Textile Fibres
Textile Fibres
This domain tests fibre classification, properties, identification and selection for apparel and furnishing end uses. Questions often ask you to match a fibre to a performance requirement and justify the choice.
Core rules and concepts
- Fibres are natural (cotton, linen, wool, silk) or manufactured (regenerated such as viscose rayon; synthetic such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, elastane).
- Staple fibres are short and spun; filament fibres are continuous. Staple yarns are generally less lustrous and more pill-prone; filament yarns can be smooth or textured.
- Key properties: cotton absorbs moisture and is stronger wet but mildews; linen is strong and cool but wrinkles; wool insulates and felts; silk is strong and lustrous but sensitive to sunlight and alkalis; viscose absorbs well but has low wet strength; polyester is strong, quick-drying and thermoplastic but oleophilic; nylon has high abrasion resistance; acrylic is wool-like and UV-resistant; elastane gives stretch and recovery.
- Blend reasons include cost, strength, comfort, easy care and dimensional stability. Identification uses burning, solubility, microscopy and feel, confirmed by laboratory tests.
Worked example
A swimsuit needs stretch, chlorine or salt-water durability, quick drying and close fit. A polyester-elastane or nylon-elastane blend is more suitable than 100% cotton: elastane supplies stretch and recovery, while the synthetic base gives strength and faster drying. For a curtain lining where light exclusion and dimensional stability matter, a polyester or polyester-cotton lining is preferable to viscose, which loses strength when wet and can shrink.
Traps
Do not label viscose as fully synthetic; it is regenerated. Do not assume natural fibres are always stronger or more sustainable. Do not confuse moisture regain with waterproofness. Read the care claim and end use before choosing a fibre.