Fiber Science Marsh-Intro to ag

Angora Mohair-made from angora goat Angora-made from angora rabbit Lightweight, silky, fine, and very soft 7 times warmer than wool Ideal for baby clothes, winter underwear, sweaters, and mittens Often combined with other fibers to minimize the high cost

Camel Family (Alpaca/Llama/Camel/Vicuna) Soft, lustrous, lightweight, and warm Alpaca is often used for the manufacture of warm, luxurious apparel Down hairs of the Llama produce a soft yarn Camel hair is soft and fine from the undercoat Vicuna is the world’s most valuable fiber

Cashmere AKA: Fiber of kings From the undercoat of the Kashmir goat 60% of the world’s supply is produced in China, Mongolia, and Tibet Soft, lightweight, and very warm Kashmir goats can only produce 4- 6 ounces per year

Wool Made from the fleece of sheep Sheep develop their wool to suit the conditions under which they live or are bred Coarse wools=carpets Soft fine wools=undergarments Merino wool is the most valuable Very long staple and extremely fine Warm, resists wrinkle, lightweight, durable, absorbs moisture, flame resistant and has natural stretch and elasticity

Silk Natural protein fiber containing about 70- 75% of actual fiber fibrion secreted from two salivary glands in the head of the silkworm larva 25-30% sercin, a gum which cements the two filaments together Obtained from the unwound filaments of the silkworm cocoon High natural luster and sheen of a white or cream color Retains its shape, drapes well, caresses the figure, shimmers, hypoallergenic, breathable, absorbs moisture, and reduces humidity One of the strongest fiber at 2.6 to 4.8 grams per denir It can be weakened by perspiration, deodorants, and sunlight Silk is absorbent so it dyes easily

Cotton Cool, soft, and comfortable World’s most used fiber Absorbent cotton will retain 24-27 times its own weight in water and is stronger when wet than dry Withstand high temperatures, dyes easily, and is low maintenance

Linen Plant fiber made from the flax of a plant Strongest of the vegetable fibers 2-3 times stronger than cotton Dyes easily, comfortable, highly absorbent, natural luster, and crisp hand Wrinkles easily Poor elasticity

Rayon It is man-made, but not considered synthetic, but a manufactured regenerated cellulosic fiber Versatile fiber Can imitate the feel and texture of silk, wool, cotton, & linen Doesn’t insulate body heat Ideal for use in hot and humid climates Lowest elastic recovery of any fiber, may stretch when wet, shrink when washed, & wrinkles easily

Ramie AKA-China grass Oldest & strongest natural plant fibers Naturally white in color, high luster, & unusual resistance to bacteria and molds Stiff and brittle and not as durable Best in blends with cotton or wool

Hemp Bast fiber plant similar to flax Excels in length, strength, durability, absorbency, antimildew and antimicrobial properties Highest quality comes from Cannabis Sativa Best utilized in blends because it can be harsh at hand Withstands water better than any other textile product

Synthetic Fibers

Acrylic Fiber Polyamide (Nylon) Soft, lightweight, springy and warm Resembles wool Machine washable Hypoallergenic, resilient, durable, outstanding wickability, and resistant to moths, oils, chemicals and sunlight degradation Historically developed as a synthetic substitute for silk Lightweight, drapes well, low absorbency, dyes quickly, and resistant to dirt, chemicals and perspiration One of the strongest man-made fibers

Polyester Microfiber Strong, resistant to crease, stretching and shrinkage Touted the best wash and wear fiber Strands thinner than one denier Finer than the most delicate silk Soft, drapeable, and insulates well against rain, wind and cold