Chapter 4 Review for Exam 2

What materials make synthetic fibers?

Chemical fibers made from nonrenewable petrochemicals. Along with Petroleum, gas, and coal

List some examples of synthetic fibers

Nylon, Polyester, Olefin, Acrylic, Modacrylic, Aramid, and Spandex

What are the common properties of synthetic fiber?

• Thermoplastisity

• Pilling

• Static electricity

• Oleophilic

• Low absorbency

• High strength and abrasion resistance

• Excellent resilience

• Lightweight

• Generally resistant to moths, fungi, most chemicals, and sunlight

What are the advantages of heat setting?

- Permanent finishes (e.g., embossed designs, pleats, shape, etc..)

- Crush resistance pile

- Wrinkle resistance

What are the disadvantages of heat setting?

• Creases

• Wrinkles during care procedures

How is synthetic fiber modified?

• Fiber shape and size

• 
  

How do you identify synthetic fiber using a burn test?

Chemical smell, hard bead,

What is Pilling?

The formation of tangled fibers on the surface of the fabric

What is Thermoplastic?

The ability to soften, melt, or shrink when exposed to heat

What is olephilic?

Oil loving

What is Glass Transition Temperature?

Stabilizes yarns, fabrics made of heat-sensitive fibers (when to fibers apply the heat melting point)

What is the source of Polyester

Petroleum

What are the characteristics of Polyester?

• High or regular tenacity

• Smooth, rod-like fibers

• Pitted appearance due to delusterant

• Circular cross-sectional shape

• Variable shape

What are the properties of Polyester regarding aesthetics?

• Tribal shaped cross section lends silk - like qualitites

• Microfiber form softer fabrics (finer than silk)

What are the properties of Polyester regarding durability?

• Excellent tenacity, abrasion resistance

• High elongation

What are the properties of Polyester regarding comfort?

• Low absorbency

• Moderate thermal retention

What are the properties of Polyester regarding appearance retention?

• Excellent resiliency

• Excellent dimensional stability

• Pilling is a potential problem

How should Polyester be cared for?

• Cotton/Poly blends – wash in warm water, medium dryer setting remove promptly touch up with iron

• Dries quickly

• Minimal wrinkling

• Heat sea fabrics – dimensional stability

• Oleophilic – oil stains

• Soil build-up can lead to odor bacteria growth

• Resistant to acids, alkalis, chlorine, and oxygen bleaches biological attack, sunlight

Where are Polyester fibers used?

• Cotton/poly blends

• Durable press fabric

• Kint fabric

• Carpet

• Fiberfill

• Tire cord

• Medicine - Artificial arteries, veins, and hearts

What are some examples of Polyester trade names?

• Fortrel (Wellman. inc)

• Dacron (Du Pont)

• Trevira (Hoechst Celanese)

Burn test Polyester: In flame

Melts before igniting; burns with a heavy black smoke

Burn test Polyester: Odor

Sweat, chemical

Burn test Polyester: Residue

Hard gray-brown bead

What is the source of Nylon?

Petroleum

What are the characteristics of Nylon?

• Transparent fiber

• Thermoplastic fiber

• Hydrophobic fiber

• Produced in multifilament and monofilament forms, as staple and tow

• Can be controlled luster, drape, and texture

What are the trade names for Nylon?

• Polyamide

• Tactel

• Cordura

• Supplex

• Geo-Tex

• Emana

What are the advantages of Nylon?

• Lightweight

• Wicking

• Excellent tenacity & abrasion resistance

• High elongation

• High resiliency (heat set)

• Excellent dimensional stability

• Excellent elastic recovery (good for hosiery)

What are the dissadvantages of Nylon?

• Low absorbency: static build up

• Pills readily

• Poor sunlight resistance

How should Nylon be cared for?

• Easy care

• Does not wrinkle easily

• Resistant to moths, mildew, carpet beetles, silverfish

• Resistant to alkalis, chlorine bleaches

• Dries quickly

• Fabric softener abates static

• Stain resistance

• Some may be degraded by sunlight

• Avoid high water, dryer, ironing temps.

• Color scavenger

Where are Nylon fibers used?

• Apparel

• Furnishings

• Industrial

• Dresses, carpets, swimwear, Hosiery

Burn test Nylon: In flame

Melts before igniting drips; self-extinguishes, produces white smoke

Burn test Nylon: Odor

Celery or slightly fishy

Burn test Nylon: Residue

Sticky or hard bead

What is Color Scavanger?

N/A

What are the characteristics of Olefin?

• Lightweight

• Low static

• Colorfast

• Oleophilic

• Hydrophobic

What is the production process of Olefin?

• Known as “Polypropylene” (plastic polymer)

• Melt spun and cold-drawn to 6x its spun length

Olefin physical structure

• Filament/mono-filament/multi-filament or staple

• Variable tenacities

• Round cross-sectional shape

Burn test Olefin: In flame

Melts, burns, drips

Burn test Olefin: Odor

burnt tar or paraffin-like

Burn test Olefin: Residue

Brown/yellow hard bead

What are the properties of Olefin regarding aesthetics?

• Medium luster

• Waxy hand

• Variable drape

What are the properties of Olefin regarding durability?

• High tenacity, abrasion resistance

• Variable elongation

What are the properties of Olefin regarding comfort?

• Low absorbency (usually solution dyed)

• Tends to not have static build up

• Excellent wicking properties

• Good thermal retention

• Lightest weight fiber (light as a feather)

What are the properties of Olefin regarding appearance retention?

• Excellent resiliency, dimensional stability, elastic recovery

• Not easily soiled or stained

• May be heat set

How should Olefin be cared for?

• Dries quickly

• Resistant to acids, alkalis

• Damaged by some dry-cleaning

• Oleophilic (all synthetic fibers love oil)

• Heat sensitive

• Resistant to microorganisms

• Affected by sunlight unless treated

• Warm, cold water washing, air dry (consumers don’t need to put it into the dryer), dry and iron at low temps. to not melt it

Where are Olefin fibers used?

• Underwear, socks, active sportswear (Thinsulate)

• Carpeting

• Nonwoven, needle punched carpets and tiles

• Upholstery, draperies, slipcovers

• Geo-textiles

• Car interiors, filters, ropes, twines, ect…

What are some examples of Olefin trade names

• Tyvek (DuPont)

• Hercules (Hercules, Inc.)

• Spectra 900, 1000 (Allied-Signal. Inc)

What is wicking?

Passes moisture to its surface for evaporation

What are the characteristics of Acrylic?

Wool-like characteristics

What is the production process for Acrylic

• Solvent, dry spun: Hot drawn to 3-10 times its original length, Crimped, tow, cut into staple

• Wet spun: Crimped, Tow for high bulk processing, Cut into staple

What is the physical structure for Acrylic

• Produced as staple (various lengths) and tow

• Variable cross-sectional shape

• Pitted appearance

Burn test Acrylic: In flame

• Melts and burns

• Produces black smoke

Burn test Acrylic: Odor

Sour, burning meat or broiled fish

Burn test Acrylic: Residue

Hard, brittle black bead, may crumble

What are the properties of Acrylic regarding aesthetics?

• Soft, pleasing hand

• Fiber texturing lends wool-like properties (staple fiber)

• Matte due to delusterants, irregular cross-sectional shape, and crimp

What are the properties of Acrylic regarding durability?

• Moderate tenacity, abrasion resistance (weaker wet)

• Moderate to high elongation (greater when wet)

What are the properties of Acrylic regarding comfort?

• Low absorbency with wicking (from irregular fiber surface)

• Moderate thermal retention, can be improved by high bulky fibers, fabrics (bulky fabrics retain body heat well)

• Lightweight - bulk without weight

What are the properties of Acrylic regarding appearance retention?

• Moderate resiliency

• Moderate dimensional stability (shrink in wet & hot temps.)

• Moderate elastic recovery

• Cannot heat set (decomposes, discolors when heated)

• May pill

How should Acrylic be cared for?

• Follow care instructions

• Harmed by strong alkalis and chlorine bleach

• Machine dry high-bulky yarns to regain shape

• Some acrylics resistance to dry cleaning solvents

• Resistant to mildew, moths, and sunlight

Where are Acrylic fibers used?

• Apparel: Sweater knits, Knitted fleece fabrics, Socks

• Craft yarns for hand knits, crochet

• Pile fabrics (fake furs and jacket linings)

• Furnishings (drapery, upholstery)

• Blankets (less expensive than wool, easier to care for)

What are trade names for Acrylic

• Acrilan, Duaspun, etc (Solutia, Inc.)

• Creslan, BioFresh, etc (Sterling Fibers, Inc)

What are the characteristics of Modacrylic?

• Modified acrylics

• First inherently flame-retardant synthetic fiber

• S.E.F. (self-extinguishing flame)

What is the production process for Modacrylic?

Dry spun

• Dissolving copolymer in acetone

• Stretched while hot

What is the physical structure (properties) of Modacrylic?

• Staple or tow

• Creamy white originally (industry can control the color)

• Dog-bone, irregular cross-sectional shape

Burn test Modacrylic: In flame

• Burns very slowly

• Self-extinguishes

Burn test Modacrylic: Odor

Sharp, gunpowder

Burn test Modacrylic: Residue

Black ash, may be a black bead

What is flame retardant?

Burn but self-extinguished when removed from flame

What are the properties of Modacrylic regarding aesthetics?

• Long, polished (guard hairs) or soft, crimped (undercoat) to resemble fur

• Matte to intense luster (uses delusterant to get rid of luster look)

What are the properties of Modacrylic regarding durability?

• Less durable than Acrylic

• Moderate tenacity - similar to wool, not as strong as Acrylic

• Moderate abrasion resistance - similar to Acrylic

What are the properties of Modacrylic regarding comfort?

• Low absorbency (Fibers bond quickly)

• Good thermal retention

• Soft

• Lightweight

• Flame retardent

What are the properties of Modacrylic regarding appearance retention?

• Moderate resiliency, dimensional stability (not wrinkle)

• High elastic recovery

• Pills more readily that Acrylic

• Retains color well

How should Modacrylic be cared for?

• Resistant to acids, weak alkalis, and most organic solvents

• Resistant to moths, mildew, sunlight, flame

• Heat sensitive - avoid heat (if ironed at high tempts. it will melt)

Where are Modacrylic fibers used?

• Protective clothing (children’s sleepwear, electric line workers)

• Furnishings (Upholstery, window treatment fabrics, blankets

• Industrial applications (filters)

• Fur, wigs, hairpieces (can curl with a curling iron - heat sensitive)

What is elastomeric fiber?

It can stretch 100% of its original dimensions and recover

What are the raw materials for Rubber?

Natural raw materials: Rubber tree

Synthetic rubber: Petroleum-based

What are the characteristics of Rubber?

• Excellent elongation and recovery

• Poor strength

• heavy

• Cannot be dyed, usually covered by yarns

What are some things that damage Rubber?

• Aging

• Sunlight

• Oil

• Perspiration

• Heat

• Detergents

• Chlorine

• Dry cleaning solvents

What are the raw materials for Spandex (Elastane)?

Polyurethane (petroleum-based)

What is the production for Spandex?

Wet or solvent spun

What are the characteristics of Spandex?

• Filament form

• Variable size

What are the properties of Spandex?

• Often blended with other fibers

• Dyeable

• More durable than rubber (flex life is 3x greater)

• Poor tenacity, abrasion resistance

• Do not absorb moisture

• Lightweight, smooth, soft

• Resistant to dilute acids, alkalis, bleaches, dry-cleaning solvents

• Thermoplastic

• Resistant to aging, soiling

• “Grin-through”

Where are Spandex fibers used for?

Apparel

• Intimate apparel, shape wear, hosiery

• Active sportswear

• Business casual

Medicine

• Surgical and support hose, bandages, surgical wraps

How is Aramid produced?

Wet spun or dry spun

What are the characteristics of Aramid?

• High tenacity (stronger than steel)

• High resistant to stretch, temperature

• Oleophilic

• Static buildup unless finished

Where are Aramid fibers used?

• Protective apparel (Nomex & Kevlar)

• Flame-retardant furnishings (Nomex)

• Cables, cordage, tire reinforcement (Kevlar)

• Sailboat rope, racing car tires, fireproof clothing, body armor

• Bullet-proof vests

List the two trade names for Aramid?

• Nomex

• Kevlar