Textiles- Fibres

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What are Synthetic Fibres?

- Artificial fibre (made from synthetic polymers)

- polymers are made from oil, coal + other petrol based chmicals (monomers)

- Polymerisation is when monomers are joined together

- polymers are spun into yarns

- made in huge factories (chemical plants by a range of companies across the world)

- can be developed to have many characteristics + propeties

- Can be made into filament + staple fibres

- Can be bulked or cimped to create volume

- Can encapsulate chemicales, antibiotics + perfume

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Properties of polyester

-SYNTHETIC FIBRE

- DOESN'T CREASE

- NOT ABSORBENT 

- DOESN'T DYE WELL

- NOT TOO FLAMMABLE ( COTTON IS MORE INFLAMMABLE)

-USED A LOT IN CONSTRUCTION CLOTHING AS IT DOESN'T ABSORB RAINWATER

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What are Regrenerated Fibres

- SIMILAR TO COTTON THEREFORE ARE GOOD ABSORBERS

- FIRST OF MANUFACTURED FIBRES TO BE DEVELOPED

- MADE FROM CELLULOSE-BASED FIBRES THAT ORIGINATE FROM PLANTS

- A CHEMICAL IS ADDED TO GIVE DESIRED PROPERTIES

- PARTIALLY MAN MADE + PARTIALLY NATURAL

- EXAMPLE = TENCEL

- COMBINATION OF NATURAL + ARTIFICIAL 

-CAN BE MADE TO HAVE MANY PROPERTIES + ARE VERSITAILE

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Properties of regenerated fibres

- HIGHLY ABSORBENT

- WASHABLE

- SOFT

- SMOOTH

- COMFORTABLE TO WEAR

- GOOD TO DRAPE

- CREASE RESISTANT

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Examples of Regenerated Fibres

- TENCEL - FULLY RECYCLEABLE + BIODEGRADEABLE, NEW MATERIAL

- VISCOSE - FILAMENT YARN WOVEN OR KNITTED INTO LUSTROUS FABRICS + CREPES     FABRICS. ADDED TO OTHER FIBRES AS STAPLE FIBRE TO ADD LUSTRE +             ABSORBANCEY

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What are fibres?

- Fibres are hair like structures that are either short (staple) or long (filament). 

-These fibres are made into Yarns and Fabrics

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What are fabrics?

- made up of fibres

-fibres are twisted into yarns that is then either knitted together,  woven to create cloth, or the fibres are glued or heat pressed together to create a non woven fabric 

-can have lots of different finishes and new fabrics are being developed all the time.

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Key words

FIBRE – hair like structure which is the basis of a yarn or fabric 

STAPLE – a short fibre that is twisted with others to make a yarn. 

FILAMENT – a long fibre that can be twisted alone or with other fibres to create a smooth yarn

YARN – a thread like structure that is made form either staples or filaments twisted. 

FABRIC – a sheet or length of cloth made from fibres and yarns 3 types of fibres

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What are natural fibres?

- Found in natural surroundings – either animal or plant based.

-All natural fibres have to be processed to make them suitable for yarns and fabrics

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Where do natural fibres come from?

Cotton – fine hair around the seed 

Linen – from Flax plant (stem) 

Hemp – from hemp plant 

Kapok – from Kapok fruit 

Wool – hair on sheep (coat or fleece) 

Silk – cocoon of a silkworm 

Cashmere – goats undercoat
 

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Properties of cotton

- Nautral Fibre

- Durable

- Strong

- Not very elastic 

- Absorbent

- Not a good inslutator

- Cheap

- Easy to care for but creases easily

- Frays easily when cut as it is a weave

- Sustainable 

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