Natural and Synthetic Materials

For this study researchers assessed 32 different fabrics made of polyester, cotton, viscose fibers, polypropylene, and a blend of the fabrics to determine the thermal conductivity, the wicking ability, the breathability of the fabric, and the fabrics ability to absorb water (Basal & Ilgaz, 2009). In order to collect accurate data researchers used an Alambeta thermos tester, a specialized machine to measure heat and moisture. In this study, polyester and cotton alone caused higher thermal resistance than a cotton polyester blend (Basal & Ilgaz, 2009). A strait cotton or polyester blend was found to be better at wicking away moisture, which is one of the main causes of skin breakdown (Basal & Ilgaz, 2009). In the conclusion of the study the researchers determined that channeled polyester was the best choice for bedsheets due to combined factors (Basal & Ilgaz,

On the other hand, polyester is a manmade Fiber so you have more creativity with it. ´hey can be engineered a certain way with a specific end use. Many chemicals are involved

The first art piece consists of a beautiful curtain fragment of coptic textile from the late Roman and early Byzantine 4th century. Woven textiles were commonly incorporated in Byzantine clothing tapestries, furniture coverings and curtains. The most expensive textiles were made of silk. Inexpensive textiles like the curtain fragment were made of linen and wool. Although dyed textiles were rare, they were colored with plant based dyes like saffron or minerals (Carrol, pg.57). The majority of textiles were created by the horizontal two-beam loom later to be replaced by the vertical loom and domed spindle whorl.

The Indian textiles chart showed how India used machines to produce greater yarn and cloth amounts in 1914 as compared to the production in 1884. As well it demonstrated how the amount of people using machine made textiles had greatly increased opposed to hand made textiles (Doc 1). In 1916 Radhakamal Mukerjee, an Indian economist, explains how that handwoven textiles cannot keep up with the machine made textiles, and therefore is on a decline (Doc 6). This identifies how India is moving towards

woolen yarn (Buckley 12). A layer of white cotton string is wrapped around the yarn (Honig

Literature Review: Research into this topic shows that it is not as simplistic as might be imagined, but has in fact been examined as part of rigorous research projects undertaken on behalf of paper towel manufacturers (Beuther et al, 2010). The ways in which paper towels absorb, and therefore the rates at which they are able to absorb, vary depending on the microscopic fiber structures within individual paper towels, which of course vary greatly depending on the manufacturing materials and processes in the making of each brand of paper towels (Beuther et al, 2010). Fiber types and construction patterns have also been demonstrated to have a large impact on absorbency in natural and synthetic textiles examined in a similar experiment (Beskisiz et al, 2009). Both of these pieces of research suggest certain controls for the paper towel experiment described herein (Beuther et al, 2010; Bekisiz et al, 2009).

| Natural and man-made fibers, durable rubber, waterproof fabrics, synthetic fiber shoelaces, and high-strength threads

My unknown fiber is cotton. Cotton is the number one fiber used for apparel in the United states. In a study from 1994, sixty three percent of cotton was used for apparel. Cotton makes great clothes because it is a good insulator, it absorbs perspiration, is very comfortable, and is durable.

In the book, Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, Elizabeth Cline, a journalist and the author, writes about the lack of ability of disposal we currently possess for the massive amounts of textile waste. She wrote, “The rate of disposal is not keeping up with the availability of places to put everything that we're getting rid of and that's the problem." Millions of tons of textile waste are generated globally per year. There are many efforts to cut down the amount of waste by recycling, shredding, and exporting to developing nations. According to the United Nations, The US is the leading exporter of second-hand clothes. Very poor nations like India benefit greatly from imported second-hand clothing. These methods to cut back on textile waste are proven to work, but they don’t solve the problem, they just lessen it. Part of the problem with fast fashion and textile waste is that many of the clothes being mass produced are made out of cheap petroleum-based fibers. H&M received a lot of backlash for this, spurring them to release a more eco-friendly line of clothing, using organic cotton.

This gives the fibre its built in lasting elasticity. Lycra can be stretched four to seven times its initial length, yet springs back o its original length once tension is released. Lycra appears to be a single continuous thread, it is really a bundle of tiny filaments. Lycra is never used by its self, it is always combined with another fiber ‘or fibers’, natural or man-made. Fabrics enhanced with lycra retain the appearance of the majority fiber. The type of fabric and its end use determine the amount and type of lycra required to ensure optimum performance and aesthetics. As little as 2 percent lycra is enough to improve the fabrics movement, drape and shape retention, while fabrics for high performance garments such as swimwear and active sportswear may contain as much as 20-3- percent lycra. Weaving or knitted techniques, together with fabric type and end use, determine whether lycra is used ina bare or covered yarn

The purpose of this experiment is to determine what type of fabrics will bur the fastest out of the five. (Cotton, Corduroy, Nylon, Silk, and Linen)

In this lab, we dyed a white shirt with a modern technique and chemically enhanced dyes. Dyeing fabrics has been an ancient process that has been used by people since the Neolithic Period, which was a time when humans were just starting to create tools using stone and wood. In 715 BC, wool dyeing was an actual craft in the booming city of Rome. In 1507, Germany, The Netherlands, and France began the cultivation of dye plants as an industry. We can conclude that the craft of dyeing fabrics has been popular with people for a very long time. “Tie-Dye” is a modern term that was created in the 1960s when the style became popular. Janis Joplin and John Sebastian were two of the major musicians that brought the style of tie-dye to the public. Tie-dye

← Knitting: Knitting is the first step, in which, the fabric is made from yarn. The output is in the form of a hose.

EcoSpun was started by the company Wellman Inc. and it completely changed how we view fabrics. These fabrics blend with other materials like cotton to make the product soft to the touch. Patagonia adopted this process to make recycled material that would help the environmental issues and make a really cool product. Yvon Chouinard founder of Patagonia is committed to making a change with pollution and to still have outerwear products that will last someone for many years. Chouinard and his team worked with Malden Mills to make the polyester out of recyclable bottles. There are billions of plastic bottles and they are harmful to the environment, Patagonia, as well as other companies, are taking them into make materials. As Chouinard company was helping with the environmental crisis and letting out millions of chemicals, he decided there had to be a change. His next steps are to find new recyclable fabrics as well as finding other ways to recycle polyester. Also, they are working to receive old Patagonia’s product to re-made into a fiber or other forms of

Recently Adidas have launched waterless dying technology known as DryDye technology. This technology instead of consuming 25 litters of water necessary to dye one t-shirt, the DryDye technology uses none–instead, the dye is injected using compressed carbon dioxide. The result is a garment using not only 50 percent less chemicals and energy, but in the long run has a lower environmental impact because the CO2-based dye actually lingers in the fabric longer. This concept helps in reduction of consumption of water in dying process.