Properties essential to make a Fiber
Each fiber has particular properties which help us to decide which particular fiber should be used to suit a particular requirement. Certain fiber properties increase its value and desirability in its intended end-use but are not necessary properties essential to make a fiber.
Fiber Properties for specific requirements
The utility of fibers are broadly categorized 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 categories, the fiber has to meet some specific requirements. They are:
Apparel/Domestic Requirements
- Tenacity: 3 – 5-gram denier
- Elongation at break: 10 – 35%
- Recovery from elongation: 100% at strains up to 5%
- Modulus of elasticity: 30 – 60-gram denier
- Moisture absorbency: 2 – 5%
- Zero strength temperature (excessive creep and softening point):
above 215°C - 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 at room temperature
to 100°c - Ease of care
Industrial Requirements
- Tenacity: 7 – 8 grad denier
- Elongation at break: 8 – 15%
- Modulus of elasticity: 80 grad denier or more conditioned, 50 grad denier wet
- Zero strength temperature: 250° C or above
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.
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
- The tendency of the fiber and fabric to shrink when heat-relaxed, or stretch when heated and under tension
- The ability of the fabric to heat set
- The ability of the fabric to function properly at elevated temperatures at one time or repeated use
- The 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
Types of textile fibers – list of textile fibers by its sources
A comprehensive textile fabric names by fiber sources
Thermal Properties of Common Fibers
Fiber | Melting Point | Softening Sticking Point | Safe Ironing Temperature | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
°F | °C | °F | °C | °F | °C | |
Natural Fibers | ||||||
Cotton | Nonmelting | 425 | 218 | |||
Flax | Nonmelting | 450 | 232 | |||
Silk | Nonmelting | 300 | 149 | |||
Wool | Nonmelting | 300 | 149 | |||
Manmade Fibers | ||||||
Acetate | 446 | 230 | 364 | 184 | 350 | 177 |
Arnel Triacetate | 575 | 302 | 482 | 250 | 464 | 240 |
Acrylic | 400-490 | 204-254 | 300-350 | 149-176 | ||
Aramid | Does not melt, carbonizes above 800F | |||||
Glass | 1400-3033 | |||||
Modacrylic | 410 | 210 | 300 | 149 | 200-250 | 93-121 |
Novoloid | Nonmelting | |||||
Nylon6 | 414 | 212 | 340 | 171 | 300 | 149 |
Nylon66 | 482 | 250 | 445 | 229 | 350 | 177 |
Olefin | 275 | 135 | 260 | 127 | 150 | 66 |
Polyester PET | 480 | 249 | 460 | 238 | 325 | 163 |
Polyester PCDT | 550 | 311 | 490 | 254 | 350 | 177 |
Rayon | Nonmelting | 375 | 191 | |||
Saran | 350 | 177 | 300 | 149 | Do not iron | |
Spandex | 446 | 230 | 347 | 175 | 300 | 149 |
Vinyon | 285 | 140 | 200 | 93 | Do not iron |
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 |
Wool | 1.32 | 13-18 |
Man-made Fibers | ||
Acetate | 1.32 | 6.0 |
Arnel Triacrylic | – | 3.2 |
Acrylic | 1.17-1.18 | 1.3-2.5 |
Aramid | 1.38-1.44 | 4.5 |
Fluorocarbon | 2.20 | 0 |
Glass | 2.49-2.73 | 0-0.3 |
Modacrylic | 1.30-1.37 | 0.4-4.0 |
Nylon | 1.14 | 4.0-4.5 |
Nylon Qiana | 1.03 | 2.5 |
Olefin | 0.91 | 0.01-0.1 |
Polyester | 1.22/1.38 | 0.4-0.8 |
Rayon | 1.50-1.52 | 15 |
Rayon HWM | – | 11.5-13 |
Spandex | 1.20-1.22 | 0.75-1.3 |
The chemical composition of some common fibers
Type of fiber | Cellulose | Lignin | Pentosan | Ash |
---|---|---|---|---|
Seed flax | 43-47 | 21-23 | 24-26 | 5 |
Kenaf (Bast) | 44-57 | 15-19 | 22-23 | 2-5 |
Jute (Bast) | 45-63 | 21-26 | 18-21 | 0.5-2 |
Hemp | 57-77 | 9-13 | 14-17 | 0.8 |
Ramie | 87-91 | – | 5-8 | – |
Kenaf (Core) | 37-49 | 15-21 | 18-24 | 0.8 |
Jute (Core) | 41-48 | 21-24 | 18-22 | – |
Abaca | 56-63 | 7-9 | 15-17 | 1-3 |
Sisal | 43-62 | 7-9 | 21-24 | 0.6-1 |
Cotton | 85-96 | 0.7-1.6 | 1-3 | 0.8-2 |
The diameter of Natural and Meltblown Fibers
Material | Diameter Mean Value (microns) | Coeff Variation(%) |
---|---|---|
Spider silk | 3.57 | 14.8 |
B. mori Silk | 12.90 | 24.8 |
Merino Wool | 25.50 | 25.6 |
Polyester | 13.30 | 2.4 |
Nylon 6 Filament | 16.20 | 3.1 |
Kevlar 29 | 13.80 | 6.1 |
Effects of Acids on Common Fibers – Comparison
Fiber | Effects of Acids |
---|---|
Acrylic | Resistant to most acids |
Modacrylic | Resistant to most acids |
Polyester | Resistant to most mineral acids disintegrated by 96% sulphuric |
Rayon | Disintegrates in hot dilute and cold concentrated acids |
Acetate | Soluble in acetic acid, decomposed by strong acids |
Triacetate | Similar to acetate |
Nylon 66 | Decomposed by strong mineral acids, resistant to weak acids |
Olefin | Very resistant |
Glass | Resists most acids. Etched by hydrofluoric acid and hot phosphoric acid |
Cotton | Similar to rayon |
Wool | Destroyed by hot sulfuric, otherwise unaffected by acids |
Effects of Alkalies on Common Fibers – Comparison
Fiber | Effects of Alkalies |
---|---|
Acrylic | Destroyed by strong alkalies at a boil, resists weak alkalies |
Modacrylic | Resistant to alkalies |
Polyester | Resistant to cold alkalies, slowly decomposed at a boil by strong alkalies |
Rayon | No effect by cold, weak alkalies, swells and loses strength in concentrated alkalies |
Acetate | Saponified, little effect from cold weak alkalies |
Triacetate | Not effected up to pH 9.8,205′ F; better than acetate |
Nylon 66 | Little or no effect |
Olefin | Very resistant |
Glass | Attacked by hot weak alkalies and concentrated alkalies |
Cotton | Swells when treated with caustic soda but is not damaged |
Wool | Attacked by weak alkalies, destroyed by strong alkalies |
Effects of Organic Solvents on Common Fibers – Comparison
Fiber | Effects of Organic Solvents |
---|---|
Acrylic | Unaffected |
Modacrylic | Soluble in warm acetone, otherwise unaffected |
Polyester | Soluble in some phenolic compounds, otherwise unaffected |
Rayon | Unaffected |
Acetate | Soluble in acetone, dissolved or swollen by many others |
Triacetate | Soluble in acetone, chloroform and swollen by others |
Nylon 66 | Generally unaffected, soluble in some phenolic compounds |
Olefin | Soluble in chlorinated hydrocarbons above 160′ |
Glass | Unaffected |
Cotton | Resistant |
Wool | Generally resistant |
Effects of Sunlight on Common Fibers – Comparison
Fiber | Effects of Sunlight |
---|---|
Acrylic | Little or no effect |
Modacrylic | Highly resistant, some loss of strength and discoloration after constant exposure |
Polyester | Some loss of strength, no discoloration, very resistant behind glass |
Rayon | Generally resistant loses strength after long exposure |
Acetate | Approximately same as rayon |
Triacetate | Resistant loses strength after long exposure |
Nylon 66 | No discoloration, strength loss after long exposure |
Olefin | Very resistant retains 95% strength after 6 months exposure |
Glass | None |
Cotton | Strength loss on long exposure |
Wool | Strength loss, dyeing is affected |
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