Properties essential to make a Fiber

Each fibre has particular properties which help us to decide which particular fibre should be used to suite a particular requirement. Certain fibre properties increase its value and desirability in its intended end-use but are not necessary properties essential to make a fibre. Thus it is very essential to know the individual aspects and specific properties of each kind of fibre.

Basic Textile Fiber Properties:

There are several primary properties necessary for a polymeric material to make an adequate fiber.Certain other fiber properties increase its value and desirability in its intended end-use but are not necessary properties essential to make a fiber. Such secondary properties include moisture absorption characteristics, fiber resiliency, abrasion resistance, density, luster, chemical resistance, thermal characteristics, and flammability.
Some Primary Properties of Textile Fibers are:

• Fiber length to width ratio,
• Fiber uniformity,
• Fiber strength and flexibility,
• Fiber extensibility and elasticity, and
• Fiber cohesiveness.

Fiber Properties for specific requirements

Utility of fibers are broadly catagorized into 2 different uses- one is Apparel or Domestic use and the other is Industrial use.In order to be used in each of these each of these catagories the fiber has to meet some specific requirements.
They are:

Apparel/Domestic Requirements

• Tenacity: 3 - 5 gramddenier
• Elongation at break: 10 - 35%
• Recovery from elongation: 100% at strains up to 5%
• Modulus of elasticity: 30 - 60 gramddenier
• Moisture absorbency: 2 - 5%
• Zero strength temperature (excessive creep and softening point): above 215°C
• High abrasion resistance (varies with type fabric structure)
• Dye-able
• Low flammability
• Insoluble with low swelling in water, in moderately strong acids and bases and conventional organic solvents from room temperature to 100°c
• Ease of care

Industrial Requirements

• Tenacity: 7 - 8 graddenier
• Elongation at break: 8 - 15%
• Modulus of elasticity: 80 graddenier or more conditioned, 50 graddenier wet
• Zero strength temperature: 250° C or above