Properties essential to make a Fiber.

Each fibre has particular properties which help us to decide which particular fibre should be used to suite a particular requirement. Certain fibre properties increase its value and desirability in its intended end-use but are not necessary properties essential to make a fibre. Thus it is very essential to know the individual aspects and specific properties of each kind of fibre.

Basic Textile Fiber Properties

There are several primary properties necessary for a polymeric material to make an adequate fiber.Certain other fiber properties increase its value and desirability in its intended end-use but are not necessary properties essential to make a fiber. Such secondary properties include moisture absorption characteristics, fiber resiliency, abrasion resistance, density, luster, chemical resistance, thermal characteristics, and flammability. Some Primary Properties of Textile Fibers are:

Fiber length to width ratio, Fiber uniformity, Fiber strength and flexibility, Fiber extensibility and elasticity, and Fiber cohesiveness.

Fiber Properties for specific requirements

Utility of fibers are broadly catagorized into 2 different uses- one is Apparel or Domestic use and the other is Industrial use.In order to be used in each of these each of these catagories the fiber has to meet some specific requirements. They are:

Apparel/Domestic Requirements

Tenacity: 3 - 5 gramddenier Elongation at break: 10 - 35% Recovery from elongation: 100% at strains up to 5% Modulus of elasticity: 30 - 60 gramddenier Moisture absorbency: 2 - 5% Zero strength temperature (excessive creep and softening point): above 215C High abrasion resistance (varies with type fabric structure) Dye-able Low flammability Insoluble with low swelling in water, in moderately strong acids and bases and conventional organic solvents from room temperature to 100c Ease of care

Industrial Requirements

Tenacity: 7 - 8 graddenier Elongation at break: 8 - 15% Modulus of elasticity: 80 graddenier or more conditioned, 50 graddenier wet Zero strength temperature: 250 C or above

How heat affects Textile Fiber's properties

Examples of Fiber Shapes

Heat helps the fiber /fabric to gain certain special qualities at certain times and are also harmful at other times.But under special guidance,heat helps fiber acquire the following characteristics

Softening, melting, or decomposition temperatures Tendency of the fiber and fabric to shrink when heat-relaxed, or stretch when heated and under tension Ability of the fabric to heat set Ability of the fabric to function properly at elevated temperatures in one time or repeated use Ability of the fabric to function properly at room temperature (or some other lower temperature) after exposure at high temperature for a given period of time

Thermal Properties of Common Fibers

Fiber Melting Point Softening Sticking Point Safe Ironing Temperature F C F C F C 425 450 300 300 350 464 300-350 218 232 149 149 177 240 149-176

Natural Fibers Cotton Nonmelting Flax Nonmelting Silk Nonmelting Wool Nonmelting Manmade Fibers Acetate 446 230 364 184 Arnel Triacetage 575 302 482 250 Acrylic 400-490 204-254 Aramid Does not melt, carbonizes above 800F Glass 1400-3033 Modacrylic 410 210 300 149 Novoloid Nonmelting Nylon6 414 212 340 171 Nylon66 482 250 445 229 Olefin 275 135 260 127 Polyester PET 480 249 460 238 Polyester PCDT 550 311 490 254 Rayon Nonmelting Saran 350 177 300 149 Spandex 446 230 347 175 Vinyon 285 140 200 93

200-250 300 350 150 325 350 375 Do not iron 300 Do not iron

93-121 149 177 66 163 177 191 149

Density and Moisture Regain of Fibers

Fiber Density (g/cc) Moisture Regain Density: Ratio of weight of a given volume of fiber to an equal volume of water. Natural Fibers Cotton 1.52 7-11 Flax 1.52 12 Silk 1.25 11

Fiber Wool Man-made Fibers Acetate Arnel Triacrylic Acrylic Aramid Flurocarbon Glass Modacrylic Nylon Nylon Qiana Olefin Polyester Rayon Rayon HWM Spandex 1.32

Density (g/cc)

Moisture Regain 13-18 6.0 3.2 1.3-2.5 4.5 0 0-0.3 0.4-4.0 4.0-4.5 2.5 0.01-0.1 0.4-0.8 15 11.5-13 0.75-1.3

1.32 1.17-1.18 1.38-1.44 2.20 2.49-2.73 1.30-1.37 1.14 1.03 0.91 1.22/1.38 1.50-1.52 1.20-1.22

Chemical composition of some common fibers

Type of fiber Seed flax Kenaf (Bast) Jute (Bast) Hemp Ramie Kenaf (Core) Jute (Core) Abaca Sisal Cotton Cellulose 43-47 44-57 45-63 57-77 87-91 37-49 41-48 56-63 43-62 85-96 Lignin 21-23 15-19 21-26 9-13 15-21 21-24 7-9 7-9 0.7-1.6 Pentosan 24-26 22-23 18-21 14-17 5-8 18-24 18-22 15-17 21-24 1-3 Ash 5 2-5 0.5-2 0.8 0.8 1-3 0.6-1 0.8-2

Diameter of Natural and Meltblown Fibers

Material Diameter Mean Value (microns) Coeff Variation(%)

Material Spider silk B. mori Silk Merino Wool Polyester Nylon 6 Filament Kevlar 29

Diameter Mean Value (microns) 3.57 12.90 25.50 13.30 16.20 13.80

Coeff Variation(%) 14.8 24.8 25.6 2.4 3.1 6.1

Effects of Acids on Common Fibers - Comparison

Fiber Acrylic Modacrylic Polyester Rayon Acetate Triacetate Nylon 66 Olefin Glass Cotton Wool Effects of Acids Resistant to most acids Resistant to most acids Resistant to most mineral acids disintegrated by 96% sulhric Disintegrates in hot dilute and cold concentrated acids Soluble in acetic acid, decomposed by strong acids Similar to acetate Decomposed by strong mineral acids, resistant to weak acids Very resistant Resists most acids. Etched by hydrofluoric acid and hot phosphoric acid Similar to rayon Destroyed by hot sulfuric, otherwise unaffected by acids

Effects of Alkalies on Common Fibers - Comparison

Fiber Acrylic Modacrylic Polyester Rayon Acetate Triacetate Nylon 66 Olefin Glass Effects of Alkalies Destroyed by strong alkalies at a boil, resists weak alkalies Resistant to alkalies Resistant to cold alkalies, slowly decomposed at a boil by strong alkalies No effect by cold, weak alkalies, swells and loses strength in concentrated alkalies Saponified, little effect from cold weak alkalies Not effected up to pH 9.8,205' F; better than acetate Little or no effect Very resistant Attacked by hot weak alkalies and concentrated alkalies

Fiber Cotton Wool

Effects of Alkalies Swells when treated with caustic soda but is not damaged Attacked by weak alkalies, destroyed by strong alkalies

Effects of Organic Solvents on Common Fibers Comparison

Fiber Acrylic Modacrylic Polyester Rayon Acetate Triacetate Nylon 66 Olefin Glass Cotton Wool Effects of Organic Solvents Unaffected Soluble in warm acetone, otherwise unaffected Soluble in some phenolic compounds, otherwise unaffected Unaffected Soluble in acetone, dissolved or swollen by many others Soluble in acetone, chloroform and swollen by others Generally unaffected, soluble in some phenolic compounds Soluble in chlorinated hydrocarbons above 160' Unaffected Resistant Generally resistant

Effects of Sunlight on Common Fibers - Comparison

Fiber Acrylic Modacrylic Polyester Rayon Acetate Triacetate Nylon 66 Olefin Glass Cotton Wool Effects of Sunlight Little or no effect Highly resistant, some loss of strength and discoloration after constant exposure Some loss of strength, no discoloration, very resistant behind glass Generally resistant, loses strength after long exposure Approximately same as rayon Resistant, loses strength after long exposure No discoloration, strength loss after long exposure Very resistant, retains 95% strength after 6 months exposure None Strength loss on long exposure Strength loss, dyeing is affected