What are synthetic fibres ?Try to recall the uniform pattern found in a necklace of beads joined with the help of thread . Or , try to join a number of paper clips together to make a long chain together to make along chain . Is any similarity in between the two ?A synthetic fibre is also a chain of small units is actually a chemical substance . Many of such small units combine to form a large single unit called a polymer . The word polymer comes from two Greek words poly meaning many and mer meaning part /unit . So , a polymer is made of many of repeating unit

Articles made of rayon

Types of synthetic fibres rayon

You have read in class vii that silk fibre obtained from silkworm was discovered in china and kept as closely guarded secret for long time . Fabric obtained from silk fibre was very costly . But its beautiful texture fascinated everybody .attempts were made to make silk artificially . Towards the end of the nineteenth century , scientists scientist were successful in obtaining a fibre having properties similar to that of silk . Such a fibre was obtained by a chemical treatment of chemical wood pulp .This fiibre was called rayon or artificial silk .although rayon is obtained from a natural source wood pulp , yet it is man made fibre. it is cheaper than silk and can be woven like silk fibres .it can also be dyed in a wide variety of colours . Rayon is mixed with cotton to make bed sheet or mixed with wool to make carpets .

Articles made from nylon

NYLON N y l o n i s a n o t h e r m a n m a d e fi b r e i n 1 9 3 1 , i t w a s m a d e w i t h o u t u s i n g a ny n a t u ra l ra w m a t e r i a l ( f r o m p l a nt o r a n i m a l ) . I t w a s p r e p a r e d f r o m c o a l , w a t e r a n d a i r tt w a s fi r s t f u l l y sy n t h e ti c fi b r e

N y l o n fi b r e w a s s t r o n g , e l a s ti c a n d l i g ht . I t w a s l u s t r o u s a n d e a sy t o w a s h . S o , i t b e c o m e v e r y p o p u l a r fo r m a k i n g c l o t h e s .

We u s e m a ny a r ti c l e s m a d e f r o m ny l o n , s u c h a s s o c k s , r o p e s , te n t s to o t h b r u s h e s , c a r s e a t b e l t s , s l e e p i n g b a g s , c u r t a i n s , e t c . ny l o n i s a l s o u s e d fo r m a k i n g p a ra c h u t e s a n d r o p e fo r r o c k c l i m b i n g . A ny l o n t h r e a d i s a c t u a l l y s t r o n g e r t h a n a s t e e l fi r e .

Uses of nylon fibre

Various articles made of plastics

Articles made of thermoplastics

Articles made of thermosetting plastics

Thermoplastics and thermosetting plasticsWhen we add hot water to a plastic bottle , it gets deformed easily on heating and can be bent easily are known as thermoplastic . Polythene and pvc are some of the examples of thermoplastics . These are used for manufacturing toys and comb s and various types of containers on the other hand , there are some plastics which when moulded once , can not be softened by heating . These are called thermosetting plastics . Two examples are Bakelite and melamine . Bakelite is a poor conductor of heat and electricity . It is used for making electrical switches , handles of various utensils , etc. Melamine is a versatile material . It resist fire can be tolerate heat better than other plastics . It is used for making floor tiles , kitchenware and fabrics which resists fire .

Polyester and acrylic

Polyester is another synthetic fibre fabric made from this fibre does not get wrinkled easily . It remains crisp and is easy to wash . So , it is quite suitable for making .dress material . Terytlene is a popular polyester . It can be drawn into very fine fibers that can be woven like any other yarn .

Plastic is non – reactiveWe know that metals like iron get rusted when left exposed to moisture and air . But plastics do not react with water and air . But plastics do not react with water and air . They are corroded easily . That is why they are used to store various kinds of material , including many chemicals .

Plastics are poor conductorsWe have learnt above that plastics are poor conductors of heat and electricity . that is why electrical wires have plastic covering and handles of screw drivers are made of plastic . As mentioned above handles of frying pans are also made of plastic .

Did you know ?

Plastics find extensive use in the healthcare industry .some examples of their use are the packaging of tablet ,threads used for stitching wounds ,syringes ,doctors gloves and a number of medical instruments.

Special plastic cookware is used in microwave ovens for cooking food . In microwave ovens , the heat cooks food but does not effect the plastic vessels .

Teflon is a special plastic on which oil and water do not stick . It is used for non – stick coating on cookware's .

Fibre - wise

Do not throw plastic bags in the water bodies or on the road .

Take a cotton carry bag or jute bag while going for shopping

Try to minimize the use of plastic materials e.g. Use a steel lunch box instead of a plastic one

Plastic and the environment

When we go to market we usually get things wrapped in plastic or packed in polythene bags . That’s one reason why plastic keeps getting accumulated in our homes . Ultimately plastics find its way to the garbage . Disposal of plastic is a major problem why? A material which gets decomposed through natural processes , such as action by bacteria is called biodegradable . A material which is not easily decomposed by natural processes is termed non – biodegradable .

Did you know?NYLON APPEARS LIKE SILK. IT IS STRONG AND FLEXIBLE .THESE ENDEARING QUALITIES OF NYLON CREATED A PUBLIC SENSATION ,OR NYLON MANIA ,WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED IN 1939 .WOMENS STOCKINGS MADE FROM THIN GREATIS NEW FIBRE WERE IN GREAT DEMAND .BUT UNFOURTUNATELY ,MOST OF THE NYLON PROUDCTION HAD TO BE DIVERTED TO MAKING PARACHUTES DURING THE SECOND WORLD WARHEN (1939 – 1945 ) . AFTER THE WAR , WHEN PRODUCTION OF STUCKING RESUMED , SUPPLY DID NOT MATCH THE DEMAND . THERE WAS A HUGE BLACK MARKET FOR THIS PRODUCT . WOMEN HAD TO WAIT FOR HOURS IN QUEUES TO GET A PAIR . OFTEN THERE WERE NYLON RIOTS .