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TCF - UNIT A

The document provides an overview of textiles, focusing on fibres, their classifications, production processes, and properties. It distinguishes between natural and man-made fibres, detailing examples and their characteristics, as well as methods for identifying both fibres and fabrics. Key properties such as strength, elasticity, and absorbency are highlighted for their importance in fabric production.

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17 views

TCF - UNIT A

The document provides an overview of textiles, focusing on fibres, their classifications, production processes, and properties. It distinguishes between natural and man-made fibres, detailing examples and their characteristics, as well as methods for identifying both fibres and fabrics. Key properties such as strength, elasticity, and absorbency are highlighted for their importance in fabric production.

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tg42q6gxts
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SECTION 1: TEXTILES

UNIT A: FIBRES

1. Basic Textile Terms (Definitions)

 Fibre: A fibre is a fine, thread-like strand that forms the basic building block of textiles.
Fibres can be natural (from plants or animals) or man-made (from chemicals). They must be
long and strong enough to be spun into yarn.
 Yarn: Yarns are continuous strands made by twisting or spinning fibres together. They are
used to weave, knit, or otherwise create fabric.
 Fabric: Fabric is a textile material made from weaving, knitting, or bonding yarns or fibres
together. It is what clothes, sheets, curtains, and many other textile products are made from.
 Textile: A broad term that includes any material made from fibres. Textiles include yarn,
fabric, and finished items like garments, towels, or upholstery.
 Weave: The way threads (yarns) are interlaced in woven fabric. Common weaves include:
o Plain weave: Simple criss-cross pattern
o Twill weave: Diagonal pattern (like denim)
o Satin weave: Smooth and shiny surface
 Knit: A fabric made by looping yarns. Knitted fabrics are stretchy and comfortable, often
used in t-shirts and activewear.

2. Classification of Fibres According to Their Sources

Fibres are grouped based on where they come from:

A. Natural Fibres — Occur in nature and are biodegradable.

 Plant-based (Cellulose fibres):


o Cotton – From the cotton plant’s seed hairs
o Linen (Flax) – From the stalk of the flax plant
o Jute – From the jute plant, used for bags and sacks
o Hemp – From the hemp plant, very strong
 Animal-based (Protein fibres):
o Wool – From sheep
o Silk – From silkworms
o Cashmere – From goats
o Alpaca – From alpaca animals (South America)

B. Man-made (Manufactured) Fibres — Created through chemical processes.

 Regenerated fibres – Made from natural materials like wood pulp but chemically processed:
o Rayon (Viscose)
o Acetate
 Synthetic fibres – Made from petroleum-based chemicals:
o Polyester
o Nylon
o Acrylic
o Spandex (Lycra)

3. Outline the Production of Natural Fibres

A. Cotton (Plant-based):

1. Harvesting: Cotton bolls are picked from the plant.


2. Ginning: The cotton is cleaned and seeds are removed.
3. Carding and Combing: Fibres are straightened and aligned.
4. Spinning: Fibres are twisted into yarn.
5. Finishing: Yarn may be dyed or treated.

B. Wool (Animal-based):

1. Shearing: Wool is shaved from sheep.


2. Scouring: Wool is washed to remove grease and dirt.
3. Carding: Fibres are separated and aligned.
4. Spinning: Wool is twisted into yarn.
5. Finishing: Wool is dyed or processed further.

C. Silk (Animal-based):

1. Rearing silkworms: Silkworms feed on mulberry leaves.


2. Harvesting cocoons: Silkworms spin silk cocoons.
3. Soaking and unwinding: Cocoons are soaked, silk filaments are unwound.
4. Twisting/Spinning: Long threads are twisted into yarn.

D. Linen (Plant-based):

1. Harvesting flax plant.


2. Retting: Soaking stems to separate fibre.
3. Scutching and Hackling: Removes woody parts.
4. Spinning: Linen fibres are spun into yarn.
4. Properties of Man-made Fibres

Fibre
Properties

Polyester
Strong, resists shrinking and wrinkles, dries quickly, often blended

Nylon Very strong, smooth, resistant to abrasion, lightweight

Rayon Soft, absorbent, comfortable, good drape, can weaken when wet

Acrylic Warm, lightweight, resembles wool, resistant to sunlight, doesn’t shrink

Extremely elastic, always blended, used in sportswear and stretch


Spandex
clothing

5. Importance of Fibre Properties to Fabric Produced

 Strength: Strong fibres create long-lasting clothes (e.g. nylon is used in bags and tights).
 Elasticity: Important for stretchy clothes like leggings or underwear (e.g. spandex).
 Absorbency: Affects comfort—cotton is breathable, so it’s ideal for hot climates.
 Wrinkle Resistance: Polyester fabrics stay neat and need less ironing.
 Insulation: Wool keeps you warm; used in coats and winter wear.
 Durability: Fabrics made from strong fibres last longer and resist wear and tear.
 Flammability: Synthetic fibres may melt when burned; wool is naturally fire-resistant.

6. Methods of Identifying Fibres

A. Burn Test:

 Natural fibres: Burn like paper or hair, smell like burning paper (cellulose) or hair (protein),
leave soft grey ash.
 Man-made fibres: Melt, may drip, smell like plastic, leave hard bead.

Examples:

 Cotton burns with a steady flame and smells like paper.


 Wool burns slowly and smells like burnt hair.
 Polyester melts and forms a hard bead.

B. Microscope Test:

 Cotton: Flat, twisted ribbon appearance


 Wool: Has scales like a fish
 Silk: Smooth rod-like appearance
 Synthetics: Smooth and uniform texture

C. Solubility Test:

 Used in labs: Different fibres dissolve in different chemicals

7. Methods of Identifying Fabrics

A. Touch and Feel Test:

 Wool feels warm and fuzzy


 Cotton feels soft and breathable
 Silk feels smooth and cool to the touch
 Polyester feels slick or plasticky

B. Visual Inspection:

 Check shine, weave pattern, drape

C. Burn Test:

 Same results as fibre tests; reveals fibre content

D. Water Absorption Test:

 Cotton absorbs water quickly


 Polyester repels water

E. Stretch Test:

 If the fabric stretches a lot, it may contain spandex or knitted structure

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