Difference between revisions of "Natural fiber"

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3) [[mineral%20fiber|mineral fiber]]: [[asbestos|asbestos]], [[graphite%20fiber|graphite]], [[quartz%20fiber|quartz]].
 
3) [[mineral%20fiber|mineral fiber]]: [[asbestos|asbestos]], [[graphite%20fiber|graphite]], [[quartz%20fiber|quartz]].
  
 +
==Properties of Natural Fibers==
 +
{| class="wikitable"
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|-
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! Fiber
 +
! Type
 +
! Source
 +
! Microscopic characteristics
 +
! Fber length
 +
! Fiber width (microns)
 +
! Strength/flexibility
 +
! Appearance
 +
! Other characteristics  (conductivity, density, moisture)
 +
! Deterioration
 +
! Use
 +
|-
 +
| alpaca
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| animal
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| Lama pacos
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| overlapping scales
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| 8 cm (undercoat)
 +
|
 +
| elastic and strong
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| soft, lustrous; usually white but  may be black or brown
 +
|
 +
|
 +
| textiles, linings
 +
|-
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| camel
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| animal
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| Camelus bactrianus
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| overlapping scales; cross section  is circular to oval; medulla is narrow and continuous.
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| 30 cm (outer hairs); 2.5-15 cm  (undercoat)
 +
|
 +
| strong; Tensile strength = 1.78  g/d ; elongation = 39-40%
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| lightweight, fine, and soft; tan  or brown
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| poor heat conductor; moisture  regain=13%
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|
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| sweaters, scarves, coats,  blankets, brushes
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|-
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| cashmere
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| animal
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| Capra hireus
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| overlapping scales (5-7 per 100  mincrons)
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| 5.0-12.5 cm  (outer);<br />    2.5-9.0 cm (undercoat)
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| 15
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|
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| soft and fine
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|
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| damaged by alkalis
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| shawls, fabrics, dreses, sweaters
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|-
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| horsehair
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| animal
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| family Equidae
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| overlapping scales
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| mane: 7.5-20 cm; tail: 20-90 cm
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| mane:  50-150;<br />    tail 75-280
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| stiff and elastic; cannot be spun
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|
 +
|
 +
|
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| upholstery, blankets, stuffing
 +
|-
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| llama
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| animal
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| Lama glama
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| overlapping scales; medulla is  narrow and often pigmented.  Cross  section is circular to ovoid
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| 30 cm (undercoat)
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|
 +
|
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| smooth, long, fine texture
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|
 +
|
 +
| coats, dresses
 +
|-
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| mohair
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| animal
 +
| Capra angorensis
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| overlapping scales (about 5 per  100 microns); circular cross scetion; medulla is normally invisible
 +
| 250-500 mm
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|
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| resilient, twice as strong as  wool; elongation = 30%
 +
| soft, white, silky
 +
| resists water; moisture  regain=13%
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| resistant to soiling;  susceptible to moths
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| textiles, upholstery, blankets,  draperies, carpets,
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|-
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| vicuña
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| animal
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| Vicugna vicugna
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| overlapping scales
 +
| 5 cm
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|
 +
|
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| soft, lightweight, finer than  alpaca or camel
 +
|
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|
 +
|
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|-
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| wool
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| animal
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| Caprinae family
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| overlapping scales
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| 38-125 mm (fine), 65-150 mm  (med.), 125-375 mm (long)
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| 17 ( fine),  24-<br />    34 (medium);<br />    40 (long)
 +
| low tensile strength; good  elasticity; elongation = 25-35%
 +
|
 +
| poor heat conductivity;  density=1.32-1.34; absorbs water and dries slowly; moisture regain=15-18%
 +
| fibers may shrink/felt with high  temperatures and friction; susceptible to moths
 +
| textiles, blankets, carpets
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|-
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| hemp
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| bast
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| Cannabis sativa
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|
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| 1-2 m
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| 9-40
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| durable and strong but weaker  than flax
 +
|
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| resistant to  wear under water
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| Damaged by acids and bleaches;  resistant to water and alkalis
 +
| cordage, ropes, sails
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|-
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| jute
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| bast
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| Corchorus capsularis
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| polygonal cross section (5 or 6  sides); may have discontinuous, fine striations and bundled fibers
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| 1.5-3 m
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| 7-18
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| weaker than hemp or flax;  elongation, = 1.7%(dry)
 +
|
 +
| density=1.5; weak when wet;  moisture regain=13.75%
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|
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| cordage, coarse textiles, mats,  gunny sacks, carpets
 +
|-
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| kenaf
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| bast
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| Hibiscus cannabinus
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| polygonal cross section
 +
|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|-
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| linen
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| bast
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| Linum usitatissimum
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| bamboo-like joints
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| 6-65 mm
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| 8-32
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| stronger than cotton; elongation  = 1.8% (dry), 2.2% (wet)
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| pale yellow
 +
| absorbs water but dries quickly;  moisture regain=12%
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| damaged by bleach; not  susceptible to biological growth; resistant to alkalis
 +
| textiles, lace, thread
 +
|-
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| ramie
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| bast
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| Bochmeria nivea
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| numerous striations
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| 15-20 cm
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| 12-82
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| stronger than flax or hemp
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| lustrous, translucent,stiff,  wrinkles easily
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| moisture regain=12%
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| Resistant to mildew and insects
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| textiles (Chinese linen, Canton  linen, grass cloth, grass linen)
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|-
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| abaca
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| leaf
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| Musa textilis
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|
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| 1-5 m
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|
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| hard and strong
 +
|
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| absorbs moisture readily
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|
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| cordage
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|-
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| istle
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| leaf
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| Agave species
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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|
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| cordage, coarse textiles, mats,
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|-
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| pina
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| leaf
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| Ananas comosus
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| oval cross section
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| 10-20 cm
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|
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| strong and flexible
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| translucent and thin with silky  luster
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|
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|
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| textiles, mats, bags
 +
|-
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| sisal
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| leaf
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| Agave sisalana
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| horseshoe shaped cross section
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| 60-120 cm
 +
|
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| weaker and less flexible than  hemp
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| smooth and straight
 +
| disintegrates in salt water
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|
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| ropes, twine, thread
 +
|-
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| silk
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| moths
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| many species, such as Bombyx mori
 +
| glass rod; before degumming silk  has irregular masses of sericin holding two filaments together
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| 250-750 m
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|
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| excellent tensile strength; good  elasticity; elongation = 20-25% (dry), 30% (wet)
 +
| very lustrous when degummed
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| poor heat conductor; moisture  regain=11%
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| strong soaps cause yellowing;  degraded by sunlight; acids cause yellowing; susceptible to carpet beetles
 +
| clothing; decorative fabrics
 +
|-
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| coir
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| seed hair
 +
| Cocos nucifera
 +
|
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| 12-20 cm
 +
|
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| stiff and elastic (like  horsehair)
 +
| coarse brown fibers
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| resistant to water
 +
|
 +
| ropes,brushes, mats
 +
|-
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| cotton
 +
| seed hair
 +
| Gossypium hirsutum
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| narrow, twisted ribbon
 +
| 1.6-6.0 cm
 +
|
 +
| high tensile strength; poor  elasticity; elongation = 5-10%
 +
| usually white; turns blue when  treated with iodine and sulphuric acid
 +
| good heat conductivity; poor  electrical conductivity; density=1.54-1.56; absorbs water, dries slowly;  moisture regain=7.0-8.0%
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| may mildew, not attacked by  moths; degraded by acids, resistant to alkalis
 +
| textiles, cordage
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|-
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| kapok
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| seed hair
 +
| Ceiba pentandra
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| cross section is oval or circular
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| 20-32 mm
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| 20
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| resilient, lightweight
 +
| silky; turns yellow when treated  with iodine and sulphuric acid
 +
| resists water, buoyant, fries  quickly
 +
|
 +
| stuffing (mattresses, pillows,  life preservers)
 +
|}
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
  
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* Hoechst Celanese Corporation, ''Dictionary of Fiber & Textile Technology'' (older version called Man-made Fiber and Textile Dictionary, 1965), Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Charlotte NC, 1990
 
* Hoechst Celanese Corporation, ''Dictionary of Fiber & Textile Technology'' (older version called Man-made Fiber and Textile Dictionary, 1965), Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Charlotte NC, 1990
 
 
* Rosalie Rosso King, ''Textile Identification, Conservation, and Preservation'', Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ, 1985
 
* Rosalie Rosso King, ''Textile Identification, Conservation, and Preservation'', Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ, 1985
 
 
* Random House, ''Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
 
* Random House, ''Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
 
 
* ''Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles'', Phyllis G.Tortora, Robert S. Merkel (eds.), Fairchild Publications, New York City, 7th edition, 1996
 
* ''Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles'', Phyllis G.Tortora, Robert S. Merkel (eds.), Fairchild Publications, New York City, 7th edition, 1996
 
 
* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
 
* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
  

Revision as of 14:03, 14 October 2024

Description

A class of fibers that includes all non-synthetic fibers. Natural fibers are generally separated into three groups based on origin:

1) plant fiber: Cotton, Linen, Jute, Abaca.

2) animal fiber: Wool, Silk, Fur.

3) Mineral fiber: Asbestos, graphite, quartz.

Properties of Natural Fibers

Fiber Type Source Microscopic characteristics Fber length Fiber width (microns) Strength/flexibility Appearance Other characteristics (conductivity, density, moisture) Deterioration Use
alpaca animal Lama pacos overlapping scales 8 cm (undercoat) elastic and strong soft, lustrous; usually white but may be black or brown textiles, linings
camel animal Camelus bactrianus overlapping scales; cross section is circular to oval; medulla is narrow and continuous. 30 cm (outer hairs); 2.5-15 cm (undercoat) strong; Tensile strength = 1.78 g/d ; elongation = 39-40% lightweight, fine, and soft; tan or brown poor heat conductor; moisture regain=13% sweaters, scarves, coats, blankets, brushes
cashmere animal Capra hireus overlapping scales (5-7 per 100 mincrons) 5.0-12.5 cm (outer);
2.5-9.0 cm (undercoat)
15 soft and fine damaged by alkalis shawls, fabrics, dreses, sweaters
horsehair animal family Equidae overlapping scales mane: 7.5-20 cm; tail: 20-90 cm mane: 50-150;
tail 75-280
stiff and elastic; cannot be spun upholstery, blankets, stuffing
llama animal Lama glama overlapping scales; medulla is narrow and often pigmented. Cross section is circular to ovoid 30 cm (undercoat) smooth, long, fine texture coats, dresses
mohair animal Capra angorensis overlapping scales (about 5 per 100 microns); circular cross scetion; medulla is normally invisible 250-500 mm resilient, twice as strong as wool; elongation = 30% soft, white, silky resists water; moisture regain=13% resistant to soiling; susceptible to moths textiles, upholstery, blankets, draperies, carpets,
vicuña animal Vicugna vicugna overlapping scales 5 cm soft, lightweight, finer than alpaca or camel
wool animal Caprinae family overlapping scales 38-125 mm (fine), 65-150 mm (med.), 125-375 mm (long) 17 ( fine), 24-
34 (medium);
40 (long)
low tensile strength; good elasticity; elongation = 25-35% poor heat conductivity; density=1.32-1.34; absorbs water and dries slowly; moisture regain=15-18% fibers may shrink/felt with high temperatures and friction; susceptible to moths textiles, blankets, carpets
hemp bast Cannabis sativa 1-2 m 9-40 durable and strong but weaker than flax resistant to wear under water Damaged by acids and bleaches; resistant to water and alkalis cordage, ropes, sails
jute bast Corchorus capsularis polygonal cross section (5 or 6 sides); may have discontinuous, fine striations and bundled fibers 1.5-3 m 7-18 weaker than hemp or flax; elongation, = 1.7%(dry) density=1.5; weak when wet; moisture regain=13.75% cordage, coarse textiles, mats, gunny sacks, carpets
kenaf bast Hibiscus cannabinus polygonal cross section
linen bast Linum usitatissimum bamboo-like joints 6-65 mm 8-32 stronger than cotton; elongation = 1.8% (dry), 2.2% (wet) pale yellow absorbs water but dries quickly; moisture regain=12% damaged by bleach; not susceptible to biological growth; resistant to alkalis textiles, lace, thread
ramie bast Bochmeria nivea numerous striations 15-20 cm 12-82 stronger than flax or hemp lustrous, translucent,stiff, wrinkles easily moisture regain=12% Resistant to mildew and insects textiles (Chinese linen, Canton linen, grass cloth, grass linen)
abaca leaf Musa textilis 1-5 m hard and strong absorbs moisture readily cordage
istle leaf Agave species cordage, coarse textiles, mats,
pina leaf Ananas comosus oval cross section 10-20 cm strong and flexible translucent and thin with silky luster textiles, mats, bags
sisal leaf Agave sisalana horseshoe shaped cross section 60-120 cm weaker and less flexible than hemp smooth and straight disintegrates in salt water ropes, twine, thread
silk moths many species, such as Bombyx mori glass rod; before degumming silk has irregular masses of sericin holding two filaments together 250-750 m excellent tensile strength; good elasticity; elongation = 20-25% (dry), 30% (wet) very lustrous when degummed poor heat conductor; moisture regain=11% strong soaps cause yellowing; degraded by sunlight; acids cause yellowing; susceptible to carpet beetles clothing; decorative fabrics
coir seed hair Cocos nucifera 12-20 cm stiff and elastic (like horsehair) coarse brown fibers resistant to water ropes,brushes, mats
cotton seed hair Gossypium hirsutum narrow, twisted ribbon 1.6-6.0 cm high tensile strength; poor elasticity; elongation = 5-10% usually white; turns blue when treated with iodine and sulphuric acid good heat conductivity; poor electrical conductivity; density=1.54-1.56; absorbs water, dries slowly; moisture regain=7.0-8.0% may mildew, not attacked by moths; degraded by acids, resistant to alkalis textiles, cordage
kapok seed hair Ceiba pentandra cross section is oval or circular 20-32 mm 20 resilient, lightweight silky; turns yellow when treated with iodine and sulphuric acid resists water, buoyant, fries quickly stuffing (mattresses, pillows, life preservers)

Synonyms and Related Terms

natural fibers; natural fibre (Br.); fibre naturelle (Fr.);fibra natural (Esp.); natuurlijke vezel (Ned);

Comparisons

Properties of Natural Fibers

Resources and Citations

  • Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Dictionary of Fiber & Textile Technology (older version called Man-made Fiber and Textile Dictionary, 1965), Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Charlotte NC, 1990
  • Rosalie Rosso King, Textile Identification, Conservation, and Preservation, Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ, 1985
  • Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  • Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles, Phyllis G.Tortora, Robert S. Merkel (eds.), Fairchild Publications, New York City, 7th edition, 1996
  • Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000

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