Textiles Flashcards
What are the three types or fibres and name examples
Natural- cotton, linen, wool, silk
Manmade- nylon, acrylic, polyester
Regenerated- viscose
What are the two types of fibres
Staple- short, like cat or dog hair, wool, cotton, acrylic
Continuous- long, like human hair, luxurious, nylon, silk
Weaving
Strong
Shirts, skirts, bedding, jeans, curtains
Knitting
Stretchy, comfy
Underwear, jumpers and t-shirts.
Bonded
Felt doesn’t need to be spun, weak short fibres compressed and glued together.
Surgical masks, kitchen cleaning cloths.
Wool- advantages
Breathable, has elasticity, doesn’t crease, warm to wear, very absorbent, low flammability, very soft next to skin, wide range of weights.
Wool- disadvantages
Expensive, may shrink when washed, takes long time to dry, can be itchy.
Wool- uses
Soft furnishings, carpets, blankets, suits, dresses and knitwear.
Silk- advantages
Smooth finish, high absorption of moisture, soft, comfy, fine, drapes well, wide variety of textures, easy to print on.
Silk- disadvantages
Expensive, may not wash well, can be weak when wet, may crease easily.
Silk- uses
Underwear, knitwear and soft furnishings.
Cotton- advantages
Comfy, durable, strong even when wet, absorbent, environmentally sustainable, inexpensive, hard wearing, cooling.
Cotton- disadvantages
Creases easily, dries slowly, shrinks, burns easily, highly flammable.
Cotton- uses
Soft furnishings, clothing
Nylon- advantages
Can be either long or short fibres, excellent abrasion resistance, lightweight, warm, absorbent, breathable, repels rain and moisture, good drape, durable, creases drop out.
Nylon- disadvantages
Low absorbency, can shrink so needs to be dry cleaned, poor resistance to UV light, can crease, static.
Nylon- uses
Clothing, active sportswear, fleeces, socks, seatbelts, fishing lines, carpets, umbrellas , ropes, stockings.
Acrylic- advantages
Luxurious appearance, wide range of colours, durable, soft, shrinkage and moth resistant, dry fast as low moisture absorbency, oil resistant, doesn’t wrinkle.
Acrylic-disadvantages
Prone to static build up and pilling. Not as breathable as natural fibres, can be unconfutable as doesn’t change based on temperatures, not as environmentally friendly as natural fibres.
Acrylic- uses
Socks, hats, gloves, sweaters, fabrics, home furniture and awnings.
Polyester- advantages
Good strength, dries easily, resists rubbing, non-absorbent, good drape, durable, can be soft, crease resistant, doesn’t shrink or wrinkle, not stretchy and recyclable. Resistant to chemicals, mould, rot and sunlight. Easily cared for and can feel silky.
Polyester-disadvantages
Prone to static build up, tends to hold odours compared to natural fibres and is less breathable than natural fibre such as cotton.
Polyester- uses
Raincoats, fleeces, nightwear for children, medical textiles, car seatbelts and sportswear.
Linen- advantages
Antibacterial, durable, strong when wet, comfy, strong, cool to wear, very hard wearing, insect repelling, sustainable, dries quickly, can be washed and ironed, luxurious, breathable, little fluff, high absorption of water, lightweight.
Linen- uses
Table linen, tea towels, aprons, sheets, curtains, soft furnishings.
Linen- disadvantages
Can fade in sunlight, can be difficult to work with, doesn’t drape, difficult to dry, expensive, creases badly.
Polypropylene- advantages
Heat resistant, good chemical, stains and fading resistance, tough, durable, fatigue resistant, affordable to produce, lightweight, moth proof, recyclable.
Polypropylene- disadvantages
Can be damaged by UV light.
Polypropylene- uses
Table cloths, tote bags, rope, carpet, outdoor clothing, twine, upholstery.
What are the 10 surface finishes that can be applied to textiles called
Printing, flame retardant, water repellent, crease resistance, stain resistant, calendaring, brushing, embossing, bio stoning, mercerising.
What is printing
An image inkjet printed onto specially treated paper can be heat pressed onto fabric to provide a permanent image.
What is flame retardant
Chemical additives can be sprayed onto fabric to slow down its burn time.
What is water repellent
Silicone-based chemicals can be sprayed on to provide a protective barrier.
What is crease resistance
A resin can be applied to stop creases setting.
What is stain resistance
A silicone-based spray can stop stains being absorbed into the fabric.
What is calendaring
Sends fabric through heated rollers and makes it smooth.
What is brushing
Fabric is sent through a series of fine wire-toothed rollers, which gives it a soft, fluffy surface.
What is embossing
Synthetic fibres are sent through heated, decorative rollers pressing the pattern texture into the fabric.
What is bio stoning
Adding a cellulose enzyme to the washing process causes a stonewashed, distressed effect, mainly used on denim.
What is mercerising
Especially used on cotton, sodium hydroxide is added to the fibres making them swell to give a shiny appearance.
