Textiles

Dr. Ahmed E. Abdelfattah Helmi

Natural and Synthetic Fibers

Natural Fibers
Come from plants and animals General Characteristics

Hydrophilic (Absorb Water) Most wrinkle easily

Natural Fibers
Cotton Flax (Linen) Wool Silk Ramie Leather

Cotton advantages
Strong, durable Soft Absorbs moisture Breathes well Washes easily

Cotton disadvantages
Mildews Does not spring back into shape Wrinkles easily Burns readily Shrinks

Clothing/Fashion uses

Blouses Dresses Skirts Underwear Shirts Jeans Sportswear

Care of Cotton
Wash in washer and dry Iron at high temperature

The chemical composition of cotton fiber consists of ninety-five percent cellulose, one point three percent protein, one point two percent ash, point six percent wax, point three percent sugar, and .8 percent organic acids, and other chemical compounds that make up three point one percent

Flax (Linen) Advantages

STRONG Absorbs moisture Comfortable in warm weather Washes easily

Linen disadvantages
Mildews WRINKLES Burns easily

Clothing/Fashion uses
Blouses Dresses Skirts Suits

Care of Linen
Wash or Dry Clean, CHECK LABEL Iron at HIGH temperature

Linen was sometimes used as currency in ancient Egypt. Egyptian mummies were wrapped in linen because it was seen as a symbol of light and purity, and as a display of wealth.

Some of these fabrics, woven from hand spun yarns, were very fine for their day, but are coarse compared to modern linen.

Linen Fibers are

composed of 75 % Cellulose and the balance is Pectin (heteropolysacharides) and other materials.

Wool Advantages
WARM Durable ABSORBENT Resilient (returns to original shape quickly) Resists wrinkling Fire Retardant

Wool Disadvantages
Requires special care Shrinks sometimes if washed, or dried in dryer Absorbs odors Requires protection against insects

Clothing/Fashion uses

Knit garments Sweaters Gloves Skirts Coats Sportswear Socks Suits slacks

Care of Wool
Dry Clean or Hand Wash and Dry flat Iron at low temperature

Wool
It has been estimated that wool contains more than 170 different proteins. These are not uniformly distributed throughout the fibre; proteins of different structures are located in specific regions. This heterogeneous composition is responsible for the different physical and chemical properties of the various regions of wool. The proteins in wool are composed of amino acids; so called because they contain
basic amino (-NH ) and acidic carboxyl (- 2 COOH) groups.

Silk Advantages
Smooth Lustrous Strong Dries quickly

Silk Disadvantages
Shows water spots Iron at low temperature

Clothing/Fashion uses
Skirts Blouses Dresses Neckties Scarves Lingerie Sweaters

Care of silk
Dry clean or hand wash, check label Iron at low temperature

Models in silk dresses at fashion show

Silk is mainly composed of polyalanine block and glycine/proline rich blocks (Proteins made of Amino Acids)

Synthetic Fibers
Made from petrochemicals Characteristics

Hydrophobic (water resistant) Promote static cling Heat Sensitive Many pill Most are wrinkle resistant

Synthetic Fibers
Acetate Acrylic Nylon Polyester Rayon Spandex (Lycra) Aramid (Kevlar, Nomex) Olefin Triacetate Modacrylic

Acetate Advantages
Soft Drapeable Dries quickly Resistant to shrinking

Acetate Disadvantages
Can wrinkle Low abrasion resistance Heat sensitive Damaged by acetone

Clothing/Fashion uses
Skirts Blouses Dresses Scarves Linings

Acrylic Advantages
Soft Warm Wool-like Light weight Wrinkle resistant Resistant to moths and sunlight

Acrylic Disadvantages
Pills Static electricity Heat sensitive

Care of Acrylic
Dry Cleaned or laundered Iron at low temperature

Clothing/Fashion uses
Sweaters Knit garments Faux Fur Coats Pants Skirts Shoe soles

Acrylic
A manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is any long chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85 percent by weight of acrylonitrile units ( CH2CH). | CN

Nylon Advantages
Very Strong Resilient Lustrous Dries quickly

Nylon disadvantages
May yellow or gray Heat Sensitive Low moisture absorbency

Clothing/Fashion uses
Sportswear Jackets Raincoats Backpacks Purses

Care of Nylon
Easily laundered Iron at low temperature

Nylon.

A manufactured fiber in which the

fiber-forming substance is a long-chain

synthetic polyamide in which less than 85

percent of the amide

CO NH --

Polyester advantages
Excellent WRINKLE RESISTANCE Resistant to abrasion Dries quickly Blends well with other fibers Retains heat-set pleats and creases

Polyester disadvantages
Absorbs oily stains Low absorbency of moisture

Clothing/Fashion uses
Pants Shirts Suits Sportswear Skirts

Care of Polyester
Easily laundered Needs little or no pressing

Polyester. A manufactured fiber in which the fiber-forming substance is any long chain synthetic polymer composed of at least 85% by weight of an ester of a substituted aromatic carboxylic acid, including but not restricted to substituted terephthalate units, p(ROCC6H4CO), O O and para substituted hydroxy-benzoate units, p(ROC6H4CO) O

Rayon advantages
Soft and comfortable High moisture absorbency drapeable

Rayon disadvantages
May wrinkle or shrink unless treated May mildew

Clothing/Fashion uses
Dresses Skirts Lingerie Blouses

Care of Rayon
Usually dry cleaned, sometimes washable Iron at low temperature

Rayon. A manufactured fiber composed of regenerated cellulose, as well as manufactured fibers composed of regenerated cellulose in which substituents have replaced not more than 15 percent of the hydrogens of the hydroxyl groups.

Spandex advantages
Excellent elasticity and recovery Stronger and more durable than rubber Light weight Resistant to body oils

Spandex disadvantages
Damaged by chlorine bleach Damaged by heat

Clothing/Fashion uses
Pants Shirts Jeans Sportswear Underwear Socks Bras Tights

Aramid (Kevlar & Nomex) advantages

Exceptional strength Exceptional heat and flame resistance Resistant to stretch and abrasion

Aramid disadvantages

Not absorbent

Clothing/Fashion uses

Kevlar
Bullet Proof Vests Cut/Heat and Chemical resistant Gloves

Nomex
Fireman Uniforms Racing Apparel

The End