->Cotton provides about 45% of the world’s fibre consumption, and is the worlds largest non food crop
->Conventional agriculture accounts for 25% of global insecticide use
->Organic cotton is becoming more widely available
->Naturally coloured cotton is a commercial product
->Cotton can be recycled and composted
Improved Performance:
->Cotton must compete with synthetic fibres in offering improved functionality
->Wind and waterproofing qualities can be added via ‘nano technology’ without altering the fabric’s look or touch
->Core spinning encases stretch elements inside cotton yarns
->Crease resist and easy-care finishes can be added
->Genetic modification can assist with improved crop yields but iscontroversial due to questionable environmental performance
Flax->
Picture is from:
http://www.oilseedworks.com/
Developments In Commercial Fibre Sources:
->This very ancient raw material is known as linen, and offers a wide variety of end uses and products
->In addition to clothing textiles, linen is used in automotive, construction, domestic and interior textile areas
->Enzyme use has improved environmental aspects of production
->Combinations with stretch fibres, silk, viscose and polyester provide a range of functions and characteristics, plus reducingcreasing problems
Silk->
Picture is from:
http://www.geo-agrotour.ge/5.html
Developments In Commercial Fibre Sources:
->This protein based animal fibre is known for its aesthetic appeal & luxurious qualities
->Genetic manipulation can create finer and longer fibres, and inbuilt colour.
->Wild silk from South Africa provides a sustainable income for rural populations
->Strong fine silk fibres are used in the medical world, cosmeticproducts, paper making, insulation and thermal underwear
Wool->
->The original high performance fibre, wool has inbuilt thermal qualities, is weatherproof, has UV resistance, fire protection and elasticity properties
->Sportwool is a mix of merino wool with polyester for active sports clothing
->100% machine washable wool is now available
->Wool is a regeneratable resource, can be produced organically andrecycled
Technical Developments:
->Superfine wool hairs are twice as fine as a human hair
->A viscose-like raw material can be produced from protein found in wool keratin
->Non-woven wool textiles produced by hydro-entanglement reduce fabric production costs to a one step process
->Wool’s versatility makes it useful in industrial, automotive, agricultural and geo-textiles
Luxury Hair Fibres->
Picture is from:
http://www.ronanfibers.com/ronanfibers_009.htm
Developments In Commercial Fibre Sources:
->The most expensive and highly prized fibres in the textile world are obtained from animals living in cold climates
->These hollow hair fibres are excellent thermal insulators and have a soft handle
->Naturally gathered moult hair from farmed fox & mink can be spun and used for excusive knitted, woven or felt products
->Muskox, opussum, rabbit, camel, vicuna and cashmere kel goats all supply luxury fibre
Bast Fibres->
Picture is from:
http://www.maritimeheritageeast.org.uk/themes/maritime-trades/ropemaking
Non-tradtional Fibre Sources:
->Fibres such as nettle, jute and ramie are derived from the inner fibrous stem material of certain plants
->Some crops can offer environmental & social benefits for local native farmers & should be encouraged
->Health giving herbs like luobuma from China produce textile fibre plus beneficial herbal remedies and medication
Hemp->
Picture is from:
http://themoderatevoice.com/15688/hemp-ban-reefer-madness-indeed/
Non-tradtional Fibre Sources:
->Man’s oldest cultivated fibre, hemp is a versatile crop where every part has a use
->It has natural strength, UV resistance, thermal properties & durability
->This naturally renewable resource requires little agricultural assistance
->Hemp is now seen in denim and casual sports fabrics, interior and domestic textiles. In non-woven form it is used for insulation in cars
Leaf Fibres->
Picture is from:
http://www.faqs.org/photo-dict/phrase/2090/leaf-structure.html
Non-tradtional Fibre Sources:
->A minority area as only a few plants have the necessary commercial attributes for economic fibre production
->Agave, pineapple and banana are sources of supply
->From naturally renewable resources, fibres are hard wearing & strong
->Uses include floor coverings, fibres for paper, accessories, shoes and ropes
Seed Hair Fibres->
Picture is from:
http://www.nexuscollections.com/environment.php
Non-tradtional Fibre Sources:
->Cotton is a commercial source of seed hair fibre. These are the more unusual sources
->The fine, light & silky short fibres are used for insulation and fibre filling
->Coir is hard wearing & abrasion resistant, used for floor coverings, geotextles and ropes
->They are a natural renewable resource, and often grown in areas of limited agricultural potential
Peat->
Picture is from:
http://green-drop-home.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=111&zenid=41a7fede103015f26575c5da72d4f948
Non-tradtional Fibre Sources:
->Peat fibre is produced from organic plant remains found in Scandinavia peat bogs
->They have good thermal properties, UV resistance, are antistatic with natural antiseptic properties
->Fabrics have a warm woolen felted handle and are produced organically
->Used in woven & knitted fabrics for clothing, blankets, interior products and footwear
Alginate->
Non-tradtional Fibre Sources:
->Produced from brown sea weed, alginate fibres have natural healing properties from the iodine content
->Blended with cellulose fibres, fabrics are used in underwear that imparts anti-inflammatory and anticeptic benefits to the skin
->In medical applications, non woven alginate fibres hasten blood clotting and encourage healing on damaged skin
->They are used as non-woven burn and skin dressings
Metal Fibres->
Non-tradtional Fibre Sources:
->Aluminium, copper & steel are the metals used in textiles to impart functional and aesthetic properties
->Metal-content fibres have the ability to memorise a pre- determined shape and react to heat
->They can assist in protecting against electromagnetic radiation, and are detectable by radar and heat-seeking devices
Paper->
Picture is from:
http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/01/29/grunge-style-in-modern-web-design/
Non-tradtional Fibre Sources:
->Paper fibres come from the renewable resources of pine trees, cotton, rice and abaca, a form of banana plant
->Recent developments in Japan have introduced paper content fabrics with a softer handle
->With a high strength & good light fastness, paper textiles are recyclable
->Used also for accessories & floor-coverings
Man-Made Cellulosics->
Developments in commerical Fibre Sources:
->Produced from natural cellulosic sources of wood pulp, cotton, linen and bamboo
->Textiles are fluid and soft to handle, with strong wet strength, absorbency and breathability
->Tencel is a branded cellulose fibre produced in a ‘closed loop’ system with improved environmental performance
->Lyocell is used in woven & knitted forms, and as a non-woven for medical applications and hospital textiles
Man-Made Synthetics->
Non-Tradtional Fibre Source:
->Polyethylene, PVC, polypropylene and polyurethane are all forms of synthetics from non renewable oil-based resources
->All have properties of high strength, can be heat set, and provide a wide variety of different products for industrial, medical, sports, and medical textiles
->Fibres and products can be recyclable
Polyamide->
Developments In Commercial Fibre Sources:
->This oil-based synthetic fibre is produced from oil, a finite resource. It is very strong, resists wear & tear, and blends well with other fibres
->Polyamide can be engineered to suit specific purposes, such as wicking properties for underwear & active sports, and UV resistance
->Branded Cordura & Kevlar fibres have excellent abrasion resistance, durability & high tensile strength
Polyester->
Developments In Commercial Fibre Sources:
->The worlds most extensively used synthetic fibre, polyester offers a wide range of function and performance factors
->Heat setting allows pleats and shapes to be formed and permanently set
->Recycling is possible from polyester water bottles
->Fabrics can be laser cut and welded
->Microfibres are superfine and sophisticated
Bio-Fibres->
Non-Tradtional Fibres Sources:
->Biotechnology is an exciting area, gaining much attention at the moment
->Dextrose from plants can create a fibre with an environmentally acceptable life cycle
->Spider silk is one of the biologically engineered fibres currently being investigated via genetic modification
->Weight for weight, spider silk is tougher than steel & has attracted much interest from the medical world
Nano-Technology->
Non-Tradtional Fibres Sources:
->Textile technology is using microscopic engineering to manipulate atoms and molecules
->In this way, fibres can be created to spray directly onto 3D forms
->Molecular surface modification can add stain resistance & water proofing to natural fibres without altering the fabric’s surface appearance or handle
No comments:
Post a Comment