorbency -The ability to take up water
• Air permeability- The ease with which air
passes through; air permeability measures
the warmth of blankets, the air resistance
of parachute cloth, the wind resistance
of sailcloth, etc. as measured on standard
testing equipment
• Colour fastness -The resistance to colour
changes under specified conditions such as
exposure to ultraviolet light, bleaching, etc.
• Crease retention- The ability to retain
pleats or creases deliberately placed in a
fabric
• Crocking resistance- The ability of a fabric
to withstand transferring its colour to an-
other surface when rubbed
• Dimensional stability -The degree to which • Insulation properties- The degree of resis-
a textile retains its shape in use – such as tance to transferring heat
washing and dyeing • Lustre -The sheen (reflectance of incident
• Drapeability -The manner in which a fab- light); lustre depends on surface contour;
ric hangs or forms folds; fabrics that fall filaments are normally more lustrous than
smoothly into several soft folds are said to staple fibres and satin weaves are normally
be highly drapeable more lustrous than other weaves
• Dyeability - The ability to be dyed • Moisture absorbency -The ability to absorb
• Effect of heat- The impact of heat moisture; fibres, yarns and fabrics may be
• Effects of sunlight- The impact of sunlight hydrophilic (absorbing water) or hydropho-
and ultraviolet light bic (avoiding water)
• Elastic recovery- Ability to return to original • Moisture regain- The weight of moisture in
shape after stretching a material expressed as a percentage of the
• Elasticity- The ability to stretch oven-dry weight; moisture regain is an im-
• Flammability -The degree to which a fibre, portant element in whether or not a fibre,
yarn or fabric burns yarn or fabric is prone to static electricity
• Handle -The feel when touched ; descrip- which causes a fabric to cling; high regain
tors of hand include pliable – stiff, soft and fabrics are less prone to static
– hard, stretchy – non-stretchy, springy – • Resilience- The ability to return to the orig-
limp, rough – smooth, crisp, harsh, slippery, inal state after being deformed over a pro-
cool – warm, clammy and sleazy longed period; important aspects of resil-
• Heat resistance- The extent to which useful ience are wrinkle resistance, recovery from
properties are retained during exposure to wrinkles, loft (compressional resistance),
heat crease retention and shape retention
• Pilling - A surface fault when bunches of • Water repellent - A fabric that provides a
fibres form in small balls on the surface of a complete barrier to water; some water re-
fabric pellent fabrics are also breathable
• Snagging- A snag is a yarn or part of a yarn • Water vapour /permeability or breathability
that catches and is displaced from its de- -The rate of diffusion of moisture through a
sired position so that it sits above the fab- fabric
ric; knit fabrics because of their open loop • Wickability - The ability to disperse water by
structure have a greater tendency to snag capillary action
than woven fabrics • Wrinkle resistance- The ability to resist
• Stain resistance -The ability to resist be- bending and the formation of creases
ing discoloured by substances accidentally
brought into contact such as red wine and
chocolate
• Washability- The ease of washing; fibre
composition of a yarn or fabric is the ele-
ment which most determines washability
• Water repellency- The ability to shed envi-
ronmental water
• Water resistant- Fabric that resists the
penetration of water; the compactness of
a fabric’s structure is an important factor in
how resistant a fabric is