Fiber Characteristics Chapter 2

Fiber Sources Natural Fibers Obtained from plants or animals Plant Fibers Flax, hemp, jute, ramie, cotton and kapok Animal Fibers Wool, 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