Yarn

Generally yarn is a continuous strand which is made up of filament, fibers or materials where the
materials are suitable for knitting, weaving, otherwise forming a textile fabric.
Yarn is an assembly of fibres that are twisted together to form a continuous strand. Yarns may be
made from either staple fibers or filament fibers. Staple fibers are twisted into yarns; filament
fibres need little or no twist to hold them together into yarns. The type & length of fibre, the
type, ply & size of yarns & the amount of twist given to yarns determine many of the
characteristics of fabrics made from the yarns. All fabrics except plastics & non-wovens depend
upon the use of yarns. For example, fabrics constructed of spun yarns are less smooth than
fabrics constructed of filament yarns. They also have a lower luster cord or rib fabrics contain
ply or larger yarns in the rib direction.

Types of Yarn
There are many several types of yarn. So, please see given below:

1. Mainly
 Staple yarn.
 Single.
 Simple.
 Filament yarn.
 Piled or folded.
 Complex.

2. On the Direction of Twist

 Z twisted yarn.
  S twisted yarn.

3. On the Basis of spinning machine used

 Ring yarn.
 Rotor yarn.
 Air-jet yarn.

4. On the Basis of processing

 Combed yarn.
 Carded yarn.

What Is Textile Yarn?

Every day we use things made with textile yarn. Think about the shirt you wear and the carpet
you walk on. Have you ever thought about how that yarn is made? Textile yarn is a strand of
natural or synthetic fibers or filaments. A fiber is a small short piece of hair. A filament is a long
strand of a single substance. In textile yarn, individual fibers or filaments are wound together to
make threads.
Textile yarn can be made with natural fibers from substances such as wool from sheep, silk from
silkworms, or cotton and linen from plants. It can also be made with synthetic, or man-made,
fibers created from a variety of substances like nylon, acrylic, and polyester.
The process of making yarn is called spinning. Yarn can be spun by machine or by hand. Yarn
used for weaving tends to have a tight twist, smooth surface, and lots of lengthwise strength.
Yarn for knitting has a looser twist.

Brightly colored cotton yarn used for weaving. The surface of this
 yarn is tight and smooth.

Many specific production methods result in an endless variety of yarn. Textile yarn is made in a
global industry that involves many specialized technical terms. We can't cover them all here, but
for now, let's explore basic classifications and a few types of yarn.

Classifications of Textile Yarn

All textile yarn is classified according to structure, or how they are made. In general, there are
three basic classifications. Let's look at each of them.

 Staple fiber yarns are made of many short staple fibers that are wound together to
make yarn. This is the most basic classification of yarn. Most staple fiber yarns are
made of natural materials.

 Ply yarns are made of one or more strands of staple fiber yarns. A single ply yarn is a
single strand of staple fibers held together by twisting. Two- and three-ply yarns are
made of two or three single yarns twisted together. Multiple-ply yarns are used for
fabrics that might require more strength or fabrics that need a desired surface effect.

 Filament yarn is made of one or more continuous strands that run the entire length of
the yarn. These are much longer than staple fibers. Silk is the only natural filament
yarn. Most filament yarns tend to be made from synthetic materials created by
mechanical or chemical processes.
Detail of wool knitting yarn with clear view of the ply.

Rope
A rope is a group of yarns, plies, fibers or strands that are twisted or braided together into a
larger and stronger form. Ropes have tensile strength and so can be used for dragging and
lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger than similarly constructed cord, string, and twine.

Types of Rope: Synthetic and Natural

Synthetic rope and cordage is stronger and more durable than natural fiber rope, and does not
absorb a high amount of water. It can be stored wet or dry since it’s resistant to rot, mildew and
most chemicals. However, synthetic rope can weaken with prolonged exposure to UV rays or
heat, so it should be stored out of direct sunlight when possible.

Synthetic ropes include:

Polypropylene
Polypropylene is generally the least expensive of synthetic ropes on the market. Lightweight,
strong and economical, polypropylene rope is a great choice for jobs, hobbies and recreational
use around water as it floats on the surface and won’t sink. In fact, it’s often called “ski rope” or
“pool rope.” This buoyancy also gives it good dielectric properties, which means it won’t
conduct an electric current if it touches a live electrical wire, so it’s a great choice to use if you’re
working around utility wire, trimming trees, etc. Because it does not absorb water, it has
excellent resistance to mildew, rot, petroleum products, marine organisms, acids and alkalis.
Polypropylene rope is a cost-efficient choice for many applications, but it is a stiffer rope so it
can be uncomfortable for jobs that require constant handling. It’s also not as strong as polyester
or nylon ropes and can also deteriorate more quickly than polyester or nylon. Polypropylene
ropes are also susceptible to gradual elongation when under load. Best for: Water & Snow Ski
Rope, Pool Rope, Construction Barrier Rope, Electricity Utility Rope.

Nylon
Nylon rope is an extremely strong and durable rope due to its ability to stretch- it can absorb
shock loads that might break other types of rope. This makes it extremely versatile and useful in
applications ranging from rodeo rope to safety line rope. With a smooth surface that won’t twist
or unravel, nylon rope generally wears very well in tough conditions and has a high resistance to
abrasion. Unlike polypropylene, nylon cord rope does absorb some water and when wet, it has
approximately 10-15% less strength, yet the effect is so little is it still widely used for water
applications such as anchor and mooring lines. It does regain the lost strength when it dries. Even
though it absorbs water, it’s resistant to mold, mildew and rot, as well as most alkalis, petroleum
products and marine growth. It is resistant to weak acids, but can be degraded by strong,
concentrated acids. Best for: mooring lines, sling rope, net rope, tie down rope, tow rope, safety
lines.

Polyester
Polyester rope has many of the same properties of nylon rope such as excellent resistance to
abrasion, but it is not as stretchy as nylon. This lack of elasticity makes it ideal for variety of uses
where a stretchy rope would be dangerous. One of most valuable properties of polyester is that
it’s unaffected by water, so it retains its strength even when wet. This also makes it extremely
resistant to mold, mildew, rot and organic solvents. Although polyester is not quite as strong as
nylon, it does offer superior resistance to heat and is great for outdoor use because it also has
superior resistance to UV rays, so it won’t yellow or weaken with extended exposure to
sunlight. Best for: Antenna Guidelines, Tug Rope, Barge Tow Rope, Rigging Rope, Tree Rope,
Safety Rope.
Natural fiber ropes are softer to the touch than synthetic ropes, but because they absorb water
they are more prone to mildew and rot and general decomposition, especially if stored away
when they’re wet. However, natural fibers are less affected by sunlight than synthetic fibers.
Natural fibers are also not as slippery as synthetic rope can be.

Natural ropes include:

Cotton
Cotton rope can be made of either 100% cotton yarn, or a cotton/polyester blend such as in a
cotton diamond braid. Like its namesake fabric, cotton is softer to the touch than many other
ropes, so it’s great for uses that require handling. Cotton rope offers very good resistance to
surface abrasions, but like all natural fibers, it is susceptible to deterioration from the elements
and it can dramatically lose its strength over time. It is also prone to mold, rot and mildew,
especially if it damp for long periods of time. However, it’s not as susceptible to UV damage, so
it’s sometimes a better choice than synthetic if it will be used in direct sunlight for extended
periods of time. Best for: tents, hammocks, halters, harnesses, awnings, pet toys.

Manila
Manila rope gets its name from its place of origin: the Philippines. Manufactured from the abaca
plant that’s native to the country, manila rope is a good general-purpose rope for uses that require
durability, strength and cost efficiency. Manila rope is also sometimes referred to as jute rope or
hemp rope as it’s made of all-natural hemp fibers. It is a very absorbent rope, but with very little
stretch, so it’s commonly used for activities where direct handling of rope is required such as for
climbing, obstacle courses, tug of war games, landscaping uses, and block and tackle
applications. Manila rope is a very visually appealing rope and offers excellent UV resistance so
it’s a popular choice for decorative landscape uses. It also has a superior ability for holding
knots. Because it’s a completely natural fiber, manila rope is biodegradable so it’s
environmentally friendly, however because it does absorb water, it should be completely dry
before storing, or it can rot or develop mildew. Manila is often described as a heavy rope or thick
rope; it will shrink approximately 10-15% when it becomes wet. Best for: Tug-O-War rope,
landscaping rope, rope ladders, rope railings, obstacle course rope.

Natural ropes vs. synthetic ropes

The rope is an essential item in our lives. Whether we use it to keep things from falling apart or
we have more specific purposes, such as climbing, the rope can come in hand in a multitude of
situations. The presence of a good type of rope in your survival kit could literally save your life
because it can be used for multiple purposes. For a review of the best climbing rope for your
needs, see our must-read article on the topic.
However, some rope types made of natural fibers are preferred by landscapers or cowboys. When
it comes to a rope made of synthetic fibers, the array of usage expands considerably. No longer
needed to drag rocks from one side to the other, natural rope is less expensive than synthetic
rope.

Characteristics of natural rope

Natural ropes were first invented and used around 4000 BC by the Egyptians. Among the
materials used by them to make rope were hair, grass and leather. The Chinese followed them by
creating the rope made of hemp during 3000 BC. Rope producers didn’t give up on hemp, using
it along with cotton, linen, manila, silk and sisal. However, some of these plant-based materials
are more popular than the others because they offer increased strength and have water-repellent
properties.
As general recommendations, natural ropes could make excellent decorative details and they
could be used for climbing. They are known to be heavier than synthetic fibers, so no one is too
happy to carry them around. Besides that, their resistance in time is low because they are affected
by humidity, UV rays and others similar environmental factors, being prone to rotting and
hardening. They are mainly used by sailors, farm keepers, landscapers and sometimes by
climbers.

Natural rope types

 Sisal rope This rope’s name comes from the plant it’s made of, namely Agave sisalana.
It is much appreciated because it costs next to nothing, but it has the tendency to become
coarse and relatively bulky. Other than that, it is stiff, strong, durable and it has the
capacity to resist deterioration in salted water. However, chemicals and moisture shorten
its lifespan.
 Baling twine This is sisal, but it has a much smaller diameter. It is good for tying up hay
bales and attaching materials to blinds. It is quite resistant as well, breaking at 350
pounds. Its fibers cannot be used separately.
 Manila rope A rope made of hemp, Manila rope is considered high quality, but among
its usages are mostly landscaping and other decorative purposes. Also good for stage
rigging, manila rope is reliable because of its moisture-absorbing properties. It isn’t
resistant to water or under the direct light of UV rays.
 Characteristics of synthetic rope
The synthetic rope was first manufactured with very specific characteristics in mind. It is usually
made using materials like nylon and polyester, but also, proprietary materials like Kevlar is.
Depending on its type, synthetic rope may be waterproof; it could float and stretch unimaginably
much.

Also, it’s usually lighter than the rope made of natural fibers. For example, polypropylene rope
doesn’t conduct electricity and Kevlar rope is flame resistant. Similar synthetic ropes can be used
for winch lines, helicopter slings, anchor lines, towing lines, swimming-lane barriers and so on.

Synthetic rope types

 Nylon Rope made of nylon is most appreciated because it is very stretchy. It absorbs a lot
of energy, fact which makes it dangerous if it breaks. Other than that, it has excellent
strength and it is not affected by UV light, chemicals or any type of rot. Commonly found in
mooring lines, it is great for sailors too!
 Kevlar rope Invented in 1965, the Kevlar rope is stronger than steel. Moreover, it does
not stretch at all, so it’s the opposite of nylon. It doesn’t rust, it is flame resistant, but it’s not
too friendly when it comes to the old UV rays. While it is not completely immune to
damage, it is still remarkable!
 Polypropylene rope Made of a synthetic material called polypropylene, this rope type is
perfect for water. It does not deteriorate in water, so it serves as a swimming-lane barrier or
for various activities of fishermen. Since it is not provided with stretch memory, it means
that once stretched, it does not come back to its initial shape. Among its defects is its
susceptibility to friction.
 Polyester rope This rope type is a good choice in case too much stretching is not desired.
More expensive than nylon rope, polyester rope has more strength and is more expensive
too. Lifting slings works great with rope like this because it is highly resistant to abrasion,
the harmful UV lights, as well as heat.