Man Made Fibers

Chamal Jayasinghe ( B.Sc. Engineering ( Textiles ))

 Man Made Fiber Manufacturing Methods
The word “spinning” can be used to mean the conversion of staple fibers to yarn as well as to mean the production of man-made

filaments by extrusion.

Thermosets Vs. Thermoplastics

Even though thermoset plastics and thermoplastics sound similar, they have very different properties and applications.

The primary physical difference is that thermoplastics can be re-melted back into a liquid, whereas thermoset plastics always remain in

a permanent solid state. Think of thermoplastics as butter, butter can be melted and cooled multiple times to form various

shapes. Thermoset is similar to bread in that once the final state is achieved, any additional heat would lead to charring. Based on

these properties of polymers , we have to used different methods to manufacture fibers.

All manmade polymers are solids at normal temperatures. The polymers in solid form must be converted to liquid form polymer for

creating fine fibers. For this purpose, the liquid polymer needs to be forced through fine holes of the spinneret to form filaments.

The method used for each fiber depends upon the ease of conversion of the polymer from solid to liquid state.

• There are three basic methods of spinning manmade fibers, those are ; Melt , Wet and Dry Spinning
Melt Spinning
Dry Spinning
If Polymer is getting chemically
damaged by heating, dry spinning is
used. In this method Polymers are
dissolved in a suitable solvent which is
evaporated in a later stage. As the jets
of solution emerge from the spinneret,
a stream of hot air causes the solvent
to evaporate from the spinning
solution, leaving solid filaments.
Acetate, Triacetate and fibers are
produced by using this method.
Wet Spinning
 Viscose
• Viscose comes from trees, but
it is not as environmentally
sound as other types of rayon,
such as modal, because the
production process uses high
concentrations of chemicals.
Viscose is cheap to produce
and is a versatile fabric used for
clothing items such as blouses,
dresses, and jackets, and
around the home in carpets
and upholstery.
Properties of
Viscose
• Regenerated cellulose filament fiber.
• Raw materials are wood pulp or cotton linters.
• Very cheap.
• Fair strength. Less strength when wet.
• Wrinkle and crease.
• Moist absorbent.
• Good heat resistance
• Easily damaged by strong acids
• Good resistance to most alkalis; loses strength
in strong alkalis
• Lengthy exposure to sunlight weakens the fabric
• Greater affinity for dyes than cotton
• Used for lady's wear , bedspreads and many
light weigh applications
Nylon ( Polyamide)
 Nylon
• Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers composed of polyamides Nylon
is a silk-like thermoplastic, generally made from petroleum, that can be melt-processed into
fibers, films, or shapes. Nylon polymers have found significant commercial applications in fabric
and fibers (apparel, flooring and rubber reinforcement), in shapes (molded parts for cars,
electrical equipment, etc.), and in films (mostly for food packaging).

• Nylon was the first commercially successful synthetic thermoplastic polymer

• Nylon was first used commercially in a nylon-bristled toothbrush in 1938,followed more

famously in women's stockings or "nylons" which were shown at the 1939 New York World's Fair
and first sold commercially in 1940, whereupon they became an instant commercial success with
64 million pairs sold during their first year on the market. During World War II, almost all nylon
production was diverted to the military for use in parachutes and parachute cord. Wartime uses
of nylon and other plastics greatly increased the market for the new materials.
Nylon Properties

• Manmade synthetic fiber.

• Good strength.
• Good elasticity.
• High Abrasion resistance
• Good resilience.
• Less absorbent.
• Develop static charges.
• Poor heat conductivity.
• Dissolves in mineral and formic acids
• Good resistance to alkalis
• Loses strength when expose to sunlight
• Used for fish lines, swimwear, nets and
Stockings