Fibre, Nylon &

Polyester
Presented by:
 Noor Azurah Abdul Razak
(20101037502)
 Wan Norazwani Mahusin
(D20101037506)
 Ira Nusrat Jaafar
(D20101037533)
Lecturer : Dr Noorsyida
Fibre
• Fibres are the base unit
of all textile materials
and products.
Wool Fibres
• They are slender thread-
like structures that can
be spun into yarns and
thread, and woven, CottonFibres
knitted or felted into
materials.
Fibre Classifications

Natural
Fibre

Man-made Fibre
- Synthetic Fibre
-Regenerated
Fibre
Natural Fibres
 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
1) Plant Fibres - Cellulose Fibres
 Cotton
 Linen/Flax
 Hemp
Cotton

Flax Hemp
 2) Animal Fibres – Protein
Fibres
 Silk
 Wool
 Alpaca
 Angora/Mohair
Angora

Alpaca Silk
 Man-made Fibres
 Man is involved in the actual fibre
formation process.
 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

• Viscose comes from pine trees or
petrochemicals.
• Acrylic, nylon and polyester come from
oil and coal.
Common Properties
 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
Man-made – Synthetic Fibres

• Fibers made by chemical

synthesis are often called
synthetic fibers.
• Examples:
Polyester
 Polyester
 Acrylic
 Lycra
 Nylon

Nylon
Man-made – Regenerated Fibres

 Fibres regenerated
from natural
polymer sources.
 Examples:
Rayon
 Rayon
 Acetate

Acetate
Common Manufacturing
Process
o Polymerization (poly condensation or
poly- addition)
o Spinning
o Drawing
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.
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)
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.
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.
NYLON
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• belonging to a class of polymers
called polyamides
• It is made of repeating units linked
by amide bonds and is frequently
referred to as polyamide
• Developed in the 1930s as an
alternative to silk
• Developed by Wallace Carothers at
the Dupont Chemical company

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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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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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 Nylon -6,6
Nylon-6,6
• synthesised by polycondensation of
hexamethylenediamine and adipic acid.

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 Reaction Spinning
Reactor Evaporator
Vessel Process

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• Hexamethylene diamine and adipic acid are combined with water in a
reactor. This produces nylon salt.
• The nylon salt is then sent to an evaporator where excess water is
removed.
• The nylon salt goes into a reaction vessel where a continuous
polymerization process takes place. This chemical process makes molten
nylon 6-6.
• The molten nylon -6,6 undergoes a 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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 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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Carpets

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 Air bags
Tyres

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 Hoses
conveyor belts

Ropes Zip ties 29

Guitar Nut

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Toothbrush

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Parachutes
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Flak vest

Bridal veils 33
 ISSUE 2:
ADVANCED MATERIAL Artificial
Muscles From Fishing Line And Thread

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• 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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 POLYESTER

The name "polyester“ (aka Terylene) refers

to the linkage of several monomers (esters)
within the fibre.

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Esters are formed when alcohol reacts
with a carboxylic acid:
Example :

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 Filament

Forms of
Fiberfill Staple
Polyester

Tow
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filament form :
polyester fiber continuous in
length, producing smooth-surfaced fabrics

Staple form :
filaments are cut to short, predetermined
lengths.
easier to blend with other fibers

Tow :
A form in which continuous filament are
drawn loosely together

Fiberfill :
the voluminous form used in the manufacture of pillows
and outerwear
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Different Structures Of Polyester

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o Colorless and transparent
o Smooth and lustrous
o Shape as we require
o Shiny glass rod like
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 Characteristics of
polyester
Strong
Very durable
Resistant to stretching and shrinking
Quick drying
Wrinkle resistant
Mildew resistant
Retains its shape good for making outdoor
clothing
Easily washed

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Manufacturing Polyester

Polymerization Spinning Drawing

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 • 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.
Drawing • 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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 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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Issue 3: Advanced
material
of polyester
Transforming
plastic bottles
into polyester
fabric

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Comparison
Between
Polyester
and Nylon

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 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 has always been a

polyester rougher fabric than nylon
Somewhat UV resistant More UV resistant

lightweight and durable synthetic fabrics

Mildew resistant
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Let’s play the
game 

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Q1: What are the base unit of all textile
materials and products?

Answer: Fibre

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Q2 : State 2 classifications of fibre

Ans: Man-made & Natural

Fibre

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Q3 : State 3 common manufacturing
process of fibre
Ans:
•Polymerization
(polycondensation or poly-
addition)
•Spinning
•Drawing
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Q4 : Give 2 example of synthetic fibres

Ans:
•Nylon
•Polyester
•Acrylic
•Lycra

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Q5 : Name 4 forms of polyester

Ans:
• Filament
•Staple
•Tow
•Fiberfill

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Q6 : What is the functional group for
polyester?

Ans:
• Ester

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Q7 : Gives 2 type of nylon

Ans:
• Nylon -6
•Nylon -6,6

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Q8 : What is the product when alcohol
reacts with carboxylic acid?
Ans:
• Ester

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Q9 : What are the process to form
polyester?

Ans:
• Polymerization
•Spinning
•Drawing

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Q10 : What is the another name for
nylon

Ans:
• Polyamide

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