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SYNTHETIC FIBERS
Fibre made by chemical processes, unknown in nature. There are two kinds.
One, a regenerated synthetic fibre, is made from natural materials that have
been chemically processed in some way; rayon, for example, is made by
processing the cellulose in wood pulp. The other type is the true synthetic fibre,
made entirely from chemicals. Nylon was the original true synthetic fibre, made
from chemicals obtained from petroleum (crude oil).
Fibres are drawn out into long threads or filaments, usually by so-called spinning
methods, melting or dissolving the parent material and then forcing it through
the holes of a perforated plate, or spinneret.
SYNTHETIC FIBERS
NYLON
POLYESTER
ACRYLIC
SPANDEX
OLEFIN
NYLON FIBER
LINEAR POLYAMIDES
Types of Nylon & Properties
Nylon 6,6
Pleats and creases can be heat-set at higher temperatures
Difficult to dye
Nylon 6
Better dye Affinity
Softer Hand
Greater elasticity and elastic recovery
Better weathering properties; better sunlight resistance
Characteristics of Nylon
Wrinkle Resistance Excellent
Wash-and-wear Excellent
Resistance to alkalies Good
i) Apparel:
Blouses, dresses, foundation garments, hosiery, lingerie, underwear, raincoats,
ski apparel, windbreakers, swimwear, and cycle wear .
Home Furnishings: Bedspreads, carpets, curtains, upholstery.
Industrial and Other Uses: Tire cord, hoses, conveyer and seat
belts, parachutes, racket strings, ropes and nets, sleeping bags,
tarpaulins, tents, thread, monofilament fishing line, dental floss .
Advantages
o Very strong even when wet.
o Dimensionally stable.
o Unaffected by alkalies.
o Unaffected by mildew and moths.
o Can be heat set to retain pleats.
o Water borne stains.
o Washes easily & dries quickly.
o Need little or no ironing.
Disadvantages
o Damaged by sunlight.
o Build up static electricity.
o Oils stains are difficult to remove.
o Melts in fire.
o Low ironing temperature is required.
Nylon Fiber Producers
o Fiber Innovation Technology, Inc.
o Fiber Science, Inc.
o Honeywell Resins & Chemicals LLC.
o INVISTA; Kordsa International, LLC.
o Nylstar, Inc.; Palmetto Synthetics;
o Polyamide High Performance, Inc. (Formerly Acordis);
o Premiere Fibers Inc.;
o Solutia Inc.;
o Unifi-Sans Technical Fibers, LLC;
o Universal Fiber Systems LLC;
o Wellman, Inc.
The Dupont Company, is the most famous
pioneer of the nylon
General Nylon Fiber Care Tips
o Most items made from nylon can be machine washed and tumble dried at low
temperatures. Use warm water and add a fabric softener to the final rinse cycle.
o Remove articles from dryer as soon as tumbling cycle is completed.
o If ironing is required, use warm iron.
ACRYLIC FIBRE
INTRODUCTION OF THE FIBRE
UNITS(-CH2-CH[CN]-)x.”
ACRYLIC YARN
PROPERTIES OF THE FIBRE
Polyester is the general name for any group of widely used synthetic
products. Polyesters are strong, tough materials that are manufactured in a
variety of colours, shapes and sizes. . Polyester fibers are the first choice for
apparel and are used in trousers, skirts, dresses, suits, jackets, blouses and
outdoor clothing
.
Blends with cotton and virgin wool are very popular. They are often referred
to as the "classical blend". This is normally a combination of 55% polyester
and 45% wool.
History
Structure
Manufacturing
Properties
Applications
Maintenance and Care
HISTORY
First U.S. Commercial Polyester Fiber Production: 1953,
DuPont Company
Polyester was put on the back burner, however, once Carothers discovered
nylon. A group of British scientists--J.R. Whinfield, J.T. Dickson, W.K.
Birtwhistle, and C.G. Ritchie--took up Carothers' work in 1939. In 1941 they
created the first polyester fiber called TERYLENE. In 1946 duPont bought all
legal rights from the Brits and came up with another polyester fiber which they
named DACRON.
Most polyester is made from petroleum from which the constituent acids and
alcohols are derived.
PET is made by reacting ethylene glycol with either terephthalic acid or its
methyl ester in the presence of an antimony catalyst. The reaction is carried
out at high temperature and vacuum to achieve the high molecular weights
need to form useful fibers. PET is melt spun.
SYNTHESIS OF POLYESTER
1) POLYMERIZATION
Condensation polymerization occurs when the acid and alcohol are reacted in
a vacuum at high temperatures. The polymerized material is extruded in the
form of a ribbon onto a casting trough or cooling wheel. After the ribbon
hardens, it is cut into chips.
2) SPINNING
The chips are dried and then put into hopper reservoirs for melting. Polyester
is a "melt spun" fiber, which means that it is heated, extruded through the
spinnerets, and cools upon hitting the air. From there it is loosely wound
around cylinders.
3) DRAWING
The fibers are then hot stretched until they are about five times their original
length in order to decrease their width. The fiber is then wound onto cones as
filaments or is crimped and then is cut into staple lengths.
SYNTHESIS OF POLYESTER
VARIATIONS OF THE BASIC
POLYESTER
Different fibers can be created by doing one or more of the following:
3) DRAWING IT OUT MORE- Drawing out the fiber to five times its original length
is normal, but polyester can be stretched even further to create the now-popular
micro fiber. Drawing it out may also affect the strength, elasticity, and dye ability.
5) CRIMPING - When the fiber is drawn out it is long and smooth. Crimping can
give the fiber more texture and bulk and can increase its insulation properties, as
well as its elasticity.
MAKING YARNS
After the fiber itself is created, it is made into a yarn. There are two types of polyester
yarns –
Filament yarns are made by taking the long polyester filaments, grouping them together,
and then twisting them to make them thicker and stronger.
A monofilament yarn has just one, long polyester fiber that is not twisted.
Spun yarns are produced in much the same way that a cotton or wool yarn is produced.
The long filaments are fist cut into short pieces called staples.
These are then combined together and spun to create a yarn made up of thousands of
short filaments.
BLENDS
At this stage, polyester can also be combined with other fibers to produce a variety
of effects.
Polyester and cotton is probably the most famous and popular blend. The
polyester helps the fabric retain its shape and resist stains and wrinkles. The
cotton makes the fabric more absorbent and comfortable.
Polyester and rayon is another popular blend fabric. Here again the polyester
makes the fabric more resilient and durable, and helps it keep its shape. The rayon
adds a different texture, has a good hand, is good for draping, and is absorbent.
Polyester and nylon produce a strong fabric because of nylon's strength and
abrasion resistance and polyester's wrinkle-free properties. This combination
produces a yarn that is strong, durable, stable, easy to launder, and resistant to
mildew and insects.
Problems with this blend, however, are that pilling may occur, and it does not have
a very good hand. Furthermore, since neither nylon nor polyester is very
absorbent, the fabric may feel wet and clammy in warm or humid weather
WEAVING:
After the yarns are made, they are shipped out to textile mills to be
woven into fabric. Polyester can be made into both woven and knitted
fabrics.
FINISHING PROCESSES
Finally, after the fabric is made, one or more of the following finishing
processes is often used to improve the quality of the fabric:
Water and stain repellency - increases comfort and makes it easier to clean;
also used for rainwear
Other Uses: Fancy yarn, power belting, ropes and nets, thread, tire
cord, auto upholstery, sails, floppy disk liners,thermal bonding and
fiberfill for various products including pillows and furniture
MAINTAINENCE
General Polyester Fiber Care Tips
Olefin fiber is a generic description that covers thermoplastic fibers derived from
olefins.
Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) are the two most common members
of the family.
Since its introduction into the textile industry in the 1950s, the list of successful
products and markets for polypropylene fiber has increased exponentially
OLEFIN FIBER
CHARACTERISTICS
Able to give good bulk and cover
Abrasion resistant
Colorfast
Quick drying
Low static
Resistant to deterioration from chemicals, mildew, perspiration, rot and
weather
Thermally bondable
Stain and soil resistant
Strong
Sunlight resistant
Dry hand; wicks body moisture from the skin
Very comfortable
Very lightweight (olefin fibers have the lowest specific gravity of all fibers)
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF OLEFIN
FIBER PRODUCTION
Olefin fibers (polypropylene and polyethylene) are products of the
polymerization of propylene and ethylene gases.
The speculates developed from a nucleus can range in size from fractions of a
micrometer to centimeters in diameter.
The a-axis of the crystal unit cell is aligned radically and the chain axis is
homogeneously distributed in planes perpendicular to this radial direction.
2.5
Consumption in 1.5
Million Tons
1 Consumption
0.5
0
Year 1998 1999 2000 2001 2005
Year
PROCESSING METHODS OF
POLYOLEFINS
There are six important processing methods for Polyolefins, these are:
Injection molding
Rotational molding
Blow molding
Extrusion
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
THERMAL PROPERTIES
DYEABILITY
OTHER PROPERTIES OF PP
In general, PP fiber has excellent chemical resistance to acids and alkalis, high
abrasion resistance and resistance to insects and pests. PP fiber is also easy to
process and inexpensive compared to other synthetic fibers. Its low moisture
absorption helps aid the quick transport of moisture.
CURRENT U.S. OLEFIN FIBER
PRODUCERS
Home Furnishings: Indoor and outdoor carpets; carpet backing; upholstery and
wall coverings; furniture and bedding construction fabrics
If fabric is laundered, it should be line dried or tumble dried with gentle heat
or no heat. Olefin dries very rapidly.
Do not iron. (For specific instructions, refer to garment's sewn-in care label.)
THANK YOU.