Properties of Textile Fibres

The properties of textile fibres can be divided into two groups.

1. The Essential Properties

2. The Desirable Properties

The Essential properties of fibres

The essential properties of the fibres are as follows:-

a) Length – The longer the fibre, the stronger the yarn. A fibre having alength below a certain length cannot be spun economically. (Unit- mm,cm, inch)

b) Strength – Weak fibres cannot produce a strong yarn. (Unit- gm/tex,gm/denier)

c) Fineness – In a fibre, the ratio or relationship of length to width orcross-sectional area is expressed as its fineness. (Unit- Tex, Denier,decitex or micron, Micronaire)

d) Spinnability – Spinnability includes several physical properties eachhaving an effect on the ability of the fibres to be spun into yarn.

i) Capable of taking twist. ii) Must have certain amount of friction against one another to

stay in place when pull is applied to the yarn.

e) Uniformity – This means the evenness of the individual fibres in lengthand diameter. A fibre possessing this property can produce reasonablyeven yarn.

The Desirable properties of fibres

The desirable properties of the fibres are as follows:-

a) Crimp - Crimp is the waviness of a fibre.

b) Elasticity – Elasticity is the property by which the fibre tends torecover its original length upon removal of stress that causeddeformation.

c) Cohesion – Cohesion is the property of clinging or sticking together ina mass usually the more rigid the fibre lower its cohesion.

d) Density - Density is the mass or weight of the material per unitvolume.(Unit- g/cc)

e) Absorbency – The fibre that absorbs moisture are more comfortablethan those with absorbency, especially in hot humid weather whenperspiration is removed rapidly by the absorbent fibres.

f) Capillarity and Porosity – These two terms express properties with thesimilar influence on the ability of a textile fibre or yarn to accept andhold a dye or any other chemicals.