performace Characteristics Of Fibres (and How Fibres Are Made)

Question 1

Cotton (how it’s made)

Answer 1

1.Grows in a boll (seed pod on the plant) on a cotton plant( when they burst they are fluffy)
2.harvested by hand or machine (leaves sticks and bolls behind just take fluffy bit)
3.fibres are washed of left over sticks and separated from seeds using process called ginning
4.fibres are scoured (but into hot box ) were natural wax coating is removed from surface of fibres
5. Processed cotton fibres are spun into staple fibre yarns

Question 2

Cotton properties

Answer 2

Naturally breathable (conducts heat away from body)
Very absorbent
Good strength due to natural twist
Highly flammable
Poor insulator
Comfortable with soft handle
Damaged by prolonged sunlight

Question 3

Linen ( how it’s made)

Answer 3

1.comes from flax plant stem( harvested in July were with process called retting )
2.retted stems are crushed in process called scorching to separate fibres from woody outer bark
3.fibres are combed to remove short fibres leaving long fibres
4.spun into staple yarn

Question 4

Linen properties

Answer 4

Absorbent
Naturally breathable
Strong due to long length of fibres
Poor elasticity and crease easily
Highly flammable
Poor insulator
Has subtle lustre
Poor drape and stiff handle

Question 5

Wool (how it’s made)

Answer 5

1.sheeps are sheared and fleece is removed by hand typically once a year
2.remove stained wool sort rest by quality of fibres cleaned with detergents
3.opening equipment which combs out and separates fibres
4.blending room air currents make different grades of wool(some mixed with different fibres such as polyester)
5.web divides wool into thin striped we’re it gets spun into twists

Question 6

Wool properties

Answer 6

Water repelant has natural grease from sheep’s glands
Absorbs moisture
Easily shrinks
Moths can attack it
Strong but not durable
High fire resistant and self extinguished when set alight
Natural crimp allows for not much creasing and air to get trapped making it a good insulator
No lusture

Question 7

Silk (how it’s made)

Answer 7

1.from silk worms larve hatch out of eggs and when cocoons are spun they are killed in hot water
2.cocoons loosen produce strands wich are spun into threads