Fiber chemical & Physical properties

1. Cellulose fibers Impurities presents in textile fibers
Substances
Natural Textile fibers ( Cellulose )
Seed Fibers Bust Fibers Leaf Fibers
Cotton Coir Kapok Jute Flax Ramie Hemp Abaca Pina Sisal
Cellulose 82-95 43.44 35-65 65.2 71.2 68.6-76.2 74.3 56-63 78-87 71.5
Hemi
Cellulose
2 0.25 23.0 22.2 18.5 13.1-16.7 17.9 20-25 9.48 18.1
Protein 1-1.5 0 36.90 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Pectin 1 3.00 23.0 0.2 2.0 1.9 0.9 2-3 2.3
Ash 0 2.22 5.87 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wax 0.5 0 23.10 0.6 0 0.3 0 0 0 0.5
Lignin 2 45.84 13.0 12.2 2.2 0.6-0.7 3.7 7-13 4.78 5.9
Soluble
Substance
1 05.25 1.5 1.7
Protein fibers Impurities presents in textile fibers
Natural Textile fibers (Protein )
Substances Wool Substances Silk Substances Mohair
Keratin 33 Fibroin 70-80
Wax (grease)
content of fleece
5
Dirt 26 Sericin 20-30
Saponification
Value (mg KOH/g)
125 – 135
Suint 28 Wax 0.4-0.8 Acid Value 14.5
Fat 12 Carbohydrates 1.2-1.65 Iodine value 15
Mineral Matter 1 Inorganic Matter 0.7 Acids (%) 55
Pigment 0.2
Unsaponifiable
Fraction
45
Ester Value 115

2. Cellulose fibers Physical properties in textile fibers
Substances
Natural Textile fibers ( Cellulose )
Seed Fibers Bust Fibers Leaf Fibers
Cotton Coir Kapok Jute Flax Ramie Hemp Abaca Pina Sisal
Length
10-60
mm
20-150 mm 20 mm 1.5-200 mm 5-900 mm 900-1200 5-55 mm 5-6 mm 3-9 mm 180-600 mm
Tensile
Strength
(MPa)
287-800 95-230 393-773 320-800 345-2000 400-1000 368-800 400-980 170-1627 350-700
Density
gm/cm3 1.5 - 1.6 1.15 - 1.46 1.47 1.48 1.10 1.0 - 1.55 1.24 1.5 1.48 1.34
Elongation
at break %
5 - 10 30 25 1.5 - 1.8 1- 4 1.2 - 3.8 1.6 1 - 10 2 - 6 2 - 7
Resiliency Low High Medium bad Very poor High
Very
poor
Medium Bad bad
Moisture
Regain %
8.5 13 10.9 17 12 8.5 12 14 65 14
Specific
Gravity
1.54 1.10-1.37 1.39 1.48 1.50 1.20 1.40 1.30 – 1.50 1.30 - 1.40 1.10-1.16
Abrasion
resistance
Medium Good Good Moderate Medium Medium Good Moderate Medium Good
Color
Cream
white,
yellowish
white,
Grey
Brown &
White
Yellowish
brown
Golden
brown
Yellowish
to Grey
Pure White
Yellowis
h grey to
deep
brown
Cream to
light
purple to
brown or
black
Ivory-
white
White
Lusture High Medium Low Medium Brighter High
Highly
bright
Medium High High
Melting
point
149 º C 120 º C 90 º C 193 º C 160 º C 225 º C 260 º C 200 º C 180 º C 100 º C
Effect of
Heat
Decompo
ses when
exposed
at the
temperat
ure about
300 F
The heat
deflection
temperatur
e about 150
º C and 200
º C fore 10,
20 and 30
min to
simulate
processing
condition.
The heat
retention of
kapok was
better than
that of
other fibers
due to the
static
immobile
air held in
the large
lumen
region of
kapok.
The effect
of heat
treatment is
the highest
in the case
where the
temperature
is 120
degrees
centigrade
& the time
is half an
hour.
Linen has
an
excellent
resistance
to
degradatio
n by heat.
It is less
affected
than
cotton
fiber by
the heat.
The
properties
of ramie
fibers
treated by
thermal
treatments
at 160 º C
under
nitrogen &
air
atmosphere
Hemp
fiber has
an
excellent
resistanc
e to
degradat
ion by
heat.
The effect
of heat
treatment
is the
Medium.
The effect
of heat
treatment
is the
Medium.
The effect of
heat
treatment is
the highest
the
temperature
about 130 º C
Effect of
Sun Light
It has
medium
ability to
protect
sun light.
Prolong
exposure
weakens
fiber
It has
medium
ability to
prevent the
bad effect
of sun
light.
It has low
ability to
prevent the
bad effect
of sun
light.
It has good
ability to
prevent the
bad effect
of sun light.
It has
enough
ability to
protect
sun light.
It has
enough
ability to
prevent the
bad effect
of sun light.
It has
enough
ability to
prevent
the bad
effect of
sun
light.
It has
enough
ability to
prevent
the bad
effect of
sun light.
It has
Medium
ability to
prevent
the bad
effect of
sun light.
It has low
ability to
prevent the
bad effect of
sun light.

3. Protein, Mineral & Regenerated, Synthetic fibers Physical properties.
Substances
Natural Textile fibers Man-Made Fibers
Protein Regenerated / Synthetic
Wool Silk Mohair Viscose Polyester Nylon 6.6 Acetate Lyocell Acrylic
Density gm/cm3 1.29 1.10 1.27 – 1.31 1.6 – 1.54 1.39 1.14 1.32 1.27 1.16
Tensile Strength
D. 1 - 1.7
W. 0.8-1.6
3.5-5
gm/den
1.2 CN/dtex 24-26MPa
4.1-5.7 CN/dtex
580-800 MPa
3.9-6.6 CN/dtex
440-750 MPa
12-110 Mpa 19 cN/tex Good
Tenacity
3–30
cN/tex
25 - 40
cN/tex
5–25
cN/tex
2.4 – 3.2
gm/den
5 - 7
gm/den
4.5 – 8.5
gm/den
0.9 – 1.4
gm/den
Dry 40 -42
CN/dtex
Wet 34-38
CN/dtex
2 - 4.2
gm/den
Absorbency Excellent Excellent Good Lower Bad Low Low
Extremely
absorbent
Low
Elongation at
break %
25 - 35 20 - 25 20-40 19 - 20 15 - 45 Very good Very good 12-15 20 – 55
Resiliency High High Good Not good High Good Not good good Very good
Moisture Regain % 16 11 14 -15 13 0.4 4.0 6.0 11 1 – 2.5
Specific Gravity 1.32 1.25 - 1.34 1.30 1.52 1.38 1.14 1.25-1.35 1.55 1.17
Abrasion
resistance
Excellent Very good Good Less Excellent Excellent Moderate Moderate Good
Color
White,
Black
Yellow,
Brown,
Green
White
Cream
White White
White or
Cream
White or
Color less
White Off-white
Lusture Bright Bright Bright
Light to
Bright
Bright
Bright to
light
Light to
bright
Bright Bright
Elasticity High
Not so
good
Very
elastic
Good Good bad Low
Dry 10-30,
wet 15-
20%
Low
Effect of Heat
At 130
degree
centigrade
, it
decompose
s and
turns
yellow
It will
remain
unaffected
for
prolonged
periods at
140 º C silk
decompose
d at 175 º
C
Good
conductor
of heat
Good
conductor
of heat
Melting at
205 º C
It can
protect up
to 150 º C
tempn
It can
protect up
to 275 º C
tempn
It has
burning
properties
like
cotton,
and loses
strength
above 149.
It chars &
decompose
d at 177 to
204 Rayon
do not
melt
It can
protest up
to 150 º C
tempn
Effect of Sun Light
Wool is
weakened
by
prolonged
exposure
to
sunlight.
The
becomes
discolored
and
develops a
harsh feel.
Sun light
tends to
encourage
the
decomposi
tion of silk
by
atmospher
ic oxygen
Good
Good but
ultra violet
ray
damages
Turns
yellow,
retains 70-
80%
tenacity at
long
exposure
Excellent Good
It has
good
resistance
to
sunlight,
but
prolonged
exposure
cause loss
of strength
&
yellowing
of fabric.
Excellent

4. Cellulose fiber Chemical properties
Fibers
Substances
Scouring Bleaching Acid Alkalis Dye
ability
Mildew
Organic
Solvent
Insects
NaOH NaCO3 H2O2 NaClO3 Ca(OCl)Cl Strong Weak Strong Weak
Cotton S S SB SB A NA NA NA
Good
(Reactive,
Direct,
Sulpher)
Attacked by
Fungi &
Bacteria
High
resistance
Not
Attacked
Coir
Kapok
Jute NS S SB SB A A A NA
Good
(Basic Dye)
Prevented - -
Flax NS S SB SB A NA NA NA
Insoluble
(Vat, Direct)
Attacked by
Fungi &
Bacteria
High
resistance
Not
Attacked
Ramie
Hemp S S SB SB A NA NA NA Insoluble Affected
Not
Affected
Not
Attacked
Abaca
Pina
Sisal
Protein fiber Chemical properties
Fibers
Substances
Scouring Bleaching Acid Alkalis Dye
ability
Mildew
Organic
Solvent
Insects
NaOH NaCO3 H2O2 NaClO3 Ca(OCl)Cl Strong Weak Strong Weak
Wool NS S SB NS NS A A A NA
Good (Acid,
Mordent)
Affected Affected Attacked
Silk NS S SB NS NS A NA A NA
Good
(Reactive,
Acid,
Pigment)
Affected Insoluble
Not
Attacked
Man-Made fiber Chemical properties
Fibers
Substances
Scouring Bleaching Acid Alkalis Dye
ability
Mildew
Organic
Solvent
Insects
NaOH NaCO3 H2O2 NaClO3 Ca(OCl)Cl Strong Weak Strong Weak
Viscose
Rayon
NS S SB SB SB A NA A NA
Good
(Direct, Vat)
-
High
resistance
-
Polyester NS S SB SB S A NA A NA
Good
(Disperse,
Reactive)
-
Good -
Acrylic NS S NB SB SB NA NA A NA
Good
(Basic,
Acid)
Excellent Not good
Not
Attacked
Nylon 6 S S NS NS NS A A NA NA
(Direct,
Acid Dye)
Prevented Soluble Attacked
Acetate NS NS CB SB S A NA A A -
Not
Affected
Soluble
Not
Attacked
Lyocell NS NS NS S S NA A NA A
Reactive
dye
Resistance Resistance
Not
Attacked
Notation: SB = Suitable for bleaching,
SBC = Suitable for bleaching under special condition,
CB = Compatible with fiber shown and so may be used on blend,
SD = Suitable for desizing,
NS = Not Suitable.