1. Fiber Characteristics Chapter 2

2. Fiber Sources Natural Fibers Obtained from plants or animals Plant Fibers Flax, hemp, jute, ramie, cotton and kapok Animal Fibers Wool, cashmere, mohair and silk Manufactured Fibers Made from chemical solutions that are forced through tiny holes The device used to form the filaments is called a spinerette

3. Fiber Structure Fiber Length Stable fibers are measure in inches (all manufactured fibers) Fibers of longer length are called filament fibers (silk is the only natural one)

4. Fiber Shape Hollow-core Dogbone Flat, Oval with Convolutions Square with voids Serrated Round Trilobal

5. Absorbency The ability to take in moisture It is usually expressed as a percentage of moisture regain Fibers able to absorb water easily are called hydrophilic fibers Fibers that have difficulty absorbing water and are only able to absorb small amounts are called hydrophobic fibers

6. Fiber Absorbency Skin Comfort Static Build-up Dimensional Stability in Water Stain Removal Water Repellency Wrinkle Recovery

7. Cover The ability to occupy an area

8. Elasticity The ability to increase in length when under tension and then return to the original length when released

9. Flammability The ability to ignite or burn Flammable fibers are relatively easy to ignite Flame-resistant fibers have relatively high ignition temperature and slow rate of burning Flameproof fibers will not burn

10. Flexibility The capability of a fiber to bend easily and repeatedly without breaking

11. Hand The way a fiber, yarn, or fabric feels when handled It is affected by its shape, surface and configuration

12. Luster Refers to the light reflected from a surface Increased light reflection occurs from a smoother surface, less crimp, flatter cross-sectional shape, and longer fiber length

13. Pilling The formation of groups of short or broken fibers on the surface of a fabric that are tangled together in the shape of a tiny ball called a pill They are formed when the ends of a fiber break from the fabric surface, usually from wear

14. Resiliency The capability of a material to spring back in shape after being creased, twisted, or distorted

15. Static Electricity The frictional electric charge caused by the rubbing together of two dissimilar materials

16. Strength A fiber’s ability to withstand stress