Textile fibers properties

The bulk properties of regenerated cellulose are the properties of Cellulose II which is created from Cellulose I by alkaline expansion of the crystal stmcture (97,101) (see Cellulose). The key textile fiber properties for the most important current varieties of regenerated cellulose are shown in Table 2. Fiber densities vary between 1.53 and 1.50. 

It was previously mentioned was that a large number of minor copolymers of PET have been developed over the past 50 years, with the intent of modifying textile fiber properties and processability [2, 3], Of broader interest is that some of these textile modifications, such as PET copolymers with metal salts of 5-sulfoisophthalic acid (SIPA), have their own rich chemistries when the extent of polymer modification is increased beyond textile levels. An example of such a modification is that changing the counterions associated with SIPA can significantly effect the kinetics of polyester transesterification reactions (the... 

Enzymes today are key strategic ingredients for washing and cleaning formulations. Enzymes not only remove stains but also improve textile fiber properties. 

Uses Emulsifier, solubilizer, lubricant, and detergent in textiles mild detergent and solubilizer in cosmetics solubilizer for flavors dispersant lubricant and antistat for textile fibers Properties Yel, liq, HLB 16,7 Canarcel TW 60 [Oxiteno Mexico]... 

Uses Detergent, wetting agent, scouring agent, antistat for processing textile fibers Properties Liq. 85% act. 

Uses Dyeing assistant and lubricant for textile fibers Properties Liq. water-sol. HLB 15.9 90% act. 

Uses Emulsifier for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, agric, suspension and emulsion polymerization antifog for plastics lubricant, softener for textile fibers Properties Amber vise, liq., mild odor sol. in alcohols, hydrocarbons, natural and paraffinic oils sp.gr. 1.04 vise. 5250 cs HLB 8.0 pour pt, 15 C flash pt. (PMCC) > 150C 100% act. 

Uses Emulsifier for emulsion polymerization emulsifier for fats, oils, and solvents for personal care and detergents oil additive and corrosion inhibitor wetting agent lubricant, softener, antistat for textile fibers Properties Amber viscous liq. sol. in min. oil, IPA, methanol, ethanol insol. in propylene glycol, water HLB 8.6 acid no. 7 max. sapon. no. 158-170 hyd. no. 330-358 100% cone. 1% max. water Sorbac 40 [Oxiteno Mexico]... 

The properties of textile fibers may be conveniently divided into three categories geometric, physical, and chemical, as shown in Table 4. 

Physical Properties. Relationships between fiber properties and their textile usefulness are in many cases quite obvious. Since fibers are frequently subjected to elevated temperatures, it is necessary that they have high melting or degradation points. It is also necessary that other fiber properties be relatively constant as a function of temperature over a useful temperature range. 

In general, textile fibers should be optically opaque so that their refractive indexes need to be significantly different from those of their most common environments, namely, air and water. Luster and color are two optical properties that relate to a fiber s aesthetic quatity and consumer acceptance. 

Typical textile fibers have linear densities in the range of 0.33—1.66 tex (3 to 15 den). Fibers in the 0.33—0.66 tex (3—6 den) range are generally used in nonwoven materials as well as in woven and knitted fabrics for use in apparel. Coarser fibers are generally used in carpets, upholstery, and certain industrial textiles. A recent development in fiber technology is the category of microfibers, with linear densities <0.11 tex (1 den) and as low as 0.01 tex. These fibers, when properly spun into yams and subsequendy woven into fabrics, can produce textile fabrics that have excellent drape and softness properties as well as improved color clarity (16). 

A schematic stress-strain curve of an uncrimped, ideal textile fiber is shown in Figure 4. It is from curves such as these that the basic factors that define fiber mechanical properties are obtained. 

The elasticity of a fiber describes its abiUty to return to original dimensions upon release of a deforming stress, and is quantitatively described by the stress or tenacity at the yield point. The final fiber quaUty factor is its toughness, which describes its abiUty to absorb work. Toughness may be quantitatively designated by the work required to mpture the fiber, which may be evaluated from the area under the total stress-strain curve. The usual textile unit for this property is mass pet unit linear density. The toughness index, defined as one-half the product of the stress and strain at break also in units of mass pet unit linear density, is frequentiy used as an approximation of the work required to mpture a fiber. The stress-strain curves of some typical textile fibers ate shown in Figure 5. 

An important aspect of the mechanical properties of fibers concerns their response to time dependent deformations. Fibers are frequently subjected to conditions of loading and unloading at various frequencies and strains, and it is important to know their response to these dynamic conditions. In this connection the fatigue properties of textile fibers are of particular importance, and have been studied extensively in cycHc tension (23). The results have been interpreted in terms of molecular processes. The mechanical and other properties of fibers have been reviewed extensively (20,24—27). 

With the exception of glass fiber, asbestos (qv), and the specialty metallic and ceramic fibers, textile fibers are a class of soHd organic polymers distinguishable from other polymers by their physical properties and characteristic geometric dimensions (see Glass Refractory fibers). The physical properties of textile fibers, and indeed of all materials, are a reflection of molecular stmcture and intermolecular organization. The abiUty of certain polymers to form fibers can be traced to several stmctural features at different levels of organization rather than to any one particular molecular property. 

R. Meredith, Mechanical Properties of Textile Fibers, Interscience Pubhshers, New York, 1956. 

W. E. Morton and J. W. S. Heade, Physical Properties of Textile Fibers, 2nd ed.. The Textile Institute and Butterworths Scientific Pubhcations,... 

Another property, used to compare the flammabiUty of textile fibers, is the limiting oxygen index (LOI). This measured quantity describes the minimum oxygen content (%) in nitrogen necessary to sustain candle-like burning. Values of LOI, considered a measure of the intrinsic flammabiUty of a fiber, are Hsted in Table 2 in order of decreasing flammabiUty. 

The predominant cellulose ester fiber is cellulose acetate, a partially acetylated cellulose, also called acetate or secondary acetate. It is widely used in textiles because of its attractive economics, bright color, styling versatiUty, and other favorable aesthetic properties. However, its largest commercial appHcation is as the fibrous material in cigarette filters, where its smoke removal properties and contribution to taste make it the standard for the cigarette industry. Cellulose triacetate fiber, also known as primary cellulose acetate, is an almost completely acetylated cellulose. Although it has fiber properties that are different, and in many ways better than cellulose acetate, it is of lower commercial significance primarily because of environmental considerations in fiber preparation. 

In the late 1980s, new fully aromatic polyester fibers were iatroduced for use ia composites and stmctural materials (18,19). In general, these materials are thermotropic Hquid crystal polymers that are melt-processible to give fibers with tensile properties and temperature resistance considerably higher than conventional polyester textile fibers. Vectran (Hoechst-Celanese and Kuraray) is a thermotropic Hquid crystal aromatic copolyester fiber composed of -hydroxyben2oic acid [99-96-7] and 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. Other fully aromatic polyester fiber composites have been iatroduced under various tradenames (19). 

Table 5. Textile-Associated Properties of Bast Fibers Compared to Polyester ...

Properties. As prepared, the polymer is not soluble in any known solvents below 200°C and has limited solubiUty in selected aromatics, halogenated aromatics, and heterocycHc Hquids above this temperature. The properties of Ryton staple fibers are in the range of most textile fibers and not in the range of the high tenacity or high modulus fibers such as the aramids. The density of the fiber is 1.37 g/cm which is about the same as polyester. However, its melting temperature of 285°C is intermediate between most common melt spun fibers (230—260°C) and Vectran thermotropic fiber (330°C). PPS fibers have a 7 of 83°C and a crystallinity of about 60%. 

Table 3. Classification of High Performance Fibers and High Technology Textiles by Property...

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