Polymer fiber | Types | Describe different polymer fibers

Polymer fiber

Polymer fiber is a subset of man-made fibers, based entirely on synthetic chemicals rather than derived from natural ingredients by a physiological process.

Polymer fiber types

Polymer fibers are traditionally classified as natural, artificial, and synthetic.

Natural polymer fibers

Natural fiber is a fiber produced under natural conditions. By determining their chemical composition with the origin, they are further classified into vegetable and animal fibers. Vegetable fibers (such as cotton) are made up of cellulose or small amounts of hemicellulose and lignin. Made up of animal fiber, wool, and silk, from protein.

Artificial polymer fibers

Artificial fibers are fibers produced by the chemical processing of natural polymers. This group includes viscose, acetate, protein, and alginate fiber. Sulfite or sulfate wood pulp is used as a raw material for the production of viscose and acetate fiber. Artificial fibers are produced in the form of textiles and cords as filaments or staple fibers, which are processed together with other fibers to form different tissues.

Synthetic polymer fibers

Synthetic fibers are fibers composed of synthetic polymers like polyamides, polyesters, polyacrylonitrile, polyolefin, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, etc. Common raw materials for the production of chemical fibers are flexible macromolecular composite polymers, characterized by their linear or weakly branched structures, large molecular weight, and rather narrow molecular weight distribution. Synthetic fibers, depending on the type, can be characterized by their high strength, high relative expansion, elasticity, quick recovery, and low residual strain after unloading, and resistance to repeated and alternate loads. Therefore, in addition to the textile industry, these are used as strong ingredients in composite production.

Describe different polymer fibers

Acrylic polymer

Acrylic fiber is a synthetic fiber made from polymers with an average molecular weight of ~ 100,000, about 1900 monomer units. In the United States, a fiber can be called "acrylic", the polymer must contain at least 85% acrylonitrile monomer. In 1941, Dupont made the first acrylic fibers and trademarked them under the name Orlon. It was first developed in the mid-1940s, but it was not widely produced until the 1950s. Strong and warm acrylic fiber is often used for lining sweaters and tracksuits and boots and gloves, as well as for arranging fabrics and carpets. It is made as a filament, then cut into short head lengths like wool hair and cut into yarn. It is light, soft, and warm, with a wool-like feel. It can also be made to mimic other fibers, such as cotton when cut into smaller main tools. Some acrylic fabrics can be easily fuzzy or peeled, although there are fewer peeling variants. It takes color well, is washable, and is usually hypoallergenic. End-use includes socks, hats, gloves, scarves, sweaters, home decor, and awnings. Acrylic can also be used to make imitation fur and various knitted fabrics.

Aramid polymer

Aramid fiber is a class of short, heat-resistant, and strong synthetic fibers of aromatic polyamide. Aromatic polyamides were first introduced for commercial application in the early 1960s and then for commercial use under the name Nomex. They are used in space and military applications, as a substitute for ballistic-rated body armor fabric and ballistic composite, marine cordage, marine hull reinforcement, and asbestos. The chain molecules of fibers are highly oriented along the fiber axis. As a result, a higher ratio of chemical bonds contributes more to fiber strength than many other synthetic fibers. The aramid has a very high melting point of> 500 ° C. Common aramid brand names are Kevlar, Nomex, and Twaron.

Microfiber polymer

Microfiber is a synthetic polymer fiber that is finer than a denier or decitex / thread, less than ten micrometers in diameter. A strand of silk is about one denier and about one-fifth the diameter of human hair. The most common type of microfiber is made of polyester in a variety of ways; and a combination of polyester, polyamide, and polypropylene. Microfibers are used in the manufacture of mats, knits, and weaves for clothing, furnishings, industrial filters, and cleaning products. The shapes, sizes, and combinations of synthetic fibers are chosen for specific properties including softness, hardness, absorption, water resistance, electrostatics, and filtering ability.

Modacrylic polymer

A modacrylic is a synthetic copolymer that is soft, strong, resilient, and dimensionally stable. They are easy to dye, show good press and shape, and dry quickly. They have outstanding resistance to chemicals and solvents, are not attacked by moths or fungi, and are non-allergenic. Their uses include clothing lining, fluffy outerwear, paint-roller covers, scatter rugs, carpets and work clothes, and hair in wigs. The fibers are heat sensitive and will shrink at 121°C and harden at temperatures above 149°C.

Nylon polymer

Nylon is a common title for a family of synthetic polymers consisting of polyamides. It is a silk-like thermoplastic, usually made from petroleum, which can be melted down and processed into fiber, film, or shape. Nylon polymers can be mixed with a variety of additives to achieve a variety of properties. Nylon polymers have found significant commercial applications in fabrics and fibers, shapes, and films. Nylon was first used commercially in 1938 in nylon-breasted toothbrushes.

Olefin polymer

Olefin is a synthetic polymer fiber that is made from polyolefins, such as polypropylene or polyethylene. Olefin fibers are abundant and covered when there is less specific gravity. This means warmth without weight. Fibers have low moisture absorption, but they can absorb moisture and dry quickly. Olefin is resistant to abrasion, stains, sunlight, fire, and chemicals. It does not color well but has the advantage of being colorful. Since Olefin has a low melting point, textiles can be thermally bonded. Of all the fibers produced, the fibers are the least stable and have a moderate luminosity. One of the most important properties of olefin is its strength. It retains its strength in wet or dry conditions and is very elastic. Fibers can be made for the strength of different properties. It is used in wallpaper, carpeting, rope, and car interior work. The advantages of olefin are its strength, colorfastness, and comfort, its stain, softness, abrasion, and resistance to sunlight, and its good bulk and cover.

Polyester polymer

Polyester is a division of polymers that contains the ester functional group in each repeating unit of their core chain. As a specific material, it usually refers to a type called polyethylene terephthalate. Polyester contains naturally occurring chemicals, plants, and insects as well as synthetics such as polybutyrate. Natural polyester and some synthetic biodegradable, but not most synthetic polyester. Synthetic polyester fabric is widely used for making clothing. Polyester fibers are sometimes combined with natural fibers to form a fabric with mixed properties. Cotton-polyester blends can be strong, wrinkle and tear-resistant, and can shrink. Synthetic fibers using polyester have higher water, wind, and environmental resistance than fibers obtained from plants.

Spandex polymer

Spandex is a synthetic polymer fiber known for its exceptional elasticity. It is a polyether-polyurea copolymer discovered by chemist Joseph Shivers in 1958. This fiber is produced in four ways: molten extrusion, reaction spinning, solution dry spinning, and solution weight spinning. All of these methods involve the initial stages of the monomer reaction to form a prepolymer. Once the prepolymer is formed, it reacts further in different ways and continues to draw to form the fiber. The exceptional elasticity of the spandex fibers enhances the comfort of the garment, increasing the ease of movement of the body. Pressure comfort is the response of the human body to clothing by pressure receptors. The sensory response is mainly affected by stretched, smooth, loose, heavy, lightweight, soft, and hard structures.

Vinylon polymer

Vinylon is a synthetic polymer fiber produced from polyvinyl alcohol, using anthracite and limestone as raw materials. Vinylon was first made in Japan in 1939 by Ri Sung Gi, Ichiro Sakurada, and H. Kawakami. Trial production began in 1954, and in 1961 a huge vinylon complex was built on February 8 in Hamhung, North Korea. The widespread use of vinylon in North Korea is often cited as an example of the implementation of the Juche philosophy and is known as Juche fiber. Vinylon is the national fiber of North Korea and is used for most textiles, surpassing fibers such as cotton or nylon, which are only produced in small quantities in North Korea. Apart from clothing, vinylon is also used for shoes, rope, and quilt wadding.

Vinyon polymer

Vinyon is a synthetic polymer fiber made from polyvinyl chloride. In some countries, other than the United States, Vinyon fibers are referred to as polyvinyl chloride fibers. It can bind non-woven fibers and fabrics. It was invented in 1939. It has the same health problems as chlorinated polymers. In the past, Vinyon has used plant-based filter alternatives in tea bags.

Polymer fiber application

i. Polymer fibers are used intensively in biomedical engineering because of their similarity to the extracellular matrix and their versatility.

ii. Natural polymers like collagen, silk, and cellulose, can be used to create a fiber network where cells can attach and expand.

iii. Polymeric synthetic is used to provide reinforcement and mechanical support.

iv Rigid-rod polymer fiber is an important type of high-performance fiber, which plays an important role in aerospace, aviation, safety, and security.

v. Synthetic polymer fiber surfaces can be engineered during production using well-established techniques, such as embossing, to mimic the structure of natural plant surfaces.