Obj. 2.01 Fiber Traits and Uses All About Fibers Obj. 2.01 Fiber Traits and Uses

Natural - Synthetic Manufactured Cotton Wool Silk Linen / flax Ramie Rayon Polyester Nylon Acetate Aramid Modacrylic Olefin Spandex Acrylic Triacetate Glass Tencel

Natural Fibers Come from Plant or Animal Sources

Cotton Natural Cotton plant (cellulosic) Low cost, ABSORBENT, comfortable, soft, breathes, strong when wet, does not pill Sports clothes, children’s clothes, bedding US leads world in cotton production

Linen / Flax Natural – cellulosic Stalk of the flax plant – beaten to produce fibers + Strong, durable, very versatile, cool, absorbent, develops luster with age (washing and wearing), does not attract dirt like cotton, less lint - wrinkles a lot, gives a “crushed” look Uses – summer sportswear, fine napkins, tablecloths, kitchen towels

Ramie Natural (cellulosic) Comes from China Grass + High luster, bacteria resistant, very absorbent, dries quickly, excellent abrasion resistance, inexpensive - brittle, must be blended with other fibers Used in clothing items , enhances other fibers Tested 3-5x stronger than cotton, and 2x stronger than flax

Silk – the Cloth of Kings Natural – protein (from animal) The unwound fiber of the silkworm cocoon + Natural shine or LUSTER, can be thick, soft, crisp, transparent, drapes nicely if soft, absorbent, strong - Must be dry-cleaned or hand-washed, weakens with heat and sunlight, hurt by perspiration Uses – elegant clothing for men and women…blouses, pants, shirts, undergarments

Wool Natural – protein ( from animal) Sheep mostly…also from camels, llamas, goats (Cashmere, mohair), rabbits (angora), alpaca, vicuna + Lightweight or bulky, resilient, insulates (traps air close to body), WARM, somewhat water-resistant - Absorbs odors, should be dry-cleaned, scratchy, moths love it Suiting (business), sweaters

MANUFACTURED FIBERS Those fibers formed completely or in part by chemicals Rayon & Acetate –are made from natural wood chips and chemicals Others are composed completely of chemicals

Rayon – “artificial silk” Synthetic Cellulosic – wood pulp and petroleum + Very absorbent, dyes well, versatile. Can be made to have a variety of looks, especially lustrous. Drapes easily, but wrinkles easily as well Used for dressy clothing items, mostly. The first man-made fiber.

Nylon Made from petroleum . Non cellulosic +Versatile, does not shrink, stretch. Very strong, holds shape. Gives strength when blended with other fibers. Not absorbent. Pantyhose, and lingerie

Acrylic Man-made. Non cellulosic. +Wool like properties, used as an alternative. - Builds up static electricity. - “Pills”, develops little balls all over it. Most commonly used in sweaters or other bulky garments, although it can be smooth and lightweight.

Polyester Completely man-made. Non cellulosic +Wrinkle resistant, does not shrink or stretch, strong, quick drying. Easy to clean. Often blended with natural fibers Very versatile…can look like almost anything Used for all kinds of clothing, home furnishing. The most widely used man-made fiber.

Acetate (and triacetate) Man-made. Cellulosic. +Drapes beautifully, very lustrous, looks like silk, dyes well. Heat sensitive, used for linings - Not strong when wet. Low abrasion resistance. Usually must be dry-cleaned. Made into satin and velvet

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