Textiles

Question 1

What is a fibre?

Answer 1

A very fine hair like structure that is spun or twisted to make a yarn.

Question 2

What is a yarn?

Answer 2

Yarn is like a thread. Yarns are woven together or knitted to create a textile fabric in sheet form.

Question 3

Fibres tend to come from Polymers. Where do the polymers come from?

Answer 3

Natural sources (plants or animals)
Synthetic sources (man-made usually from plastics)

Question 4

Properties of Cotton

Answer 4

Absorbent, strong, cool to wear, hard wearing, smooth, easy to care for

Question 5

Uses of cotton

Answer 5

Clothing, sewing/knitting threads, soft furnishings, medical dressings, bed sheets, canvas

Question 6

Disadvantages of cotton

Answer 6

Creases easily, flammable, can shrink

Question 7

What type of polymer is cotton?

Answer 7

Plant

Question 8

Properties of linen

Answer 8

Strong, cool to wear, absorbent, hard wearing, has a natural appearance, handles well

Question 9

Uses of linen

Answer 9

Light weight summer clothing, soft furnishings, table linen

Question 10

Disadvantages of linen

Answer 10

Creases very easily, flammable

Question 11

What type of polymer is linen?

Answer 11

Plant - comes from hemp

Question 12

Properties of hemp

Answer 12

Absorbency, non-static, antibacterial, naturally lustrous, strong in tension

Question 13

Uses of hemp

Answer 13

Clothing, carpets and rugs, ropes, mattress fillings

Question 14

What type of polymer is hemp?

Answer 14

Plant

Question 15

Properties of jute

Answer 15

Very absorbent, high tensile strength, antistatic

Question 16

Uses of jute

Answer 16

Bags, sacking, carpets, geo textiles, yarn and twine, upholstery, clothing (to a lesser extent)

Question 17

What type of polymer is jute?

Answer 17

Plant

Question 18

Properties of silk

Answer 18

Absorbent, comfortable to wear, can be cool or warm to wear, strong when dry, has a natural sheen, good feel

Question 19

Uses of silk

Answer 19

Luxury clothing and lingerie, knitwear, soft furnishings

Question 20

Disadvantages of silk

Answer 20

Creases

Question 21

What type of polymer is silk?

Answer 21

Insect

Question 22

Properties of wool

Answer 22

Warm, absorbent, low flammability, good elasticity, crease resistant, strong, remains a good insulator when wet, can wick away 30% moisture

Question 23

Uses of wool

Answer 23

Warmer outer clothing including coats, jackets, suits, knitwear, carpets, blankets

Question 24

Disadvantages of wool

Answer 24

Shrink easily, when wet dries slow

Question 25

What type of polymer is wool?

Answer 25

Animal

Question 26

Properties of polyester

Answer 26

Strong when wet and dry, flame resistant (but will melt), thermoforming, hardwearing, crease resistant

Question 27

Uses of polyester

Answer 27

Versatile fabric used throughout textiles

Question 28

Disadvantages of polyester

Answer 28

Poor absorbency (could sometimes be an advantage)

Question 29

Properties of nylon (polyamide)

Answer 29

Strong and hard wearing, melts as it burns, thermoforming, good elasticity, resistant to chemicals and perspiration

Question 30

Uses of nylon

Answer 30

Clothing, carpets, rucksacks, seat belts, ropes

Question 31

Disadvantages of nylon

Answer 31

Poor absorbency

Question 32

Properties of polypropylene

Answer 32

Thermoforming with low mp, strong, crease resistant, chemical resistant, hardwearing, durable

Question 33

Uses of polypropylene

Answer 33

Engineered for specific uses, carpet, twine, fishing nets, ropes, sacks

Question 34

Disadvantages of polypropylene

Answer 34

Poor absorbency

Question 35

Properties of acrylic

Answer 35

Strong except when wet, thermoforming, burns slowly then melts, good insulator

Question 36

Uses of acrylic

Answer 36

Knit wear and some knitted fabrics, fake fur products

Question 37

Disadvantages of acrylic

Answer 37

Poor absorbency

Question 38

Properties of elastane, Lycra

Answer 38

Very elastic and stretchy, lightweight, strong and hardwearing

Question 39

Uses of elastane, Lycra

Answer 39

Swimwear, and sports wear, skinny jeans

Question 40

Properties of aramid fibres (includes Kevlar)

Answer 40

Heat resistant, 5X stronger than nylon, abrasion resistant, low shrinkage, ease of care, Kevlar - tear resistant, very high tensile strength, light weight

Question 41

Uses of aramid fibres

Answer 41

Flame resistant clothing, kevlar used in body armour, geo textiles, aeronautical industry, ropes, cables. Kevlar - carbon fibre

Question 42

Disadvantages of aramid fibres

Answer 42

Shrink easily, kevlar shrinks if wet

Question 43

Properties of nomex (aramid)

Answer 43

Flame proof, tough, durable, very flexible

Question 44

Uses of nomex

Answer 44

Often combined with kevlar to give a flexible, lightweight, tear, flame, and heat resistant material

Question 45

Woven textiles types

Answer 45

Plain weave and twill weave

Question 46

Advantages of Plain woven textiles

Answer 46

Strong, hard wearing, cheap to make, easy to add printed designs

Question 47

Disadvantages of plain woven textiles

Answer 47

Quality can vary, firm

Question 48

Advantages of twill weave

Answer 48

Strong, hard wearing and hangs well

Question 49

Disadvantages of twill woven textiles

Answer 49

Frays, thickness can be hard to work with

Question 50

Advantages of non-woven textiles

Answer 50

Doesn’t fray, cheap to make, durable, doesn’t lose shape

Question 51

Disadvantages of non-woven textiles

Answer 51

Disposable, weak when wet

Question 52

Advantages of felted fabric

Answer 52

Doesn’t unravel or fray, easy to cut, good insulator

Question 53

Disadvantages of felted fabric

Answer 53

Weak, will easily lose shape, expensive

Question 54

Welt knitting

Answer 54

Interlocking loops are formed horizontally which enable it to stretch May lose shape

Question 55

Warp knitting

Answer 55

Loops interlock vertically, so knit keeps its shape and is less likely to unravel or ladder