Flax/Linen fiber properties and application

Flax or linen is a multicellular, vegetable bast fiber like jute and hemp. Cellulose is the most part of its composition. 


Physical properties of Linen/Flax

Length: Flax fibers range up to 90 cm.

Diameter: This fiber has an average 12 to 16 micron diameter.

Strength: More than cotton fiber, 5.5 to 6.5 gm/denier.

Elastic Property: Elasticity is too much low. Extension before breaking 2.7 to 3.5%.

Moisture Regain: MR% of linen fiber is 10 to 12%

Abrasion Resistance: Moderate

Color: Yellowish to gray.

Luster: More than cotton fiber, slightly silky.

Heat Resistance: Better than cotton fiber.


Chemical Properties: Like cotton linen/flax fiber is a cellulose polymer, but the structure of it is more crystalline which makes it stronger, crisper and hard to handle and more easily wrinkled. They absorb and release water quickly, making linen comfortable to wear in hot weather. The resistance against concentrated acid is poor but dilute acid can not affect more. It works well though use strong alkali and the cold bleaching agent. It is not affected by mildew and insects as well. Dyeing properties of linen is not so good as cotton or jute, Direct or Vat colors are suitable to dye up this fiber.

Application

The most usual applications of linen/flax fiber

•     Table wear
•     Suiting
•     Clothing apparel
•     Surgical thread
•     Sewing thread
•     Decorative fabrics
•     Bed linen
•     Kitchen towels
•     High quality papers
•     Handkerchiefs
•     Draperies
•     Upholstery
•     Wall coverings
•     Artists canvases
•     Luggage fabrics
•     Panelling
•     Insulation, filtration
•     Light aviation use (fabrics)
•     Reinforced plastics and composites 

It burns without any smell thus it is used for cigarette covering.

Flax/Linen fiber properties and application

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Flax or linen is a multicellular, vegetable bast fiber like jute and hemp. Cellulose is the most part of its composition. 


Physical properties of Linen/Flax

Length: Flax fibers range up to 90 cm.

Diameter: This fiber has an average 12 to 16 micron diameter.

Strength: More than cotton fiber, 5.5 to 6.5 gm/denier.

Elastic Property: Elasticity is too much low. Extension before breaking 2.7 to 3.5%.

Moisture Regain: MR% of linen fiber is 10 to 12%

Abrasion Resistance: Moderate

Color: Yellowish to gray.

Luster: More than cotton fiber, slightly silky.

Heat Resistance: Better than cotton fiber.


Chemical Properties: Like cotton linen/flax fiber is a cellulose polymer, but the structure of it is more crystalline which makes it stronger, crisper and hard to handle and more easily wrinkled. They absorb and release water quickly, making linen comfortable to wear in hot weather. The resistance against concentrated acid is poor but dilute acid can not affect more. It works well though use strong alkali and the cold bleaching agent. It is not affected by mildew and insects as well. Dyeing properties of linen is not so good as cotton or jute, Direct or Vat colors are suitable to dye up this fiber.

Application

The most usual applications of linen/flax fiber

•     Table wear
•     Suiting
•     Clothing apparel
•     Surgical thread
•     Sewing thread
•     Decorative fabrics
•     Bed linen
•     Kitchen towels
•     High quality papers
•     Handkerchiefs
•     Draperies
•     Upholstery
•     Wall coverings
•     Artists canvases
•     Luggage fabrics
•     Panelling
•     Insulation, filtration
•     Light aviation use (fabrics)
•     Reinforced plastics and composites 

It burns without any smell thus it is used for cigarette covering.

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Linen Fiber Processing Flowchart and Chemical Composition

Linen is the first natural fiber which was produced industrially from flax plant. this fiber obtained from the stems of the plant Linum usitatissimum are used to produce linen fabrics. Linen has been used for thousand of years. Flax is thought to have originated in the Mediterranean region of Europe, the Swiss lake dweller People produced flax for the fiber and seed. Linen was the preferred textile of the Ancient Egyptians who used it for fabrication, bed linen and mummies were wrapped by it. The Commercial use of linen started in 1753. At present France, China, Belgium and Holland produces most of the fax plant.

Linen processing flow chart

 Rippling
   ↓
Retting
  ↓
Dew-Retting

↓
Dam or water Retting

↓
Chemical Retting

↓
Washing and Drying

↓
Breaking

↓
Scutching
↓
Hackling

Chemical Composition of Linen

Component	Percentage
Cellulose	92%
Hemi-Cellulose	2%
Lignin	4%
Others	2%
Total	100%

Classification of Linen

Linen is classified into two types.

1. Short staple - Comparatively smaller in size and use to uneven linen yarns. It is also called as Tow.
2. Long staple - Longer size fiber, 12 to 20 inches. Used to make finer linen yarn. Alternative name of it is Line.
(Reference- Book: textile fiber and web: binhaitimes.com)

Linen Fiber Processing Flowchart and Chemical Composition

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Linen is the first natural fiber which was produced industrially from flax plant. this fiber obtained from the stems of the plant Linum usitatissimum are used to produce linen fabrics. Linen has been used for thousand of years. Flax is thought to have originated in the Mediterranean region of Europe, the Swiss lake dweller People produced flax for the fiber and seed. Linen was the preferred textile of the Ancient Egyptians who used it for fabrication, bed linen and mummies were wrapped by it. The Commercial use of linen started in 1753. At present France, China, Belgium and Holland produces most of the fax plant.

Linen processing flow chart

 Rippling
   ↓
Retting
  ↓
Dew-Retting

↓
Dam or water Retting

↓
Chemical Retting

↓
Washing and Drying

↓
Breaking

↓
Scutching
↓
Hackling

Chemical Composition of Linen

Component	Percentage
Cellulose	92%
Hemi-Cellulose	2%
Lignin	4%
Others	2%
Total	100%

Classification of Linen

Linen is classified into two types.

1. Short staple - Comparatively smaller in size and use to uneven linen yarns. It is also called as Tow.
2. Long staple - Longer size fiber, 12 to 20 inches. Used to make finer linen yarn. Alternative name of it is Line.
(Reference- Book: textile fiber and web: binhaitimes.com)

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What is a fibril?

Fibril is a fine fiber approximately 1 nm in diameter, bundles of which may constitute a fiber. Any one of several threadlike fibers or maybe filaments which are major component areas of a cell or larger structure. Cellulose fibrils are the principal part of cell walls in plants

According to wikipedia - Fibril is a fine fiber, such as myofibril or neurofibril. Neurofilaments are about 10 nm in diameter.
Cytoplasmic fibrils are observed on the protoplasmic cylinders found in most spirochetal species, although no function of the cytoplasmic fibrils has been ascribed.

What is a fibril?

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Fibril is a fine fiber approximately 1 nm in diameter, bundles of which may constitute a fiber. Any one of several threadlike fibers or maybe filaments which are major component areas of a cell or larger structure. Cellulose fibrils are the principal part of cell walls in plants

According to wikipedia - Fibril is a fine fiber, such as myofibril or neurofibril. Neurofilaments are about 10 nm in diameter.
Cytoplasmic fibrils are observed on the protoplasmic cylinders found in most spirochetal species, although no function of the cytoplasmic fibrils has been ascribed.

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Human hair is not a textile fiber

Human hair is one kind of protein fiber but not any textile fiber. In spite of having sufficient strength, length, fineness and other many characteristics of a textile fiber it cannot be referred to as a textile fiber because of its outlines are more rounded and there is no free projecting edge. If we compare with wool fiber there is no essential difference between wool and most animals or human hairs. It will be observed that the scales are smaller and more numerous on hair. The medulla also is more marked than in wool. Human hairs are deeply pigmented, making them unsuitable for textile use.

Human hair is not a textile fiber

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Human hair is one kind of protein fiber but not any textile fiber. In spite of having sufficient strength, length, fineness and other many characteristics of a textile fiber it cannot be referred to as a textile fiber because of its outlines are more rounded and there is no free projecting edge. If we compare with wool fiber there is no essential difference between wool and most animals or human hairs. It will be observed that the scales are smaller and more numerous on hair. The medulla also is more marked than in wool. Human hairs are deeply pigmented, making them unsuitable for textile use.

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Textile fibers and their classification

A textile fiber is a matter that can be spun into yarn or thread and finally produce fabrics There are numerous fiber exists all over the world but all of them are not textile fiber. The fibers which are only characterized by having minimum length, strength, crimp, cohesiveness, maturity, flexibility and uniformity are referred to as textile fiber. It is a matter that is either natural or man made that can be spun into yarn or thread the main element of making fabrics by different methods such as weaving, knitting, braiding, felting or twisting. In a word the material who has the ability to spin into yarn is referred to as a textile fiber. Usually, fiber has a common characteristic that it's length is 100 times greater than diameter but to be a textile fiber it would have some others characteristics except this one. Human hair is commonly known as a fiber but it is not textile fiber.

We get all the textile fiber in two different forms.

1. Staple: The fibers which have a length of minumum1cm to a certain limit of length is usually known as staple fiber. Except silk fiber all the natural fibers are staple fiber. Such as cotton, hemp, jute etc.

2. Filament: A long chain of fibrous material which are used to making yarn ( known as filament yarn) are called filament. To make yarn from filament they are used as single or as multiple. The yarn which is made of single filament is called mono-filament yarn and where more than one filaments are used is called multi-filament yarn. Silk is a natural filament and all the manufactured fibers are made as filament.

Types of Textile Fiber:

Textile fibers are divided in following three classes-

1. Natural Fiber

Naturally growing fibers are included here. According to source it is divided in the bellow three kinds

a) Vegetable Fiber

They are collected from the following different parts of plants.

Seed - Cotton, Kapok

Plant - Jute, Hemp, Flax

Leaf - Sisal, Abaca, Pina

b) Animal Fiber (protein fiber) - Wool, Silk, Cashmere, Mohair

c) Mineral Fiber - Glass fiber, Asbestos, Carbon fiber

2. Regenerated Fiber

Regenerated fibers are made from natural fiber through some chemical and physical modification . Cellulosic fibers are main element of making this type of fiber. They are Viscose, Viscose rayon, Acetate, Tri-acetate and lyocell.

3. Manufactured Fiber
These types of fibers are made by human completely. It is known as man made fibers. They develop as filament fiber with the aid of spinneret.  Unlike Natural fiber, the properties of this fiber can be determined or controlled early before the production occurs. Unlike natural, Synthetic fiber is produce in a filament yarn or filament staple yarn base on the end-use. The dimensional appearance can be varies according to the demands usage and in fact, it can be as same-like appearance and properties as the Natural fiber. Wet spinning, Melt spinning and Dry spinning method is used to make synthetic fiber. Man made fiber has more strength and durability, but less comfort than natural fiber. Common manufactured fibers are polyester, nylon, acrylic, tetron, polyacrylic, modacrylic, olefin etc.

Textile fibers and their classification

No comments

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A textile fiber is a matter that can be spun into yarn or thread and finally produce fabrics There are numerous fiber exists all over the world but all of them are not textile fiber. The fibers which are only characterized by having minimum length, strength, crimp, cohesiveness, maturity, flexibility and uniformity are referred to as textile fiber. It is a matter that is either natural or man made that can be spun into yarn or thread the main element of making fabrics by different methods such as weaving, knitting, braiding, felting or twisting. In a word the material who has the ability to spin into yarn is referred to as a textile fiber. Usually, fiber has a common characteristic that it's length is 100 times greater than diameter but to be a textile fiber it would have some others characteristics except this one. Human hair is commonly known as a fiber but it is not textile fiber.

We get all the textile fiber in two different forms.

1. Staple: The fibers which have a length of minumum1cm to a certain limit of length is usually known as staple fiber. Except silk fiber all the natural fibers are staple fiber. Such as cotton, hemp, jute etc.

2. Filament: A long chain of fibrous material which are used to making yarn ( known as filament yarn) are called filament. To make yarn from filament they are used as single or as multiple. The yarn which is made of single filament is called mono-filament yarn and where more than one filaments are used is called multi-filament yarn. Silk is a natural filament and all the manufactured fibers are made as filament.

Types of Textile Fiber:

Textile fibers are divided in following three classes-

1. Natural Fiber

Naturally growing fibers are included here. According to source it is divided in the bellow three kinds

a) Vegetable Fiber

They are collected from the following different parts of plants.

Seed - Cotton, Kapok

Plant - Jute, Hemp, Flax

Leaf - Sisal, Abaca, Pina

b) Animal Fiber (protein fiber) - Wool, Silk, Cashmere, Mohair

c) Mineral Fiber - Glass fiber, Asbestos, Carbon fiber

2. Regenerated Fiber

Regenerated fibers are made from natural fiber through some chemical and physical modification . Cellulosic fibers are main element of making this type of fiber. They are Viscose, Viscose rayon, Acetate, Tri-acetate and lyocell.

3. Manufactured Fiber
These types of fibers are made by human completely. It is known as man made fibers. They develop as filament fiber with the aid of spinneret.  Unlike Natural fiber, the properties of this fiber can be determined or controlled early before the production occurs. Unlike natural, Synthetic fiber is produce in a filament yarn or filament staple yarn base on the end-use. The dimensional appearance can be varies according to the demands usage and in fact, it can be as same-like appearance and properties as the Natural fiber. Wet spinning, Melt spinning and Dry spinning method is used to make synthetic fiber. Man made fiber has more strength and durability, but less comfort than natural fiber. Common manufactured fibers are polyester, nylon, acrylic, tetron, polyacrylic, modacrylic, olefin etc.

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