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The Main Classifications of Fabrics and the Most Core Tests for Each Fabric

Main Classification of Fabrics

Chemical fibres

Contains two sub-categories: synthetic fibres and man-made fibres.

Synthetic Fibres: Nylon, Spandex, Polyester, Acrylic, Vinylon, Chlorine, Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Aramid, Lycra, Racking, Microfibre.

Man-made fibres: contains two sub-categories: inorganic fibres and regenerated fibres. Among them, inorganic fibres are: glass fibre, metal fibre. Regenerated fibres are: viscose fibres, acetate fibres.

Chemical fibres/synthetic fibres/

Nylon

Nylon fabrics absorb moisture better than synthetic ones. So, nylon garments are more comfortable than polyester ones. It has good moth and corrosion resistance. Control the ironing temperature below 140 degrees Celsius. When using, wash and maintain the item to avoid damaging the fabric. In the synthetic fibre fabrics are only listed after polypropylene and acrylic fabrics.

NylonSpandex

Spandex fabrics made of clothes have a good feel and look. Natural fibres absorb moisture well. Spandex began industrial production in 1959. It is mainly used in elastic fabrics. Also, spandex yarn is usually spun with other fibres into a core yarn for weaving.

Polyester

Polyester fabrics are strong. They absorb little moisture. Their impact strength is 4 times higher than nylon and 20 times higher than viscose. The elasticity is close to wool. The fabric is very wrinkle-resistant. It does not crease and has good dimensional stability. Good heat resistance. Polyester has a smooth surface and poor moisture absorption. Abrasion resistance is second only to the best nylon. It’s better than other natural and synthetic fibres.

Acrylic

Acrylic fabrics have the best elasticity, after polyester. They are twice as elastic as nylon. It has better shape retention. The strength is not as good as polyester and nylon, but it is 1 to 2.5 times higher than wool. It has excellent heat resistance. Its softening temperature is 190 to 230 degrees Celsius. Among synthetic fibres, only polyester is better.

Vinylon

Vinylon fabrics made of clothing have high strength. They resist mold, sunlight, and cold. They are also warm. But, it has poor elasticity and color. It wrinkles easily, shrinks, and has low heat resistance. It is suitable for making various textiles, fishing nets, and ropes. These include clothing and home textiles, and canvas. Vinylon fibre’s biggest feature is its moisture absorption. It has the best moisture absorption of any synthetic fibre. People call it “artificial cotton.””

Chlorine Spandex

Chlorine spandex fabrics are flame-retardant and warm. They resist sunlight, abrasion, corrosion, and moths. They are also very elastic. You can use them to make erotic clothes, knitwear, work clothes, blankets, filter fabrics, ropes, velvets, and tents. Their warmth is good, but they can build up static. So, knitted underwear made from them may help treat rheumatoid arthritis.

Polypropylene

The biggest advantage of polypropylene is its lightness. It is a common chemical fibre, with the lightest density varieties. So, a garment of the same weight made from polypropylene can cover a larger area than one made from other fibres. It has a strong stretch, is lightweight, and is warm. It absorbs moisture very little, almost not at all. Its moisture return rate is near zero. We can improve its anti-aging properties by adding agents to the spinning process.

Polyethylene

The fibre strength and elongation of polypropylene are close to that of polypropylene. Its fibre density is low. Its moisture-absorbing ability is the same as that of polypropylene. The moisture return rate is 0. The dyeing is very poor. It has stable chemical properties and good chemical and corrosion resistance. Its heat resistance is poor, but it is better at resisting heat and humidity. Its melting point is lower than that of other fibres. It has good electrical insulation. Its light resistance is the same as that of polypropylene.

Aramid

Aramid pulp is the aramid fibre’s surface after treatment. Its unique structure greatly improves mixture adhesion. So, it is ideal as a reinforcing fibre in friction and sealing products. It has high strength, good dimensional stability, and no brittleness. And it also resists high temperatures and corrosion. It has low shrinkage, good toughness, and abrasion resistance. Its large surface area allows it to bond well with other substances. It is a good reinforcing material. A kind of reinforcing material.

AramidLycra

Lycra is a derivative of spandex. It replaces traditional elastic threads. Lycra is vital in erotic clothes, gymnastic wear, and swimsuits. They have special requirements. It lets you show your curves. The gel body stretches freely, without compression. Lycra’s English name is ‘Lycra’. Some people translate it as ‘pull frame’. So, the market’s ‘slippery surface pull frame’ and ‘mesh pull frame’ are all Lycra fabrics, or spandex.

Racking (spandex yarn)

The fabrics are like Lycra. They resist dyeing additives. But, they have different usage limits. Wash the fabrics with soap or a neutral detergent. You can use strong bleach. When dry-cleaning after washing, keep the fabrics out of direct sunlight, as with Lycra.

Microfibres

Microfibre towels are soft, comfortable, and durable. They clean dirt, grease, and leftover cosmetics deep in the pores. For the cleaning of the goods also has a super cleaning ability, no ball, no hair, and a certain polishing effect. Since microfibre is superior to cotton, silk, etc., the use of performance.

Chemical Fibre / Man-made Fibre / Inorganic Fibre

Glass Fibre

Glass fibre has high tensile strength, high coefficient of elasticity and good rigidity. It has a high tensile strength and a large elongation within the elastic limit. So, it absorbs a lot of impact energy. Inorganic fibre, non-combustible, good chemical resistance. It has low water absorption, good scale stability, and heat resistance. It is processable into strands, bundles, felts, fabrics, and other products. Transparent and light transmittable. A cheap, high-adhesion surface treatment agent for resin is now ready.

Metal Fibre

Metallic fibre fabric is made by weaving metal wire into cotton, linen, brocade, and polyester. This uses a special process. A fabric with a shiny, noble metal luster. It has a unique style and a smooth, soft feel. It also has a memory for a wrinkled effect, with a group of wrinkles.

Chemical Fibre/Man-made Fibre/Recycled Fibre

Viscose Fibre

Viscose fibre has a chemical composition similar to cotton. It is more resistant to alkali but not to acid. Its alkali and acid resistance are worse than cotton’s. Viscose fibre is also similar to cotton in dyeing. It has a full colour spectrum and good dyeing performance. In addition, the thermal properties of viscose fibres are also similar to cotton. It uses natural cellulose as raw material. It then undergoes alkalisation, aging, yellowing, and other processes. These make soluble cellulose xanthate. This is then dissolved in a dilute alkaline solution to make viscose, which is made by wet spinning.

Acetate Fibre

Vinyl ester filament has a good luster. It feels soft and smooth. And it drapes well and has a strong silk-like quality. It is good for making sexy underwear, a bathrobe, children’s clothes, and women’s clothes. It’s also suitable for interior decorative fabrics. Short fibres are used for blending with cotton, wool or other synthetic fibres. The fabric is easy to wash and dry, not mouldy and not moth-eaten.

Acetate FibreNatural fibres

Including plant fibres, animal fibres, mineral fibres total three sub-categories.

Plant fibres: hemp, cotton (cotton), colour cotton, fruit fibres.

Animal fibres: silk (silk), rabbit hair fibre, wool (wool).

Mineral fibres: refers to asbestos.

Natural fibres/vegetable fibres/

Hemp

Hemp fibre is strong, soft, and fine. It has a good colour and high strength. It does not rot in water and is waterproof. And it resists friction, high temperatures, and tearing. It burns slowly, does not hold static, and resists acids and alkalis. Hemp fabric is like human skin. It protects muscles and regulates temperature.

Cotton

Cotton fibre is strong and wrinkle-resistant. It has poor tensile strength and heat resistance, but it is better than hemp. It has poor acid resistance. At room temperature, it resists dilute alkali. It has a good affinity for dyes, so dyeing is easy. It has a complete chromatography, and its colour and lustre are vivid. Cotton’s moisture absorption, moisture retention, heat resistance, alkali resistance are very good. The defect of cotton is easy to hair grain. Emerging on the market, a high-count, high-density cotton eliminates these concerns. Reports say this tight cotton is soft, comfy, and washable. After years of use, it remains delicate and smooth. It won’t pill, shrink, or fade.

Coloured cotton

Natural-colored cotton fibers are soft and feel good. Its garments have a simple, pure texture. They are comfortable and safe. They align with the modern desire for basics and natural colors. People call its textiles “the darling of the 21st Century” and “women’s second skin.” They meet market demand and have great potential in the green textile market.

Fruit Fibre

Fruit fibre fabric can dispel wind and dampness. It can activate blood flow, reduce swelling, and relieve joint pain. It is ultra-lightweight and soothing. And it is also eco-friendly, anti-bacterial, anti-mildew, and non-moth-eaten. It absorbs and conducts moisture, repels mites, is anti-static, and won’t pill. And it is the lightest, most hollow, eco-friendly fibre among natural fibres. It has a smooth surface, no apparent twisting, a bright luster, and good acid and alkali resistance.

Natural fibre/animal fibre/

Silk

Silk fabric is elegant and soft, with a pearly luster. It makes clothes that are soft, smooth, and elastic but prone to wrinkling. Simulated silk has a less soft, harsher appearance and feel. It’s prone to creasing and doesn’t recover well. Silk fabric varieties are roughly double crepe, heavy crepe, georgette flowers, georgette, double georgette, heavy georgette, sambor satin, plain silk satin, elastic plain silk satin, warp knitting knitting and other categories.

SilkWoolen material

Wool, or tweed, is soft, light, and a rich color. It has good elasticity, is firm, and is wearable. The surface of the fabric is smooth and clean, and the weaving pattern is fine and clear. The luster is soft and natural, and the colour is pure. The tweed surface, pinched by hand, loosens. The crease is not obvious and can quickly return to its original state. It has good elasticity and softness. And it has a unique velvet shrinkage and wrinkle resistance, both from animal hair. It also warms when it absorbs moisture or sweat. The clothes made of it are firm and wearable. They don’t deform for a long time. They are solemn because of no aurora borealis. And they have a smooth texture, an elegant, straight appearance, and a classic style. They have a fullness of touch and a natural, soft luster. It is the top choice for high-grade professional clothes.

Rabbit hair fibre

Rabbit hair fibre for textiles is long and thin. It is white as snow, with a crystal-clear luster. And it is soft, fluffy, and warm. It is the best raw material for woolen, especially knitted, fabrics. Experiments by Pineapple found that garments made from it are light, soft, and warm. They are also very comfortable. Teenage women wear it to add youthful vitality, like Snow White.

Natural Fibre / Mineral Fibre / Asbestos

Asbestos

There are nearly 3,000 asbestos products or products that contain it. They are mainly used for mechanical transmission, braking, and thermal insulation. They are also used for fireproofing, heat insulation, anti-corrosion, and soundproofing. The most important uses are in the automotive, chemical, electrical, and construction sectors. The Spinelle Show found that the fibre can cause diseases. These include asbestosis and pleural mesothelioma. So, many countries have banned it. Others are now studying its dangers.

The most central test for each fabric

The core tests for each fabric vary according to its properties and use. Here are some common fabrics and their core tests:

Core tests for natural fibre fabrics (e.g. cotton, wool, silk, etc.) include:

Fibre content test: This is a basic fabric test. It confirms the types and proportions of various fibres in the fabric.

Colour testing: For coloured fabrics, we must test the colour. This includes its uniformity, fastness, and coordination with other colours.

Dimensional stability test: For garments that must keep their size, like sportswear and down jackets, the fabric must not shrink.

Light fastness test: Sunlight can change fabric colors or cause peeling. So, light fastness is an important fabric test.

PH value test: It is a key indicator of fabric acidity or alkalinity. For garments that are in direct contact with the skin, the level of PH value may affect the health of the skin.

Fabric pH test sample cutting machine

Odourless test: some fabrics may release harmful gases. For clothing worn close to the body, odourless is a necessary test item.

Core tests for synthetic fibre fabrics (e.g., polyester, nylon) may include, in addition to the regular tests above:

Special performance tests: e.g. waterproof, air permeability, and abrasion-resistant. These traits are vital for fabrics used in specific applications.

Core tests for special fabrics (e.g. nano-fabrics, functional fabrics) may include, in addition to the tests above:

Special function tests, like moisture absorption and quick drying, are important. So are waterproofing and air permeability. These functions are vital in certain environments.

In short, the core test items for each fabric depend on its traits and use. They include standard tests like fibre content, colour, and pH. And they test for dimensional stability, light fastness, and odour. They also include special tests for the fabric’s unique properties.

For more information on textile testing methods/standards
or textile testing machines, contact us:
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