Natural Fibres….. Natural Fibres….Natural Fibres Natural Fibres come from natural growing sources - both plants and animals. Some examples are:

ANIMAL

WOOL SILK

PLANT

LINEN COTTON

COTTON….. COTTON….. COTTON….. COTTON….

 The most important plant fibre grown in the world.  Two conditions needed for good growth: a tropical climate & wet soil.  It is a seed fibre.  Grown mainly in the USA, India, Egypt, the West Indies.  It takes 6 months from seed to flower to seed boll.  The fibres grow inside the boll.  The seed bursts open when it is ripe. Harvesting the  The cotton is picked; processing begins. Cotton

Carding – Combing – Grading - brushing & assesses extra straightening brushing for quality fibres of seeds higher quality Baling – for transportation Drawing – straightening

Cleaning – the slivers Ginning - removes dirt removes & leaves Spinning into seeds yarn

COTTON….. COTTON….. COTTON….. COTTON…. Cotton is used for: Properties Bed-linen  Strong wet & dry Trousers  Cool to wear Shirts  Absorbent Underwear  Healthy  Resistant to chemicals Cushions Threads & yarns  Washable  Bleachable  Flammable  Affected by mildew  Creases easily

International Cotton fibre Cotton under a Emblem microscope It is only applied to products made from 100% pure cotton fibres

LINEN….. LINEN….. LINEN….. LINEN….

 The fibres come from the flax plant which has blue flowers.  Grows in damp conditions.  Grown as an annual crop in Ireland, Belgium and France.  It takes 4 months to fully grow.  Linen fibres come from the stem; it is a bast fibre.  The whole plant is harvested, so that the stem is intact and not cut.  Linen fibres have a smooth surface, air cannot be trapped making it Harvesting the a poor insulator. Linen

Hackling – combing fibres

Scutching- Retting – breaking of Carding – Spinning – soaking stems stems but not straightening twisting to rot away damaging fibres fibres into fibres to woody parts parallel lines make yarn.

LINEN….. LINEN….. LINEN….. LINEN….

 The fibres come from the flax plant which has blue flowers.  Grows in damp conditions.  Grown as an annual crop in Ireland, Belgium and France.  It takes 4 months to fully grow.  Linen fibres come from the stem; it is a bast fibre.  The whole plant is harvested, so that the stem is intact and not cut.  Linen fibres have a smooth surface, air cannot be trapped making it Harvesting the a poor insulator. Linen

Hackling – combing fibres

Scutching- Retting – breaking of Carding – Spinning – soaking stems stems but not straightening twisting to rot away damaging fibres fibres into fibres to woody parts parallel lines make yarn.

WOOL….. WOOL….. WOOL….. WOOL….WOOL…  The most important animal fibre.  Many countries produce wool but Great Britain, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa & the USA are the main ones.  Different breeds of sheep produce types of wool.  Different types and qualities of wool will have different end uses.  Merino sheep from Australia produce the best quality wool used for clothing.  Romney sheep from New Zealand produces a coarse wool suitable Shearing the for carpets. sheep  The coarsest wool comes from mountain sheep; most famous Harris Tweed and Shetland Wool. Carbonizing – Gilling– coarse combs removes align fibres; Combing twigs and – fine combs remove leaves short fibres

Classing – Spinning – grading the Carding – twisting quality straightening fibres to Cleaning – fibres into make removes dirt parallel lines yarn. and grease

WOOL….. WOOL….. WOOL….. WOOL….WOOL… Wool is used for: Properties Jumpers  Warm Gloves  Absorbent Coats  Elastic Socks  Resistant to burning  Shower proof Scarves Knitting yarn  Likely to shrink Blankets  Not strong Woolmark –  Moths will attack wool applied to items made from 100% Wool fibre under a new wool. microscope showing the scales; these fibres are hollow.

Woolblend mark – given to products with 60 % pure new wool in the blend

SILK….. SILK….. SILK….. SILK….SILK….SILK….

 The only naturally produced continuous filament.  The caterpillar of the silk moth produces it when it pupates.  Silk can absorb a third of it’s weight without feeling wet.  It is usually woven into a very fine tight weave.  It is very absorbent and cool to wear.  It can also provide warmth because air is trapped and cannot escape easily through the close weave.

Silk worm Silk Reeling – spinning a cocoons unwinding cocoon before cocoons to get the silk. processing Throwing – twisting the filaments Moth lays eggs – hatched grubs feed – they grow quickly shedding 4 skins – after 35 days they begin to spin a Spinning – De-gumming – cocoon- inside the cocoon they turn twisting the removing the into a moth – the moth emerges- cycle thrown silk. stiff gum begins again.

SILK….. SILK….. SILK….. SILK….SILK….SILK…. Silk is used for: Properties Shirts  Strong Ties  Elastic Lingerie  Absorbent Cushions  Warm Lampshades  Smooth Threads and cords  Flammable  Damaged easily Internationally  Expensive recognised silk seal; issued by the European Silk fibre Silk Secretariat under a microscope

Products carrying this label are made from pure silk; guarantees a certain quality Synthetic Fibres... Synthetic Fibres...Synthetic Fibres

Synthetic or Manmade Fibres come from chemicals - usually taken from coal or oil.

 Synthetic fibres are manufactured in chemical plants.  Simple chemicals (Monomers) are joined together to form complex chain molecules (Polymers).  This process is called Polymerisation.  Polymers are used to make synthetic fibres. Some examples are:

Synthetic made from non-renewable resources are not bio-degradable Polyamide Polyester Acrylic are not considered to be ( nylon) environmentally friendly

….Nylon (Polyamide)….. Nylon (Polyamide)….. Properties Nylon is used for:  Strong Carpets  Good Elasticity Furnishings  Crease resistant Clothing: dresses,  Durable shirts, linings,  Easy care swimming costumes  Abrasion resistant  Mildew resistant  Moth resistant  Poor absorption  Traditionally  High static produced from coal or charge oil sources.  Cheap  Known as second generation of fibres, Tactel originally made to This fibre combines the strength imitate silk fibres. of nylon with the softer qualities of  Can be designed or natural fibres. It is also very engineered to meet a Trade names for nylon lightweight. range of functions or include:Tactel, Celon, It has the highest strength to properties. Perlon, and Bri-nylon weight ratio of any fibre.

Polyester…. Polyester…. Polyester…. Polyester…. Polyester is used for: Properties Dresses, blouses  Strong Suits  Lightweight  Ties, scarves Elastic  Tents, tarpaulin Crease resistant  Durable Sewing thread  Easy care wadding  Abrasion resistant  Moth resistant  Mildew resistant  Resistant to  Produced from bleach chemicals derived from  Poor absorption oil.  Cheap  An important synthetic fibre because Microfibres it is very versatile and Defined as fibres less then one has a wide range of denier thick which can be specially uses. engineered to produce specific Trade names for  Often blended or qualities. polyester with different mixed with other fibres Polyester and polyamide are the finishes include: Dacron, for example cotton to two fibres most often used to Hollofil, Trevira make better fabrics. produce microfibres.

Acrylic…. Acrylic…. Acrylic…. Acrylic….Acrylic Acrylic is used for: Properties Jumpers  Soft  socks Warm  Moth resistant Blankets  Mildew resistant Knitting yarns  Crease resistant Fake fur  Fairly hardwearing Fleece fabrics  Easy care  Quick drying  Cheap to produce The 3 main types of acrylic:  Produced Normal acrylic: often acrylonitrile, a blended with other fibres petrochemical derived used for: used for blankets from oil. coats, fake fur.  Often blended or Modacrylic: resistant to mixed with other fibres burning, used for protective such as wool, polyester, clothing, furnishing fabrics. viscose or acetate. Dunova: porous, absorbent;  This was initially used for warm underwear developed to imitate Trade names for acrylic: because it absorbs wool but easier to care Acrilan or Courtelle perspiration so well. for.

Elastane…. Elastane….Elastane….Elastane…. Elastane or Lycra® is found in Properties many textile products but  Elasticity especially when a tight or close  Quite strong fit is required. Garments  Crease resistant include:  Durable Sportswear Elastane fibres are usually Swimwear covered with another Underwear Elastane fibre fibre before they are used Leggings under the in garments. Jeans microscope

 The most well known elastane fibre is Lycra® produced by DuPont .  First covering The main characteristic Elastane of elastane is its ability to Second covering stretch. Elastane improves the  It can stretch up to 500 amount of stretch in times its original length and materials, improves comfort return to its original size. and wear in garments.

…REGENERATED FIBRES...REGENERATED FIBRES…

Wood pulp was first considered as a Regenerated fibres come from a natural possible source of cellulose fibres at source, for example wood pulp from pine, the end of the 19th century when beech or eucalyptus trees. the supply of trees was plentiful. The cellulose fibres are processed to remove impurities, treated with chemicals, Today we are far more further processing results in a regenerated environmentally aware and are fibre. encouraged to preserve the planet’s The first manufactured fibre using cellulose natural resources. was known as Rayon. Today we know it as Viscose. Despite this, regenerated fibres are Other examples are shown below: still considered more environmentally friendly than synthetic fibres. Regenerated

Viscose Modal Acetate Lyocell

Viscose…. Viscose….Viscose….Viscose….Viscose Viscose can be used for: Properties Clothing – for example,  Strong Trousers  Absorbent Linings for coats  Healthy Dresses  Smooth and soft  Easy care Viscose Curtains  Resistant to chemicals fibres Upholstery  Dyed easily  Flammable  Viscose is often used  Not very elastic for effect in woven and  Cheap to produce knitted fabrics to make  Creases easily lustrous fabrics and for crepe fabrics. MODAL  Viscose fibres are This is also a regenerated fibre often blended with but the manufacturing process other fibres where their is altered to that of viscose lustre and absorbency improving its strength and would be useful. absorbency. When blended  Poor elasticity means with cotton or polyester it is viscose creases easily. ideally suited to underwear.