1.2 Performance Characteristics of Materials Flashcards
What is cotton?
The most widely used natural cellulose fibre, it comes from the seed fibre found in the cotton bolls of the cotton plant
What are some properties of cotton?
- Breathable
- Absorbent
- Good strength
- Little elasticity
- Highly flammable
- Poor insulator
- Soft handle
What are some examples of cotton?
- Calico
- Muslin
- Flannel
- Chambray
- Denim
- Drill
- Velvet
What are some of the uses of cotton?
- Shirts, dresses, jeans, underwear, socks
- Towels, sheering, curtains, throws, soft furnishings
- Medical dressings, nappies, ropes
- Tents, boat sails, bags, sportswear
What is the cotton fibre production?
- Grows in a boll around the seeds
- Harvested by hand or licking machine
- Fibres separated from seeds
- Mechanical purification used to remove foreign matter
- Remove natural wax coating
- Processed cotton fibres spun into staple fibre yarns
What is linen?
One of the most expensive natural fibres, it is labour intensive to produce so it is produced in small quantities, it comes from the bast fibre of the flax plant stem
What are some properties of linen?
- Highly absorbent
- Breathable
- Very strong
- Poor elasticity
- Highly flammable
- Poor insulator
- Subtle lustre
- Poor drape
What are some examples of linen?
- Crash
- Duck
- Interlining
- Huckaback
What are some of the uses of linen?
- Summer or tropical garments
- Tablecloths, dish towels, bed sheets, curtains
- Lace, trimming, ropes, sewing threads
- Awnings, art canvases
What is the linen fibre production?
- Fibres listened from flax plant stems
- Retted stems crushed in process called scotiching
- Fibres heckled to remove the shirt fibres
- Processes linen fibres are spun into staple yarn
What is Ramie?
One of the oldest natural fibres, the high cost fibre extraction and production reduces its competitiveness
What are some properties of ramie?
- Good absorbency
- Breathable
- Shrink resistant
- Good strength
- Poor elasticity
- Highly flammable
- Poor insulator
What is an example of ramie?
- Ramie
What are some of the uses of ramie?
- Lightweight summer use
- Table linens, dish cloths
- Ribbon, sewing thread, sacks, twine and cord
What is the ramie fibre production?
- Stems harvested by cutting above the root
- Decortication is used to remove bark of stem
- Raw fibres washed, dried and degummed using chemicals
- Processed ramie fibres are spun into staple yarn
What is wool?
Comes from fleece of sheep, wool fibres are classed according to their fineness, length, crimo and the breed of sheep they come from
What are some properties of wool?
- Absorbent
- Adequate strength
- Fire resistant
- Good elasticity
- Good insulation
- No lustre
- Soft
What are some examples of wool?
- Flannel
- Jersey
- Tweed
- Fleece
- Tartan
What are some uses of wool?
- Coats, suits, trousers, sweaters, hats, scarves, gloves, socks
- Blankets, carpets
- Loft insulation, noise insulation
- Horse rugs, athletic and leisure wear
What are the 5 stages of wool fibre production?
- Shearing
- Sorting
- Carbonising and scouring
- Carding
- Spinning
What are some examples of animal hair?
- Cashmere
- Mohair
- Angora
What are some properties of animal hair?
- Naturally fire resistant
- Thermal insulators
- Soft handle
- Biodegradable
What are some uses of animal hair?
- Luxury coats, suits, knitwear, shawls
- Luxury interior textiles
What is the animal hair fibre production?
- Fibres washed and de haired before being spun into yarn
What are some properties of silk?
- Good tensile strength
- Very absorbent
- Weak when wet
- Good elasticity
- Doesn’t burn easily
- Lustrous
- Drapes well
What are some examples of silk?
- Chiffon
- Duchesse
- Organza
- Taffeta
- Wild silk
What are some uses of silk?
- Formal wear, ties, blouses, lingerie, scarves
- Soft furnishings, bed sheets, wall hangings
- Surgical sutures, sewing and embroidery threads, ribbons
What is the silk fibre production?
- Silkworm produces the fibre
- Cocoons are degummed which kill the moths and softens the sericin
- Long continuous fibre is unwound form the cocoon and is spun
What are some manufactured cellulosic regenerated fibres?
- First generation fibres
- New generation fibres
What are 2 examples of first generation fibres?
- Acetate: cotton fibre waste dissolved into a polymer solution
- Viscose: wood pulp is dissolved into a polymer solution
What are 2 examples of new generation fibres?
- Modal: wood pulp form sustainable managed forests is dissolved into a polymer solution
- Lyocell (tencel): wood pulp from sustainable manager forests is dissolved
What is dry spinning?
The polymer solution is extruded into a stream of warm air, which evaporates the solvent and solidified the filament fibres (acetate)
What is wet spinning?
The polymer solution is extruded into a chemical bath. Difficult chemicals are used to make modal and viscose, the chemicals neutralise the solvent and solidify the cellulose from the wood pulp
What is a closed loop system?
Cellulose from the wood pulp is regenerated, water is used to wash and remove the solvent, the water and so bent are recovered and recycled for use within a closed loop system
What are some properties of regenerated fibres?
- Absorbent
- Easy care
- Breathable
- Cool to wear
- Lower strength
- Soft handle
- Biodegradable
What are the uses of regenerated fibres?
- Fashion garments, lining fabric, lingerie, trims and ribbons
How are synthetic fibres mostly manufactured?
Using the melt spinning process which produces fine, smooth continuous filament fibres
What is polyamide (nylon)?
Produced as xknfinius smooth filaments including very fine microfibres
What are some microfibre brand names?
- Tactel Aquator: wicks moisture away from the body
- Tactel Diablo: lustrous fabric with good drape
What are some properties of polyamide (nylon)?
- Low absorbency
- Shrink resistant
- Strong
- Good elasticity
- Low flammability
- Lightweight
- Thermoplastic
What are some uses of polyamide (nylon)?
- Tights, socks, underwear
- Outdoor and active wear
- Tents, umbrellas
- Carpets
What are 2 brand names of aramids?
- Kevlar
- Nomex
What are some properties of aramids?
- Good strength
- Tear resistant
- Lightweight
- Flexible
What are the uses of aramids?
- Bullet and stab proof vests
- Motor sport clothing
- Industrial work wear
What is polyester?
Produced as continuous smooth filaments. Trade name is trevira finesse
What are some properties of polyester?
- Good elasticity
- Low flammability
- Lightweight
- Does not weaken in sunlight
What are some uses of polyester?
- Bed sheeting
- Lining fabric
- Sewing thread
- Wadding and fibre fill
What are some properties of acrylic?
- Low absorbency
- Easy care
- Good strength
- Highly flammable
- Good elasticity
- Soft and warm
- Poor lustre
What are some uses of acrylic?
- Knitting yarn
- Knitwear
- Fake fur
- Carpet
- Soft furnishings
What are some properties of chlorofibres?
- Strong
- Durable
- Breathable
- Easy care
- Waterproof
- Good insulator
What are some uses of chlorofibres?
- Raincoats
- Thermal clothing
- Active sportswear
- Socks and underwear
What is flurofibres trade name?
Teflon
What are some properties of flurofibres when applied as a finish?
- Water repellent
- Stain resistant
- Easy care
- Durable and flexible
- Breathabke but windproof
What are the uses of flurofibres?
- Work wear
- Soft furnishings
- Shoes