Study What Textiles And Fibres Are

Update time : 2022-11-16 21:16:25

Textiles are basically just fabrics. But what is a fabric?

A fabric is any type of material that can be woven, knitted, or stitched into something useful for humans. Textiles are typically composed of natural fibres such as cotton or wool, but they can also be composed of synthetic fibres such as nylon and polyester.

Textiles are utilised in a variety of products, but clothing is the most common application. In fact, textiles constitute approximately 80% of the global clothing industry!

Today in this article, let’s learn all about what are textiles, what is a fibre textile and the different types of textile fibres. So, without further ado, let’s get started!

What are Textiles?

Textiles are either composed of natural or synthetic fibres. They can be utilised for a variety of purposes, including upholstery, carpeting, clothing, and more. Now let’s look at the categorization of textiles:

●Woven textiles specifically contain yarns that are interlaced with one another perpendicularly.

●Non-woven textiles do not have this type of structure but are instead held together by mechanical means (e.g., adhesive) or entangling the fibres with one another (e.g., felting).

Cotton, wool, silk, linen, as well as synthetic materials such as polyester and nylon, are among the fibres that can be used to create textiles. The choice of fibre will influence the properties of the resulting textile; for instance, natural fibres are frequently more breathable than synthetics. Different weaving or knitting patterns can also be used to create unique textures and visual effects in a textile.

Textiles play an important role in many industries beyond fashion; they are commonly used in construction (e.g., insulation), transportation (e.g., seatbelts), manufacturing (e.g., filters), and even medicine (e.g., bandages). In fact, it's estimated that there are over 50 thousand different uses for textiles!

What are Fibres?

Fibres are infinitesimally small treaded structures that give textiles their shape and feel. We can say, that it is due to fibres alone, that different textiles have different textures! Fibres can be further classified into:

●Natural: Cotton, wool, silk, flax, hemp, etc.

●Man-made: Nylon, polyester, acrylic, etc.

The origin of the word “fibre” actually comes from Latin: fibra means “a filament, a string.” And that makes sense when you think about it – cloth is essentially made up of long strings of yarns woven or knitted together. Additionally, depending on the type of fibre from which they are constructed, different types of fabrics have distinct properties.

For example, natural fibres like cotton breath well making them good for summer clothing while synthetics like polyester do not breathe as well but dry quickly making them ideal for active wear or swimsuits!

Types of Fibres That Form Textiles

Each and every textile in the world is formed using either of the two fibres: Natural or Man-made! So, let’s briefly learn about them.

1. Natural Fibres

Natural fibres are a type of textile fibre. They primarily consist of plant based fibres and animal based fibres.
Each type of fibre has its own unique properties, which make it suitable for different applications. Here is a closer look at the different types of natural fibres!

a. Plant

Plant fibres are primarily those types of fibres that are extracted from either the stem or leaf of the plant. The most common plant fibre is cellulose, which is found in woody plants such as flax, hemp, and jute.

Cellulose-based fibres are strong and durable, but they can be difficult to process due to their stiff nature. Other plant fibres include bamboo, coir (coconut), manila (abaca), ramie, sisal, and straw.

Plant fibres are often used in textile applications such as ropes, mats, and upholstery fabrics.

b. Animal

Animal fibres are those type of fibres that are primarily derived from either animal hair or skin (sheep wool is a nice example)! Wool is valued for its warmth and elasticity, and it is also simple to dye.

Animal fibres also tend to be softer than plants, making them more comfortable for the skin. They're also usually warmer, and hence animal fibres are often used in clothing such as sweaters, coats, and hats!

2. Man-made Fibres

The second classification of textile fibres, man-made fibres are further subdivided into cellulose, semi-synthetic, and synthetic types.

a. Cellulose

Although cellulose fibres are derived from plants, but they aren’t taken from the stem or leaf! Instead, they are derived from cotton or wood! They're used to make a variety of products, including fabrics, paper, and insulation materials.

Cellulose fibre is strong and durable, but it's also absorbent and prone to wrinkling. It is frequently blended with other fibres to create a fabric with greater versatility.

b. Semi-synthetic

Semi-synthetic fibres are derived from cellulose that has been chemically modified to enhance its properties. Rayon and acetate are two examples of semi-synthetic fibres.These fibres are less absorbent than cellulose fibre but still have a tendency to wrinkle easily. Semi-synthetics can be produced in many different colours and styles because they accept dye readily.

c. Synthetic

Synthetic fibres are man-made from petroleum products such as nylon or polyester. They offer numerous advantages over natural or semi-synthetic textile fibres in terms of durability, strength, colour fastness, resistance, etc.

How To Know What a Fibre Is?

There are numerous types of fibres that can be used in the production of textiles, and each has its own set of characteristics.

As a result, it is often necessary to identify a fibre in order to determine its suitability for a particular purpose. There are several methods that can be used to identify a fibre, including visual inspection, microscopy, and chemical testing.

●Visual inspection is the most common method of identification and involves simply looking at the fibre under magnification. This method can be useful for identifying some synthetic fibres (such as polyester), but it is not always reliable.
●Microscopy involves examining the fibre using an optical microscope or scanning electron microscope (SEM). This technique can provide more detailed information about the structure of the fibre, which can be helpful for distinguishing between closely related types of fibres (such as wool and cashmere).
●Chemical testing involves subjecting the sample to various chemicals or solvents in order to observe how it reacts. This approach may damage or alter the sample, so it should only be used when absolutely necessary.

Still, if you are unsure about the identity of a fibre, it is always best to consult with an expert!

Properties of Fibres

There are a wide variety of fibres in textiles, each with its own unique set of properties. To choose the appropriate fibre for your needs, it is necessary to comprehend the various properties available. Here is a rundown of some of the most common textile fibre properties!

a. Strength

This is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a textile fibre. The tensile strength of a fibre determines both its resistance to wear and tear and its ease of manipulation during manufacturing processes.

In general, natural fibres are more durable than synthetic ones. However, there are exceptions; for example, Kevlar (a type of synthetic polymer) is significantly stronger than many natural fibres, such as cotton or wool.

b. Elasticity

Another key property in determining suitability for use in various applications, elasticity refers to a material’s ability to return back into its original shape after being stretched or pulled outwards by an applied force.

Wool and elastane are two examples of materials known for their high levels of elasticity, meaning they can easily snap back into place after being extended beyond their regular length or shape.

On the other hand, less elastic materials like polyester don’t have this same "give" and may instead break under tension before returning back to their original form again!

c. Abrasion Resistance

This measures how resistant fabrics are to surface damage caused by rubbing or friction forces applied over time. over time

It's an especially important consideration if you need your clothing/textiles product line to look great even after multiple washes and wears! Fabrics with higher abrasion ratings typically last longer without showing signs of visible wear and tear compared to those lower-quality items prone to pilling, fraying, etc.

Denim jeans are generally considered to have good abrasion scores due to the tight weaving construction used, which gives the yarn added protection from repeated contact.

d. UV Protection

This is a must-have for any textile that will be exposed to sunlight on a regular basis, as it helps protect against harmful UV rays. Clothing made from sun-protective fabrics can help reduce the risk of skin cancer and other diseases caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation.

There are two main ways in which textiles achieve this: either through the use of professional synthetic fibres like those found in many commercial sunscreen products or by adding a coating of titanium dioxide (a natural mineral) to the surface of natural fibres such as cotton.

e. Flame Retardancy

It is a material's ability to resist ignition and spread of fire is critical in certain applications, such as children's clothing, upholstery, or public-place furnishings.

While several chemicals can be added during the manufacturing process to impart flame retardant qualities onto fabric, brominated and chlorinated compounds are the most commonly used.

Please note, however, that some of these treatments may come with environmental concerns, so it's always best to check before making your final purchasing decision.

f. Water Repellence

As the name implies, water-repellent materials have been treated to repel rather than absorb water. This makes them ideal for outdoor wear or sporting garments where you need extra protection against moisture without sacrificing breathability.

Most common waterproofing finishes include fluoropolymers (such as Teflon) and silicone resin emulsions!

The Bottom Line

Textiles are a huge part of human civilization. They've been around for thousands and thousands of years, and they're going to be here for thousands more.

Textiles have been used for everything from clothing and blankets to sails and flags. They're an incredible resource that we need to keep using in order to keep the world spinning!

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Study What Textiles And Fibres Are