Textiles Flashcards
What is a fibre?
A very fine hair like structure that is spun or twisted to make a yarn.
What is a yarn?
Yarn is like a thread. Yarns are woven together or knitted to create a textile fabric in sheet form.
Fibres tend to come from Polymers. Where do the polymers come from?
Natural sources (plants or animals)
Synthetic sources (man-made usually from plastics)
Properties of Cotton
Absorbent, strong, cool to wear, hard wearing, smooth, easy to care for
Uses of cotton
Clothing, sewing/knitting threads, soft furnishings, medical dressings, bed sheets, canvas
Disadvantages of cotton
Creases easily, flammable, can shrink
What type of polymer is cotton?
Plant
Properties of linen
Strong, cool to wear, absorbent, hard wearing, has a natural appearance, handles well
Uses of linen
Light weight summer clothing, soft furnishings, table linen
Disadvantages of linen
Creases very easily, flammable
What type of polymer is linen?
Plant - comes from hemp
Properties of hemp
Absorbency, non-static, antibacterial, naturally lustrous, strong in tension
Uses of hemp
Clothing, carpets and rugs, ropes, mattress fillings
What type of polymer is hemp?
Plant
Properties of jute
Very absorbent, high tensile strength, antistatic
Uses of jute
Bags, sacking, carpets, geo textiles, yarn and twine, upholstery, clothing (to a lesser extent)
What type of polymer is jute?
Plant
Properties of silk
Absorbent, comfortable to wear, can be cool or warm to wear, strong when dry, has a natural sheen, good feel
Uses of silk
Luxury clothing and lingerie, knitwear, soft furnishings
Disadvantages of silk
Creases
What type of polymer is silk?
Insect
Properties of wool
Warm, absorbent, low flammability, good elasticity, crease resistant, strong, remains a good insulator when wet, can wick away 30% moisture
Uses of wool
Warmer outer clothing including coats, jackets, suits, knitwear, carpets, blankets
Disadvantages of wool
Shrink easily, when wet dries slow
What type of polymer is wool?
Animal
Properties of polyester
Strong when wet and dry, flame resistant (but will melt), thermoforming, hardwearing, crease resistant
Uses of polyester
Versatile fabric used throughout textiles
Disadvantages of polyester
Poor absorbency (could sometimes be an advantage)
Properties of nylon (polyamide)
Strong and hard wearing, melts as it burns, thermoforming, good elasticity, resistant to chemicals and perspiration
Uses of nylon
Clothing, carpets, rucksacks, seat belts, ropes
Disadvantages of nylon
Poor absorbency
Properties of polypropylene
Thermoforming with low mp, strong, crease resistant, chemical resistant, hardwearing, durable
Uses of polypropylene
Engineered for specific uses, carpet, twine, fishing nets, ropes, sacks
Disadvantages of polypropylene
Poor absorbency
Properties of acrylic
Strong except when wet, thermoforming, burns slowly then melts, good insulator
Uses of acrylic
Knit wear and some knitted fabrics, fake fur products
Disadvantages of acrylic
Poor absorbency
Properties of elastane, Lycra
Very elastic and stretchy, lightweight, strong and hardwearing
Uses of elastane, Lycra
Swimwear, and sports wear, skinny jeans
Properties of aramid fibres (includes Kevlar)
Heat resistant, 5X stronger than nylon, abrasion resistant, low shrinkage, ease of care, Kevlar - tear resistant, very high tensile strength, light weight
Uses of aramid fibres
Flame resistant clothing, kevlar used in body armour, geo textiles, aeronautical industry, ropes, cables. Kevlar - carbon fibre
Disadvantages of aramid fibres
Shrink easily, kevlar shrinks if wet
Properties of nomex (aramid)
Flame proof, tough, durable, very flexible
Uses of nomex
Often combined with kevlar to give a flexible, lightweight, tear, flame, and heat resistant material
Woven textiles types
Plain weave and twill weave
Advantages of Plain woven textiles
Strong, hard wearing, cheap to make, easy to add printed designs
Disadvantages of plain woven textiles
Quality can vary, firm
Advantages of twill weave
Strong, hard wearing and hangs well
Disadvantages of twill woven textiles
Frays, thickness can be hard to work with
Advantages of non-woven textiles
Doesn’t fray, cheap to make, durable, doesn’t lose shape
Disadvantages of non-woven textiles
Disposable, weak when wet
Advantages of felted fabric
Doesn’t unravel or fray, easy to cut, good insulator
Disadvantages of felted fabric
Weak, will easily lose shape, expensive
Welt knitting
Interlocking loops are formed horizontally which enable it to stretch
May lose shape
Warp knitting
Loops interlock vertically, so knit keeps its shape and is less likely to unravel or ladder
