Industry-relevant training in Business, Technology, and Design to help professionals and graduates upskill for real-world careers.
Fun, engaging games to boost memory, math fluency, typing speed, and English skills—perfect for learners of all ages.
Enroll to start learning
You’ve not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Listen to a student-teacher conversation explaining the topic in a relatable way.
Today, we're going to learn how textile fibres are classified. Can anyone tell me the two main categories?
Natural and manufactured fibres!
Correct! Natural fibres come from plants and animals, while manufactured fibres are created through chemical means. Why do you think this classification is important?
It helps us understand their properties and uses!
Exactly! Understanding these classifications helps in selecting the right fabric for specific needs. Can anyone give an example of natural fibres?
Cotton and wool!
Good examples! Remember that natural fibres can be further divided into two main types, cellulosic and protein. Let’s now review what each term means.
Now, let's dive deeper into cellulosic and protein fibres. Can anyone give me examples of cellulosic fibres?
Cotton and flax!
Perfect! Cellulosic fibres are derived from plants, which are generally strong and absorbent. How about protein fibres?
Wool and silk!
Correct! Protein fibres come from animals and are known for their warmth and elasticity. Remember the acronym CAP for Cellulosic = Cotton, Agave, Pineapple helps in remembering these examples.
That's a good way to remember!
Next, let's learn about manufactured fibres. What can you tell me about rayon?
It was the first manufactured fibre!
Yes! Rayon is made from wood pulp and is often referred to as artificial silk. As we explore more manufactured fibres, remember the mnemonic RAMP for Rayon, Acetate, Nylon, Polyester. What is the benefit of manufactured fibres?
They can be tailored for specific uses and properties!
Correct! These fibres can be designed for strength, elasticity, or even water resistance.
Now that we understand different categories, let's talk about staple vs. filament fibres. Can someone explain the difference?
Staple fibres are short, while filament fibres are long!
Exactly! Staple fibres like cotton are cut short, whereas filament fibres like silk and polyester run continuously. Why do you think this difference matters?
It affects the texture and strength of the fabric!
Spot on! Fabrics made from staple fibres are generally softer, while those from filament fibres can be smoother and stronger.
Read a summary of the section's main ideas. Choose from Basic, Medium, or Detailed.
Textile fibres can be classified into natural and manufactured fibres, further segmented by their chemical types and forms. Natural fibres include cellulosic and protein fibres, while manufactured fibres include regenerated and synthetic types. This classification aids in understanding fibre properties and suitable uses in textiles.
This section elaborates on the classification of textile fibres, which is crucial for understanding fabric properties and applications. Fibres can be broadly categorized based on various criteria:
These fibres are sourced from nature and include:
- Cellulosic Fibres:
- Seed Hair: Cotton, Kapok.
- Bast: Flax (Linen), Hemp, Jute.
- Leaf: Pineapple, Agave (Sisal).
- Nut Husk: Coir (Coconut).
- Protein Fibres:
- Animal Hair: Wool, specialty hair (like goat and camel), fur.
- Animal Secretion: Silk.
- Mineral Fibres: Asbestos.
- Natural Rubber.
The earliest manufactured fibre, rayon, emerged in 1895, with many others following. These can be:
- Regenerated Cellulosic Fibres: Rayon types (cuprammonium, viscose).
- Modified Cellulosic Fibres: Acetate (triacetate, secondary acetate).
- Synthetic Fibres: Nylon, polyester (terephthalate), acrylic, and more.
Understanding these classifications allows consumers and manufacturers to make informed decisions concerning textile production and use.
Dive deep into the subject with an immersive audiobook experience.
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
Textile fibres can be classified on the basis of their origin (natural or man-made or manufactured), general chemical type (cellulosic, protein or synthetic), generic types (animal hair or animal secretion) and common trade name (polyester, as terene or dacron). Further, fibres can be staple, i.e., short length like cotton, or filament, i.e., long length like silk, polyester, etc.
Textile fibres are the basic components used to make fabrics. They can be classified in a few key ways: by origin, which includes natural fibres obtained directly from plants or animals, and man-made fibres that are manufactured through chemical processes. Another classification is based on their chemical makeup, such as cellulosic fibres that come from plants (like cotton) and protein fibres that come from animals (like wool). Fibres can also be categorized by their length—staple fibres are short (like cotton), while filament fibres are long (like silk). Understanding these classifications helps us know how different fibres behave and what they are best suited for.
Think of textile fibres like different ingredients in cooking. Just as a chef selects ingredients based on the type of dish they want to create—like fresh tomatoes for a sauce versus dried tomatoes for a salad—we choose fibres based on the type, characteristics, and use of fabrics we want to create.
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
Natural fibres are those which are available to us in nature. There are four types of natural fibres:
(a) Cellulosic fibres—
1. Seed hair-cotton, kapok
2. Bast fibres-flax(linen), hemp, jute
3. Leaf fibres-pineapple, agave(sisal)
4. Nut husk fibres-coir(coconut)
(b) Protein fibres
1. Animal hair–wool, specially hair (goat, camel), fur
2. Animal secretion–silk
(c) Mineral fibre: Asbestos
(d) Natural rubber
Natural fibres are derived from nature and classified into several groups based on their source. Cellulosic fibres, such as cotton, come from plants. Cotton is the most recognized example, sourced from seed hairs. Bast fibres like linen and jute stem from the inner bark of plants. Leaf fibres such as sisal come from the leaves of certain plants. On the other hand, protein fibres come from animals, like wool from sheep and silk from silkworms. Each fibre has unique properties that influence the type of fabric made.
Imagine a garden where every plant gives a different type of fruit. Just like you wouldn't use a lemon for a banana smoothie, each natural fibre provides specific qualities that make it suitable for certain fabrics. For example, cotton is soft and breathable, perfect for shirts, while wool is warm and elastic, ideal for winter coats.
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
Manufactured Fibres (also called man-made fibres)
Most of you must have seen a cotton flower with fibres sticking to the seeds, or sheep with long overgrown hair. You can also imagine how these may be used for yarn and fabric production. However, you may find it difficult to understand how the manufactured or synthetic fibres came to exist.
The first manufactured fibre–Rayon–was commercially produced in AD 1895, while most others are products of the 20th century.
The concept of creating fibres perhaps originated from human desire to produce a fibre like silk. Possibly, the thought process could have been like this: the silk worm, which basically feeds on mulberry leaves, digests them and spews a liquid through its spinnerettes (two holes), which on solidifying becomes the silk filament (cocoon). Thus if a cellulose substance is digested it should be possible to produce something like silk.
Manufactured fibres, or man-made fibres, are created through industrial processes. Rayon, the first manufactured fibre, was produced in 1895. The process generally involves turning raw materials, such as wood pulp or synthetic chemicals, into fibres that mimic natural ones, like silk. For instance, the idea was to create a fibre similar to silk by modifying cellulose, which is found in plant material. This allowed manufacturers to provide alternatives to natural fibres, making textiles more versatile and abundant.
Consider how we can replicate the taste of chocolate in something like a cake without using actual chocolate. Just as manufacturers create flavours that mimic the real thing, they develop fibres that imitate natural ones, giving us options like rayon that feels similar to silk but is made through chemical processes.
Signup and Enroll to the course for listening the Audio Book
(a) Regenerated cellulosic fibres: Rayon–cuprammonium, viscose, high-wet-modulus
(b) Modified cellulosic: Acetate–secondary acetate, triacetate
(c) Protein fibres: Azlon
(d) Non-cellulosic(synthetic) fibres
(i) nylon
(ii) polyester – terelene, terrene
(iii) acrylic – Orlon, cashmilon
(iv) modacrylic
(v) spandex
(vi) rubber
(e) Mineral fibres
(i) Glass – fibreglass
(ii) Metallic – lurex
Manufactured fibres can be categorized into several types. Regenerated cellulosic fibres, such as rayon, are made from natural sources but processed to alter their properties. Modified cellulosic fibres like acetate retain some plant-based characteristics while modifying them for specific uses. Non-cellulosic fibres such as nylon and polyester are entirely synthetic, created purely from chemicals. Each of these fibres possesses unique characteristics that can enhance the fabric's performance, comfort, and durability.
Think of manufactured fibres like customizing a recipe. Just as a baker might modify a cake recipe by adding flavors, textures, or colors, manufacturers alter the basic ingredients of natural fibres to achieve specific features in fabrics, resulting in a wide array of textiles like breathable sportswear made from polyester or stretchy leggings from spandex.
Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.
Key Concepts
Textile Fibres: Materials that are spun or woven into fabrics.
Classification: Fibres can be classified by origin, chemical type, and physical form.
Natural vs. Manufactured: Understanding the difference is crucial for fabric selection.
See how the concepts apply in real-world scenarios to understand their practical implications.
Cotton is a natural cellulose fibre used widely in clothing.
Rayon is a manufactured fibre created from wood pulp resembling silk.
Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.
Cotton is soft, and wool keeps you warm; both are from nature, that's their charm.
Once upon a time, a cotton plant and a sheep decided to compete in comfort. The cotton showed off its softness, while the sheep bundled up in warmth. In the end, both were loved for their unique gifts as natural fibres!
Remember 'C.A.P' for Natural Cellulosic Fibres: Cotton, Agave, Pineapple.
Review key concepts with flashcards.
Review the Definitions for terms.
Term: Natural Fibres
Definition:
Fibres sourced from nature, including plant and animal origins.
Term: Manufactured Fibres
Definition:
Fibres created through chemical processes, often derived from synthetic materials.
Term: Cellulosic Fibres
Definition:
Fibres that originate from plants, such as cotton and linen.
Term: Protein Fibres
Definition:
Fibres that come from animals, including wool and silk.
Term: Staple Fibres
Definition:
Short-length fibres like cotton, often spun into yarn.
Term: Filament Fibres
Definition:
Long-length fibres like silk, which can be made into continuous lengths.