Fiber ScienceMARSH-INTRO TO AG

Angora

Mohair-made from angora goat

Angora-made from angora rabbit

Lightweight, silky, fine, and very soft

7 times warmer than wool

Ideal for baby clothes, winter underwear, sweaters, and mittens

Often combined with other fibers to minimize the high cost

Camel Family (Alpaca/Llama/Camel/Vicuna)

Soft, lustrous, lightweight, and warm

Alpaca is often used for the manufacture of warm, luxurious apparel

Down hairs of the Llama produce a soft yarn

Camel hair is soft and fine from the undercoat

Vicuna is the world’s most valuable fiber

Cashmere

AKA: Fiber of kings

From the undercoat of the Kashmir goat

60% of the world’s supply is produced in China, Mongolia, and Tibet

Soft, lightweight, and very warm

Kashmir goats can only produce 4-6 ounces per year

Wool Made from the fleece of sheep

Sheep develop their wool to suit the conditions under which they live or are bred

Coarse wools=carpets

Soft fine wools=undergarments

Merino wool is the most valuable Very long staple and extremely fine

Warm, resists wrinkle, lightweight, durable, absorbs moisture, flame resistant and has natural stretch and elasticity

Silk Natural protein fiber containing about 70-

75% of actual fiber fibrion secreted from two salivary glands in the head of the silkworm larva

25-30% sercin, a gum which cements the two filaments together

Obtained from the unwound filaments of the silkworm cocoon

High natural luster and sheen of a white or cream color

Retains its shape, drapes well, caresses the figure, shimmers, hypoallergenic, breathable, absorbs moisture, and reduces humidity

One of the strongest fiber at 2.6 to 4.8 grams per denir

It can be weakened by perspiration, deodorants, and sunlight

Silk is absorbent so it dyes easily

Cotton

Cool, soft, and comfortable

World’s most used fiber

Absorbent cotton will retain 24-27 times its own weight in water and is stronger when wet than dry

Withstand high temperatures, dyes easily, and is low maintenance

Linen

Plant fiber made from the flax of a plant

Strongest of the vegetable fibers

2-3 times stronger than cotton

Dyes easily, comfortable, highly absorbent, natural luster, and crisp hand

Wrinkles easily

Poor elasticity

Rayon

It is man-made, but not considered synthetic, but a manufactured regenerated cellulosic fiber

Versatile fiber

Can imitate the feel and texture of silk, wool, cotton, & linen

Doesn’t insulate body heat

Ideal for use in hot and humid climates

Lowest elastic recovery of any fiber, may stretch when wet, shrink when washed, & wrinkles easily

Ramie

AKA-China grass

Oldest & strongest natural plant fibers

Naturally white in color, high luster, & unusual resistance to bacteria and molds

Stiff and brittle and not as durable

Best in blends with cotton or wool

Hemp

Bast fiber plant similar to flax

Excels in length, strength, durability, absorbency, antimildew and antimicrobial properties

Highest quality comes from Cannabis Sativa

Best utilized in blends because it can be harsh at hand

Withstands water better than any other textile product

Synthetic Fibers

Acrylic Fiber Soft, lightweight, springy and

warm

Resembles wool

Machine washable

Hypoallergenic, resilient, durable, outstanding wickability, and resistant to moths, oils, chemicals and sunlight degradation

Polyamide (Nylon) Historically developed as a

synthetic substitute for silk

Lightweight, drapes well, low absorbency, dyes quickly, and resistant to dirt, chemicals and perspiration

One of the strongest man-made fibers

Polyester Strong, resistant to crease,

stretching and shrinkage

Touted the best wash and wear fiber

Microfiber Strands thinner than one denier

Finer than the most delicate silk

Soft, drapeable, and insulates well against rain, wind and cold