FIBRE PROPERTIES

FIBRE PROPERTIES

1. NATURAL FIBRES

   • COTTON
     • Absorbent, durable and easy to wash/dye
     • Creases easily, shrinks easily and dries slowly
   • WOOL
     • Warm, absorbent and crease-resistant
     • can shrink when washed, itchy and dries slowly
   • SILK
     • Nice drape, smooth, low flammability
     • Expensive, creases easily and water/perspiration stains
   • LINEN
     • Cooling, absorbent and hard-wearing
     • Creases badly, expensive, weak when wet

2. REGENERATED FIBRES

   • VISCOSE
     • Expensive and delicate (low temp wash)
     • Cool/comfortable, nice drape

3. SYNTHETIC FIBRES

   • POLYESTER
     • Strong and crease-resistant
     • Not absorbent, flammable/melts and not biodegradable
   • NYLON
     • Cheap, water-resistant and strong
     • Not biodegradable and not cooling as it doesn't allow passage of sweat
   • ACRYLIC
     • Crease-resistant, doesn't shrink and is cheap alternative to wool
     • Not very absorbent, flammable and affected by static
   • Elastane
     • Not absorbent or biodegradable, lightweight and strong