CATEGORY HUB · 11 ARTICLES
Textile Raw Materials
Textile raw materials: fibers and yarns
Natural and synthetic fibers used in textile production. Cotton, wool, silk, linen, polyester, nylon, and specialty fibers. Properties, applications, and sustainability profiles.
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Essential reading
Start here. The most important articles that explain the category to a textile engineer in one sitting.
Textile Raw Materials
Burning Truth Behind Cotton Balls: Are They Flammable?
Cotton balls are highly flammable. They consist of 100% cotton fiber—nearly pure cellulose—and ignite at...
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Textile Raw Materials
Why Is Merino Wool So Expensive?
Cotton balls are highly flammable. They consist of 100% cotton fiber—nearly pure cellulose—and ignite at...
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Textile Raw Materials
What is Baumwolle Fabric? – Everything You Need to Know
Cotton balls are highly flammable. They consist of 100% cotton fiber—nearly pure cellulose—and ignite at...
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Textile Raw Materials
Is Carbon Fiber Bulletproof – The Myth VS The Reality
Cotton balls are highly flammable. They consist of 100% cotton fiber—nearly pure cellulose—and ignite at...
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More from this category
More specific processes, techniques, and topic deep-dives.
Textile Raw Materials
What Color Is Carbon Fiber
Cotton balls are highly flammable. They consist of 100% cotton fiber—nearly pure cellulose—and ignite at...
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Textile Raw Materials
Banana Fibers – The Future of Sustainable Clothing
Cotton balls are highly flammable. They consist of 100% cotton fiber—nearly pure cellulose—and ignite at...
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Textile Raw Materials
Properties of Cotton Fibers – An In Depth Look
Cotton balls are highly flammable. They consist of 100% cotton fiber—nearly pure cellulose—and ignite at...
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Textile Raw Materials
Can You Dye Microfiber? – Problems & Possible Solutions
If I were to give you the simple answer, then YES, you can dye microfiber. But you have to remember that microfiber refers to the form of...
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Textile Raw Materials
Microfiber : Properties | Application | Manufacturing Process
First off, there is no exact definition for microfiber. However, microfibre is commonly defined as the fiber that's finer than one denier...
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Textile Raw Materials
What is Nylon – Properties of Nylon and Its Uses
Polyamides are polymers that contain an amide group (-CONH-) in it's backbone as a recurring part of the chain. They are frequently refer...
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Textile Raw Materials
Heat of Wetting (An Exceptional Property of Wool)
Wool fiber can soak a lot of moisture (up to 30% of its weight) without getting wet or clammy.This is called heat of wetting..
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Frequently asked questions
What is the most used textile fiber?
Polyester. Over 50% of global fiber production by volume. Cotton is second (~25%). Polyester's dominance is due to low cost, durability, easy care, and versatility.
What is the difference between natural and synthetic fibers?
Natural fibers come from plants (cotton, linen, hemp) or animals (wool, silk). Synthetic fibers are made from petrochemicals (polyester, nylon) or regenerated cellulose (viscose, lyocell). Natural fibers are renewable and biodegradable; synthetic fibers are durable and low-cost.
What is the softest natural fiber?
Cashmere (from cashmere goats) is the softest. Vicuna (from vicuna) is even softer but extremely rare and expensive. Silk is soft but has a different character.
What is the strongest natural fiber?
Linen (from flax) has the highest tensile strength of natural fibers. Spider silk has the highest specific strength but is not commercially produced. Among common fibers: linen > hemp > cotton > wool.
Is bamboo fabric sustainable?
Most bamboo fabric is bamboo viscose - chemically intensive, similar to conventional viscose. Mechanically-processed bamboo is genuinely sustainable but has limited supply.
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