Unit 2 - Lecture 6 Topic 2 Flashcards
Seed Fibres: `
Seed fibres develop in the seedpod of the plant. In order to use the fibre, it must be separated from the seed. By far, the most important seed fibre is cotton.
Cotton FIbre:
One of the most widely used textile fibres and the most widely used natural fibres. Cotton competes with polyester for market share. Cotton also has seed hair from the boll of a cotton plant. Cotton has a high degree of polymerization (6000-10 00000) with important hydroxyl groups that allow for bonding. Cotton is useful for chemical fishing and it attracts and holds water in the fibre. Cotton has a high crystallinity (~70%) and has polymers at an angle to the fibre axes.
Cotton Structure:
Each fibre is a single cell, growing from the seed as a hollow tube.
What is the colour of cotton?
Cotton is white/off-white in colour with naturally coloured cotton variables.
What is cotton length like?
Cotton is a staple fibres with a useful length between 2-3.5 centimetres. Longer staple cottons are considered higher quality.
What is cotton structure?
The cuticle, primary cell wall, secondary cell wall, and lumen.
Cotton cuticles:
The cuticle has a waxy layer that protects the fibre from chemicals. It’s usually removed during preparation (scouring & bleaching) processes.
Cotton cuticles:
The cuticle has a waxy layer that protects the fibre from chemicals. It’s usually removed during preparation (scouring & bleaching) processes.
Cotton primary cell walls:
Composed of very finer fibrils.
Cotton secondary cell walls:
This structure forms the bulk of the fibre and is made of circular layers of spiraling fibrils which change direction at angles to the axis.
Cotton Lumen:
A hollow canal runs through the length of the fibre and collapses inwards.
Describe cotton’s microstructure:
Cotton appears to be a flat twisted ribbon with convolutions caused by reversing fibrils in the secondary wall.
