Fibres And Fabrics Flashcards
Cotton properties
Strong Cool to wear Creases easily Easy to sew/handle Non-stretchy
Cotton uses
T shirts
Denim
Bed sheets
Canvas
Linen properties
Strong
Cool to wear
Creases easily
Easy to handle/sew
Linen uses
Bed sheets
Suits
Upholstery
Tablecloth
Wool properties
Strong
Insulator
Crease resistant
Wool uses
Jumpers
Blankets
Insulation
Carpet
Silk properties
Good handle
Good lustre
Crease resistant
Difficult to handle/sew
Silk uses
Evening wear
Gowns
Ties
Bed sheets
Polyester properties
Non-absorbent
Durable
Crease resistant
Easily metlts
Polyester uses
Clothing
Wadding
Rope
Sails
Nylon properties
Non-absorbent
Very strong
Durable
Abrasion resistant
Nylon uses
Seat belts
Tents
Tights
Acrylic properties
Water resistant
Quick drying
Strong
Good insulator
Acrylic uses
Ski jacket
Outdoor furniture
Viscose properties
Absorbent
Good insulator
Creases easily
Weak especially when wet
Viscose uses
Table cloths
Sportsweat
Elastane
Non-absorbent
Elastic
Quick drying
Elastane uses
Swimwear
Jeans
Tights
Leggings
Why do we mix/blend fibres
Benefits of properties from more than 1 fibre
Polycotton benefits
Polyester- strength, durability, cheaper, stain/crease resistant
Cotton- drape, cool to wear, absorbency
Cotton elastane
Cotton- drape, absorbency, cool to wear
Elastane- crease resistant, stretchy
Acrylic wool
Acrylic- fast deying, strength, cheap
Wool- insulator, crease resistant, absorbency
Two types/origins of natural fibres
Natural proteins (wool/silk/cashmere) Natural cellulose (cotton/linen/hemp/jute)
Synthetic fibres from petrochemicals
Coal/oil —> hydrocarbon monomers —> polymer chains
Finite/unsustainable
Regenerated fibres
Natural polymers, plant based sources
More sustainable
Technical textile
Altered polymerisation process, achieve a certain characteristic
Eg. Kevlar - parrallel, strong bonds
Cotton source
Cotton grown Seed pod harvested Ginning (circular saws separate seed from fibre) Dried (prevent clumping) Baled and shipped Cleaned/bleached Spun into yarn
Linen source
Stem of flax plant Uprooted NOT cut Retted (rot) away outside layer Stems broken Cleaned Spun into yarn
Wool source
Sheep sheared
Grades (Eg coarser: insulation, finer: clothes)
Scoured (remove grease)
Silk source
Silkworms bred in captivity Silkworm cocoons Silk fibre forms Boiled NOT cut Pull silk fibre, wind onto bobbins Cleaned/dried
Three types/scales of fibres
Staple
Filament
Micro
Staple fibre
Short
Crimped
Mesh well
Natural fibres
Filament fibre
Long
Smooth
Dont mesh well
Synthetic and silk
Microfibres
Drape
Breathability
Durability
Synthetic polymers
Woven fabric with an example
Warp (vertical/stronger) and weft (horizontal/weaker) yarns
Cotton
Three types of weave
Plain
Twill
Satin
Plain weave
Versatile
One vert, one horiz
Eg. muslin
Twill weave
Diagonal pattern
Heavier
More durable
Eg. Denim/canvas
Satin weave
Weft woven under warp Larger surface area —> shiny Smooth, lustrous, good handle/drape Weak Snags/frays easily
Non woven examples and properties
Eg. Felt Uses: surgical masks, wet wipes, craft uses Short and crimped fibres Mesh well Bonded with oressure/heat/adhesive Doesnt fray Weak especially when wet Bad environmental footprint
Two types of knitted fabrics
Weft
Continuous yarn, interlocking loops
Hand/machinery
Socks
Warp
Machinery
Sportswear
Doesnt unravel
Ecological imapct of natural cellulose
Intensive farming, meet demand
Excess water
Pesticides/fertilisers (kill wildlife, pollute water/air)
Ecological impact of natural protein fibres
Overgrazing
Deforestation
Insecticides- pollution
Methane
Ecological impact of synthetic fibres
Finite resource, crude oil, greenhouse gases
Water pollution/contamination
Social/ethical textile issues
Poor working conditions
(Long hours/low pay/no safety equipment/no lighting/heating/air con)
Child labour
Life cycle natural textile vs synthetic
Natural- biodegradable, carbon dioxide, dyes/chems pollute
Synthetic- very slow to biodegrade, toxins, greenhouse gases
Three levels of recycling textiles
Primary- pass on
Secondary- upcycle
Tertiary- broken down to original state, uses energy, not infinitely possible
Thermoplastic: cleaned, shredded, melted, reformed, spun
Natural: shredded, bleached, spun