Fibers Flashcards
What are the four prominent types of cotton being grown commercially and around the world?
- Egyptian
- Sea Island
- American Pima
- Upland
What are the properties common to cellulose fibers?
- high absorbancy
- low flame resistance
- high moth reistance
- low resiliency
- low mildew resistence
- high electrical conduction (no static buildup)
- stronger when wet
Which states produce American Pima Cotton? ELS
Arizona
California
New Mexico
Texas
Which states produce Sea Island Cotton? ELS
South Carolina
Georgia
Which cotton has one of the longest and most expensive staples?
Egyptian Cotton ELS
Which cotton is the most produced in the US and the world?
Upland Cotton - and has a short staple
Which states in the US produce Upland Cotton?
Alabama
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Georgia
Lousianna
Mississippi
Missouri
Noth Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Virginia
Who are the major world producers of cotton?
US
China
India
Pakistan
Turkey
Brazil
Who developed and patented FoxFibre?
Sally Fox - although she did not invent it.
What is FoxFibre?
Organically grown, natural colored cotton in hues of brown, green, and a new redwood color.
From what plant do we get linen?
Flax
Who are the major producers of flax? And who produces the most?
Belgium - most
France
the Netherlands
Ireland
Italy
Germany
(Import to US which is why it is expensive here)
What are some properties of flax?
luxury fiber
burns easily
highly resistant to UV damage (won’t fade as quickly as cotton) and insects
more resistant to mildew than cotton because it does not absorb well
Which natural fiber is a bast fiber similar to flax, jute and ramie and is a cousin to the marijuana plan?
Hemp
True or False?
Hemp is more absorbant than flax but less than cotton?
True
Which US agency has to approve the production of Hemp?
DEA
Drug Enforcement Agency
The hemp plant looks very much like marijuana; however the TCH level in hemp is only .3% whereas marijuana is 5-30%.
Does Hemp have long or short staples?
Long because they are produced from the stem.
Where is hemp produced?
US - Hawaii, Minnesota and North Dekota
China
Hungary
Romania
El Salvador
Chile
Which natural fiber was used in the Betsy Ross flag and the printed US Constitution?
Hemp
Also, Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Which bast fiber is one of the most popular in the world, least expensive and primarily grown in wet regions?
Jute
Where is jute produced?
Bangledesh
China
Pakistan
Nepal
Myanmar
Thailand
What is Jute usually made into?
rope
cordage
twine
bagging
What is Ramie also know as?
gras cloth
rhea
China grass
What are some of Ramie’s properties?
natural resistance to mildew, insects, and ultraviolet light
dries very quickly
one of the strongest natual fibers
“a really good fiber” prof. Burnsed
Where is Ramie grown?
In China for thousands of years
the Phillippines
Brazil
What is the most popular natural leaf fiber?
Sisal
Where does the sisal fiber come from?
The leave of the agave or yucca plant
True or False
Sisal is the favorite carpeting for porches and sunrooms but is also trending into more formal rooms.
True
What are some of the properties of Sisal?
does not build up static
does not trap dirt
strong, durable fiber and resistant to sea water
outstanding weathering properties
remarkably colorfast but strong sunlight will fade the color over time
What are some of the minor cellulosic fibers?
Abaca - leaf stem (member of banana family)
Pina - leaves of the pinapple plant
Henequen
Coir - outer shell of the coconut
Where is the abaca fiber used?
placemats
indoor/outdoor use
production of wicker furniture so it’s a strong and durable plant
Where is the durable yet delicate pina fiber used?
lightweight and sheer fabrics
placemats
embroidered tablecloths
clothing
Who produces the pina fiber?
The Philippines
Where is henequen used and produced?
Produced in Africa and Central America
better grades of rope, twine, and brush bristles
it is strong and very durable
What are some properties of coir?
resistant to abrasion, water and most weather conditions
Where is coir produced and what is it used for?
producedin Sri Lanka
used for indoor/outdoor mats, rugs, outdoor carpeting and brushes
What are some properties common to protein fibers?
- high resiliency
- low density
- high absorbancy
- hygroscopic
- flame resistance
- weaker when wet (unlike cellulosic fibers which are stronger when wet)
What does hygroscopic mean?
fibers that can absorb moisture without feeling wet
Where is wool produced?
Austrailia
New Zealand
China
Argentina
True or False
Wool’s fiber’s combined properties can be duplicated by any other natural or manufactured fiber.
False
What are some properties of wool?
flame resistance
termal retention
felting ability
initial water repellency
ability to absob moisture w/o feeling wet (hygroscopic)
From which sheep do we get the best wool in the world?
Merino sheep