Textile fibers history

Cellulose is the main structural element of the cell walls of most plants and is also a major component of wood, as well as cotton and other textile fibers, such as linen and hemp. The history of cellulose is as old as that of humankind. For instance, fine clothes and cottons have been recovered from the tombs of the ancient kings of Egypt, the pharaohs. Today, cellulose and its derivatives are used in the industrial preparation of paper and also in the chemical industry as a stabilizer, dispersing agent, thickener, and gelling agent. Cellulose is also a component of dietary fiber. 

Researchers have examined the creep and creep recovery of textile fibers extensively (13-21). For example, Hunt and Darlington (16, 17) studied the effects of temperature, humidity, and previous thermal history on the creep properties of Nylon 6,6. They were able to explain the shift in creep curves with changes in temperature and humidity. Lead-erman (19) studied the time dependence of creep at different temperatures and humidities. Shifts in creep curves due to changes in temperature and humidity were explained with simple equations and convenient shift factors. Morton and Hearle (21) also examined the dependence of fiber creep on temperature and humidity. Meredith (20) studied many mechanical properties, including creep of several generic fiber types. Phenomenological theory of linear viscoelasticity of semicrystalline polymers has been tested with creep measurements performed on textile fibers (18). From these works one can readily appreciate that creep behavior is affected by many factors on both practical and theoretical levels. 

Whitford, A.C. Textile Fibers Used in Eastern Aboriginal North America. American Museum of Natural History, Anthropology Papers, vol. 38, Part I, 1941. 

The most thorough historical treatment of man-made fibers appeared recently in the book Development of Some Man-Made Fibres (25). The chapter on synthetic fibers has an especially good bibliography. Detailed descriptions of the history of man-made fibers in the United States can be found in the American Handbook of Synthetic Textiles (P), recently off the press, and Matthews Textile Fibers 10. A new and sixth edition of the latter volume is believed to be under way. 

The structure of PET fibers was described [194] using the iodine sorption method. Iodine sorption of the fibers was shown as a function of the test temperature, or the heat history of the process, whereas polyester fiber structures are a function of the textile fiber process. This structure was monitored by the study of the change in sorption of iodine, said to be related to the amorphous, free area and the dyeability of the fiber. 

The objective of this chapter is to describe how thermal analysis can contribute to fiber identification and characterization. In order to achieve this objective it is necessary to understand how fibers are produced and how thermal history is impressed on these materials during production. The variety of commercial materials, manufacturing processes and additives used in the field of textile fibers renders a complete description impossible, however, an introduction to the principal aspects may be provided. 

In order to obtain PET in a semicrystalline state, it should be kept in the hot mold for the time required for its crystallization its physical properties are thus highly dependent on its thermal history. As textile fiber, PET is highly oriented by drawing and it is maintained at its temperature of maximal crystallization before being... 

The brief historical sketch presented above indicates that textile fibers were one of the material components, which protect the respiratory tracts, and have been applied from the dawn of history. From the begiiming they had been used intuitively, without understanding the mechanism of filtration. The first attempts of scientific description of the filtration mechanism were presented by Albrecht [86], Kaufman [87], Langmuir [88], and recently by Brown [6] who characterized the four basic physical phenomena of mechanical deposition in the following way ... 

Textile fiber materials can be divided into natural and chemical fibers. As a result of the industrial revolution and growth of the world population, the consumption of fibers worldwide has continuously increased (Fig. 2.1). The consumption of textile goods per person has risen as well. Citizens of industrial countries consume about 20 to 25 kg of textile materials per year. Since 1950, a major increase in the share of chemical fibers can be observed. In 1994, for the first time in history, the world share of man-made fibers exceeded that for natural fibers and is still growing. The steady increase in the world population will provoke an increase in production of natural and chemical fibers. While predictions differ quantitatively. Fig. 2.2 gives a good estimate. 

Composites. The history of phenoHc resin composites goes back to the early development of phenoHc materials, when wood flour, minerals, and colorants were combined with phenoHc resins to produce mol ding compounds. In later appHcations, resin varnishes were developed for kraft paper and textile fabrics to make decorative and industrial laminates. Although phenoHcs have been well characterized in glass-reinforced composites, new developments continue in this area, such as new systems for Hquid-injection molding (LIM) and sheet-molding compounds (SMC). More compHcated composite systems are based on aramid and graphite fibers. 

In a study of allergic contact dermatitis in consumers, 1813 consecutive patients were tested with an additional textile series of 12 reactive dyes, and 18 patients (0.99%) were found to be sensitized to reactive dyes. However, only five patients had a history of intolerance to garments, and two of the four patch tests performed with pieces of garment were positive. In practice, reactive dyes in clothing should not be sensitizers. If they can be extracted from fibers, they are in a hydrolyzed, nonsensitizing form. 

It was presumed that there lay tremendous distance to reach our targets by simply studying primary structure of polymer chains in order to imitate hand and appearances of natural fibers and textiles selected through our lengthy history. 

Textile tek- StIl [L, ff. neuter of textilis woven, ff. texere] (1626) n. Originally, a woven fabric now apphed generally to any one of the following (1) Staple fibers and filaments suitable for conversion to or use as yarns, or for the preparation of woven, knit, or non-woven fabrics. (2) Yarns made from natural or manufactured fibers. (3) Fabrics and other manufactured products made from fibers as defined above and from yarns. (4) Garments and other articles fabricated from fibers, yarns, or fabrics when the products retain the characteristic flexibility and drape of the original fabrics. Schoeser M (2003) World textiles a concise history. Thames and Hudson. Kadolph SJJ, Langford AL (2001) Textiles. Pearson Education, New York. 

The history of metallic fibers is about 3(X)0 years old. In fact, the first man-made fibers used in textiles were not nylon or rayon but silver and gold. When the highest level of... 

Insolubilization. Insolubilization of compounds within textiles parallels the history of humanity the direct dyeing techniques for cotton were highly advanced in the Bronze Age. With the exception of fiber-reactive dyes discussed earlier, other cotton dyes, ie, vat and sulfur, are insolubilized within the fiber after an oxidization step. Insoluble metal oxides have been used to flameproof cotton, and zirconium compounds have been insolubilized on cotton to render the fabric microbial resistant (135) or mildew resistant (136) via a mineral dyeing process (see Textile Finishing). 

Polyurethanes (PUs) are a family of condensation polymers that include the urethane (-NHCOO-) group in the chemical structure (Figure 5.1). The history of PUs started in 1937 when Dr Otto Bayer of Bayer Germany invented the diisocyanate polyaddition process. The early applications of PUs were mainly on soft foams and nonsegmented semicrystalline fibers. The lack of rubber materials during WWII has led to the intensive development of PU elastomers. In 1950, Bayer launched the first PU elastomer product, Vulkollan rubbers. Since then, PU elastomers have been used extensively, particular in medical, textile, automobile, and architecture industries [1-3]. 

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