BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT FIBRES

BASIC CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT FIBRES:

i) Cotton: Cotton fibre is the smallest of all the textile fibres. They are white, cream

or light brown in colour and fine and strong. These are absorbent, porous and cool

and allow the body heat to go out. Hence, fabrics made out of it are used as

summer wear as cotton wrinkles very easily. Fabrics made from cotton are

strong, durable and easy to wash and are used to make towels, sheets, pillow

covers, etc., that require frequent washing.

ii) Flax: It is a ‘bast fibre’ and fabric made from it is called linen. It is a staple fibre

though its length (20-30 inches) is more than the other staple fibres available.

Linen fabric is shiny, smooth, durable and easy to wash. Like cotton, it wrinkles

very easily, is cool, absorbent and is suitable for summer wear.

iii) Jute: Like flax jute is also a bast fibre. Maximum production of jute is in India. The fibres

are short and lusturous but weaker than flax. The fibres are hairy and generally rough. It is used for making gunny bags and cords.

iv) Wool: It is obtained from the fleece of domestic goats, sheep, rabbits, etc. The

colour of wool fibres may vary from off-white to light cream. Fabrics made from

wool are soft, smooth, absorbent and do not wrinkle easily. These do not allow

the body heat to go out and act as insulators. This is why the fabric made out of

these fibres is used as winter wear. Wool is a weak fibre and is easily affected by

common washing soaps, powders and friction.

v) Silk: Silk is a natural, protein filament produced by silk worm. Fabrics made

from silk are soft, fine, smooth, lustrous, warm and stronger than wool. It is called

‘Queen of the Fibres’ and is used for formal wear.

vi) Rayon: It is a man-made filament fibre which is lusturous, smooth, cool and

absorbent but is weak in nature. It wrinkles very easily. Because of its close

resemblance to silk, rayon is also called ‘artificial silk’ or ‘art silk.’ It is used as

a summer wear. These fibres are thermoplastic in nature i.e., they are heat

sensitive and soften and melt on application of heat.

vii) Synthetic fibres: Synthetic fibres are made from petroleum products. Nylon,

polyester, acrylic, etc., are the examples of synthetic fibres. Like rayon these are

also thermoplastic fibres. Since these fibres catch fire easily and can stick to the

body, they should not be worn while working in kitchen and near a flame.

Synthetics do not wrinkle and can be made dull or shiny. They have good strength

and are easy to wash and dry quickly. In other words, these fabrics are easy to care

and maintain.