Question

five synthetic fibre and its
properties and uses​

Answer 1

Answer:

Synthetic Fibers

Fibres are fine filaments that either occurs naturally or can be synthesized. Synthetic fibres are man-made fibres produced from chemical substances and are used for making clothes and other useful things. These are made by the process of polymerization. Synthetic fibres can either be completely synthetic or semisynthetic. Fibres that are purely synthetic like nylons, polyesters, acrylics are made from chemicals whereas semisynthetic fibres such as rayons are produced with the utilization of natural polymers as raw material.

Also Read: Fibre to fabric

Types of Synthetic Fibers

Synthetic fibres are of four types, namely:

Rayon

Nylon

Polyester

Acrylic

Rayon

Rayon has properties similar to those of silk.

It is a man-made fibre and cheaper than silk.

It is obtained from wood pulp.

It is infused with cotton or wool to prepare bedsheets and carpets respectively.

It is also known as artificial silk and can be dyed in a wide variety of colours.

Also Read: Variety in Fabric

Nylon

These are strong elastic and light, lustrous and easy to wash fibres made from water, coal, and air initially.

The fibre is completely synthetic and stronger than steel wire.

It is used to make socks, ropes, toothbrushes, tents, seat belts, curtains, etc.

Used to make ropes for rock climbing and parachutes.

Polyester

Polyester is made up of many units of an ester.

It is suitable for making dress material because it is easy to wash and stays crisp and wrinkle-free.

Terylene is a known polyester.

PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) is used to make many useful products like bottles, utensils, films, wires.

Acrylic

Many sweaters and blankets are not created from natural wool but from a kind of synthetic fibre known as acrylic.

The clothes prepared from acrylic are cheaper and more durable.

Acrylic is more prevalent than natural wool.

However, synthetic fibre melt on heating. If they catch fire, it could be really dangerous. The fabric sticks to the body of the person wearing it. Therefore, one should avoid acrylic clothes while in the kitchen or a laboratory.

Synthetic Fibres vs Natural Fibres

Synthetic fibres are man-made. Natural fibres, on the other hand, are obtained from plant, animal resources and geological processes and can be utilized in places where the orientation of fibres has an impact on its properties such as composite materials. In natural fibres, the length of the fibres is given whereas, in synthetic fibres, the length of the fibre is controlled by man.

As opposed to natural fibres, filament production in synthetic fibres is brought about by the spinning process which is either wet or dry. For the production of yarn, a chemical solution is used in synthetics fibres. When it comes to comfort, natural fibres are far more comfortable as clothing, compared to synthetic fibres.

Some of the fibres that occur naturally are:

Silk

Cotton

Hemp

Jute

Cashmere

Camel hair

Ramie

Also read: Fibre Crops

To learn more about the Synthetic Fibers, its types, and their examples, visit BYJU’S Biology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are synthetic fibres?

Synthetic fibres are the fibres made by humans by the chemical synthesis and not derived directly from the living organisms.

What are the different types of synthetic fibres?

The different types of synthetic fibres include:

Rayon

Acrylic

Nylon

Polyester

How are synthetic fibres different from natural fibres?

Natural fibres are the fibres that are obtained by plants and animals, whereas, artificial fibres are the fibres that are synthesised by humans. Some of the natural fibres include wool, cotton, jute, silk, etc. Nylon and rayon are synthetic fibres.

What are the uses of synthetic fibres?

The synthetic fibres are used for:

Making ropes,

Making fishing nets,

Seat belts

For eg., polyester is a wrinkle-free fibre obtained from coal and petroleum and is used for making jackets, raincoats and ropes.

Name the strongest synthetic fibres in the world.

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibres are the strongest fibres in the world. These include zylon, kevlar, spectra and dyneema.

What do you understand by the tensile strength of synthetic fibres?

The tensile strength can be described as the measure of the maximum resistance of longitudinal stress before it breaks.

What are synthetic fibres made of?

Synthetic fibres are made from polymers of small molecules. The compounds used to make these fibres are obtained from raw materials such as petrochemicals. These materials are polymerized into chemicals.

Answer 2

Answer:

Synthetic fabrics are textiles made from man-made rather than natural fibers. Examples of synthetic fabrics include polyester, acrylic, nylon, rayon, acetate, spandex, latex, orlon and Kevlar.

1. Polyester-

It is a category of polymers that contain the ester functional group in their main chain.

There are fabric and industrial polyester. Fabrics from polyester are used extensively in furniture, clothing, and apparel. You can find them used in;

•    furniture
•    clothing
•    apparel
•    blankets
•    bedsheets
•    mousepads
•    Synthetic leather

•    furniture upholstery and more.

Industrial polyester is mostly used in;

•   fabrics for conveyor belts
•    safety belts
•    coated fabrics and plastic reinforcements with high-energy absorption.
•    cushioning and insulating material in pillows
•    comforters and upholstery padding

Polyester yarns and ropes are also used in car tire reinforcements.

One good thing about polyester is the fabric is highly stain-resistant.

 2. Acetate-

It is derived from cellulose by reacting purified cellulose from wood pulp with acetic acid and acetic anhydride in the presence of sulfuric acid. It is then put through a controlled, partial hydrolysis to remove the sulfate and a sufficient number of acetate groups to give the product the desired properties.

Cellulose Acetate Characteristics:

•    Luxurious feel and appearance
•    Varieties of Colors
•    Soft and Drapable
•    Fast drying

•    Mildew, shrink and moth resistant

Apparel Uses:

  Blouses, linings, wedding and party attire, home furnishings, draperies

Industrial Uses:

  Cigarette filters

3.Elastane-

Elastane is another name for Spandex or Lycra. It’s known for its elasticity and is more durable than rubber. It is also part of the polyester family. In 1958 chemist, Joseph Shivers invented the polyester–polyurethane copolymer.

4. Lyocell  (Eco-Friendly but synthetic)

Lyocell or TENCEL is a form of rayon according to the FTC.  It consists of cellulose fiber made from dissolving pulp (bleached wood pulp) using dry jet-wet spinning. It was developed beginning in 1972 by a team at the now defunct American Enka fibers facility at Enka, North Carolina.

Lyocell Fiber Characteristics

•    Soft, strong, absorbent
•    When wet produces special textures
•    Excellent wet strength
•    Wrinkle resistant
•    Very versatile fabric dyable to vibrant colors, with a variety of effects and textures.
•    Hand washable
•    Like an artificial silk, suede, or leather touch
•    Good for draping

•    Biodegradable

Depending on the care label you can wash or dry-clean Lyocell.

5. Nylon-

It is any of numerous strong tough elastic synthetic polyamide materials that are fashioned into fibers, filaments, bristles, or sheets and used especially in textiles and plastics.

Nylon is considered a lightweight fiber. It’s added at the points of wear such as seats of jeans, knees, heels of socks and toes. Once wet nylon will loose it’s strength.

Characteristics:-

Since Nylon is elastic, it’s perfect for hosiery and apparel. Nylon can be draped, is resilient, and wrinkle free. It can conduct heat and is used in winter outwear allowing the wearer to remain warmer. Nylon is not breathable. It is resistant to water and dirt making it very easy to clean and should be bleached with peroxide instead of chlorine.  It can resist moths, fungi, mildew and shrinkage.

Explanation: