Unit 2 - Lecture 7 Topic 2

Question 1

What is flax/linen used for?

Answer 1

Linen is used in bed, table, and bath items, in other interior items for home and commercial use, in apparel, and in technical products.

Question 2

What is the durability of flax like?

Answer 2

Flax is stronger than cotton with a higher tenacity than cotton because polymers of the fibre lie almost parallel to the fibre axis. Its strength also comes from its higher crystallinity and degree of polymerization. Flax has lower flexibility than cotton fibres because of its crystallinity and thicker diameter. It also has lower elongation due to the higher orientation of polymers. Flax has low elastic recovery and resiliency due to H bonds breaking and reforming. Flax has low heat sensitivity and is resistant to rotting and weathering (more than cotton).

Question 3

Flax lustre property:

Answer 3

Flax can have high lustre (more than cotton) because it does not have twists like cotton, and the fibres are longer and smoother.

Question 4

Drapery of flax:

Answer 4

Flax has poor drape because of its stiff fibres. They often feel crisp instead. Flax has distinctive thick/thin appearance due to the changes in thickness along the fibre length.

Question 5

Does flax wrinkle?

Answer 5

Flax wrinkles easily because the H-bonds break and reform in new positions. Linen fabrics often are characteristically wrinkled during wear.

Question 6

What are the comfort characteristics of linen?

Answer 6

Linen has a cool feeling when worn next to the skin, because of its smooth fibre contour and length. It is hydrophilic, which allows for a higher moisture regain than cotton, due the to the amorphous, cellulose-like matrix that holds together it’s fibrils in it’s bundles.