2.3.3f Working properties of fibres and fabrics Flashcards
fibre properties
All fibres have an inherent set of properties which
determine what they can be used for.
The fibre property will always be reflected in the
final fabric, regardless of the various construction
processes it goes through during manufacture.
The working properties of fabrics are also
determined by the construction method i.e.
woven, knitted or non-woven.
However, applied finishes can impact and alter
the effectiveness of the fibre’s properties and the
method of construction for the fabric
Tensile strength
Tensile strength refers to the force needed to
break a fibre. When fibres with a high tensile
strength are used in a fabric, the resultant fabric
will be more durable.
Fibres with a high tensile strength include
cotton, linen, silk, polyester, nylon, acrylic and
polypropylene.
Strength
Plain weave tends to be strong because of its
structure of a maximum number of interlacing
points. Twill is another strong weave
Durability
Weak fibres such as wool, viscose and elastane will
not withstand wear and tear when used in a fabric
and break down easily when subjected to friction.
Some knitted fabrics snag easily and are subject to
pilling which spoils their appearance.
Elasticity
In fibres, this refers to the extent a fibre will stretch
before it breaks and how well it will return to its
original length after stretching. Fibres such as silk,
polyester, nylon and acrylic have good elasticity.
Knitted fabric have good elasticity because of the
looped nature of their construction.
Crease resistance
Fibres such as polyester and nylon that do not
absorb water are more naturally resistant to
creasing. Wool is naturally resistant to creasing.
Non-elastic fibres are not crease resistant.
Water resistance
Most fabrics will allow water to pass through simply
because of the structure of the fabric allowing
water to pass through the gaps. Applied finishes
are needed to make fabrics resistant to water but at
some point, even these allow moisture though.
Water repellence
The surface of wool is hydrophobic and able to
repel water. The natural grease on the surface of the
wool fibre also repels water. Finishes are needed
to make textile fabrics fully water repellent for
example, Gore-Tex.
Absorbency
Natural fibres and fabrics, such as cotton or linen,
are naturally absorbent. Texturing synthetic fibres
will also allow synthetic fibres such as polyester to
absorb some moisture.
Flammability
Fabrics that trap air or have an open structure will
burn easily and are highly flammable, particularly
if made from flammable fibres such as cotton.
Synthetic fibres do not burn as easily.
Thermal
This refers to the ability of the fabric or fibre to trap
air, allowing it to act as an insulator, for example
knitted fabric
Anti-static
An electrostatic charge builds up on some fabric
through friction. Fibres that contain some moisture
do not emit static electricity, for example natural
fibres
Resistance sunlight
Some fibres and fabric are effective at blocking out
sunlight and resist UV rays for example, hemp, jute
bamboo and soya. Some fabrics, such as cotton, are
prone to damage by sunlight.
Weight
The fibre, thickness of the yarn and fabric structure
all affect the weight of a fabric. A densely woven
twill fabric such as denim will be heavier than a
woven sheer fabric such as chiffon.
Density
Fabric density refers to the thickness of a textile
fabric made from the fibre. It is a measurement
of its base weight in grams per square inch. Low
density fibres provide lighter fabrics.
