UNIT 1.6 - TEXTILES

Question 1

NATURAL FIBRES

Answer 1

• Either plant-based such as cotton and linen, or animal fibres such as wool
• Natural fibres can be recycled, will biodegrade and naturally reoccur - for example a sheep will grow another wool coat as soon as the wool is sheared

Question 2

COTTON

Answer 2

Natural fibres
PROS: good absorption/breathable/low elasticity/non-allergenic/no static cling/holds up to 27 times its own weight in water
CONS: fades/tendency to crease/shrinks
USES: coloured or non-coloured clothing/denim jeans/bedding/socks/towels/natural nappies

Question 3

LINEN

Answer 3

Natural fibres
PROS: good absorbency/can hold up to 20 times its own weight/breathable/high durability/lightweight
CONS: not stain resistant/fabric can shrink due to temperature
USES: bedding/suits/dresses/shorts/shirts/bags/homeware such as cushion covers

Question 4

WOOL

Answer 4

Natural fibres
PROS: good thermal insulator/high breathability/good resistance to creasing/good absorbency/some elasticity/good flame resistance
CONS: low durability/not vegan/stains easily/very expensive
USES: rugs/curtains/upholstery/carpets/clothing/sport and active wear

Question 5

MANMADE FIBRES

Answer 5

• Do not occur naturally
• Synthetic and have been developed in a laboratory situation
• Many manmade fibres are made from polymers

Question 6

NYLON

Answer 6

Manmade fibres
PROS: doesn’t absorb water/very durable/good elasticity/good tear resistance/doesn’t crease
CONS: not very breathable/can create static electricity
USES: clothing/carpets/sails/parachute canopies

Question 7

POLYPROPYLENE

Answer 7

Manmade fibres
PROS: doesn’t absorb moisture/high durability/very lightweight
CONS: not very breathable/high thermal expansion/susceptible to UV degradation
USES: sporting/active wear/fleece style garments/ropes/carpet and carpet backing

Question 8

POLYESTER

Answer 8

Manmade fibres - often blended with other fibres such as cotton to enhance properties
PROS: good elasticity/good crease resistance and shape retention/very durable/does not absorb water/quick drying
CONS: can produce static/not breathable/holds odour
USES: outerwear such as jackets/trousers/shirts/children’s clothing/bedding/upholstery/curtains

Question 9

FLAME RESISTANCE - TEXTILE TREATMENTS

Answer 9

• Treated by coating with a fire retardant which stiffens the textile
• Often used in upholstery such as sofas and chairs
• Textiles can also be dipped in chemicals - fibres absorb the chemical solution, creating a barrier between the fibre and the flame
• The fire-retardant chemicals used for coating and dipping are activated by heat which triggers a chemical reaction to automatically extinguish the flame before fire damage

Question 10

STAIN RESISTANCE - TEXTILE RESISTANCE

Answer 10

• Can also be treated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to make them resistant to liquid spills, soiling, grass stains
• When textiles are coated PTFE, a very thin barrier is created which prevents liquids and dirt from penetrating the textile fibres, thus creating products which are easier to wipe clean, keeping their fresh look for longer