Natural fiber

== Description ==
A class of fibers that includes all non-synthetic fibers. Natural fibers are generally separated into three groups based on origin (with some examples): 
1) plant fiber: cotton, linen, jute, abaca. 
2) animal fiber: wool, silk, fur. 
3) mineral fiber: asbestos, graphite, quartz.
Wool and dyed flax, have been found in prehistoric caves indicating their early usage. And many natural fibers are still in wide use because they have many advantages over Synthetic fibers, such as lower density, better thermal insulation, and reduced skin irritation. Natural fibers are good water absorbents and can be found in various textures. Cotton fibers made from the cotton plant, for example, produce fabrics that are light in weight, soft in texture, and which can be made in various sizes and colors.
==Properties of Natural Fibers==
Fiber 	Type 	Source 	Microscopic characteristics 	Fber length 	Fiber width (microns) 	Strength/flexibility 	Appearance 	Other characteristics (conductivity, density, moisture) 	Deterioration 	Use
alpaca 	animal 	Lama pacos 	overlapping scales 	8 cm (undercoat) 	 	elastic and strong 	soft, lustrous; usually white but may be black or brown 	 	 	textiles, linings
camel 	animal 	Camelus bactrianus 	overlapping scales; cross section is circular to oval; medulla is narrow and continuous. 	30 cm (outer hairs); 2.5-15 cm (undercoat) 	 	strong; Tensile strength = 1.78 g/d ; elongation = 39-40% 	lightweight, fine, and soft; tan or brown 	poor heat conductor; moisture regain=13% 	 	sweaters, scarves, coats, blankets, brushes
cashmere 	animal 	Capra hireus 	overlapping scales (5-7 per 100 mincrons) 	5.0-12.5 cm (outer); 2.5-9.0 cm (undercoat) 	15 	 	soft and fine 	 	damaged by alkalis 	shawls, fabrics, dreses, sweaters
horsehair	animal 	family Equidae 	overlapping scales 	mane: 7.5-20 cm; tail: 20-90 cm 	mane: 50-150; tail 75-280 	stiff and elastic; cannot be spun 	 	 	 	upholstery, blankets, stuffing
llama 	animal 	Lama glama 	overlapping scales; medulla is narrow and often pigmented. Cross section is circular to ovoid 	30 cm (undercoat) 	 	 	smooth, long, fine texture 	 	 	coats, dresses
mohair 	animal 	Capra angorensis 	overlapping scales (about 5 per 100 microns); circular cross scetion; medulla is normally invisible	250-500 mm 	 	resilient, twice as strong as wool; elongation = 30% 	soft, white, silky 	resists water; moisture regain=13% 	resistant to soiling; susceptible to moths 	textiles, upholstery, blankets, draperies, carpets,
vicuña 	animal 	Vicugna vicugna 	overlapping scales 	5 cm 	 	 	soft, lightweight, finer than alpaca or camel 	 	 	
wool 	animal 	Caprinae family 	overlapping scales 	38-125 mm (fine), 65-150 mm (med.), 125-375 mm (long)	17 ( fine), 24- 34 (medium); 40 (long)	low tensile strength; good elasticity; elongation = 25-35% 	 	poor heat conductivity; density=1.32-1.34; absorbs water and dries slowly; moisture regain=15-18% 	fibers may shrink/felt with high temperatures and friction; susceptible to moths 	textiles, blankets, carpets
hemp 	bast 	Cannabis sativa 	 	1-2 m 	9-40 	durable and strong but weaker than flax 	 	resistant to wear under water 	Damaged by acids and bleaches; resistant to water and alkalis 	cordage, ropes, sails
jute 	bast 	Corchorus capsularis 	polygonal cross section (5 or 6 sides); may have discontinuous, fine striations and bundled fibers 	1.5-3 m 	7-18 	weaker than hemp or flax; elongation, = 1.7%(dry) 	 	density=1.5; weak when wet; moisture regain=13.75% 	 	cordage, coarse textiles, mats, gunny sacks, carpets
kenaf 	bast 	Hibiscus cannabinus 	polygonal cross section 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
linen 	bast 	Linum usitatissimum 	bamboo-like joints 	6-65 mm 	8-32 	stronger than cotton; elongation = 1.8% (dry), 2.2% (wet) 	pale yellow 	absorbs water but dries quickly; moisture regain=12% 	damaged by bleach; not susceptible to biological growth; resistant to alkalis 	textiles, lace, thread
ramie 	bast 	Bochmeria nivea 	numerous striations 	15-20 cm 	12-82 	stronger than flax or hemp 	lustrous, translucent,stiff, wrinkles easily 	moisture regain=12% 	Resistant to mildew and insects 	textiles (Chinese linen, Canton linen, grass cloth, grass linen)
abaca 	leaf 	Musa textilis 	 	1-5 m 	 	hard and strong 	 	absorbs moisture readily 	 	cordage
istle 	leaf 	Agave species 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	cordage, coarse textiles, mats,
pina 	leaf 	Ananas comosus 	oval cross section 	10-20 cm 	 	strong and flexible 	translucent and thin with silky luster 	 	 	textiles, mats, bags
sisal 	leaf 	Agave sisalana 	horseshoe shaped cross section 	60-120 cm 	 	weaker and less flexible than hemp 	smooth and straight 	disintegrates in salt water 	 	ropes, twine, thread
silk 	moths 	many species, such as Bombyx mori	glass rod; before degumming silk has irregular masses of sericin holding two filaments together 	250-750 m 	 	excellent tensile strength; good elasticity; elongation = 20-25% (dry), 30% (wet)	very lustrous when degummed 	poor heat conductor; moisture regain=11% 	strong soaps cause yellowing; degraded by sunlight; acids cause yellowing; susceptible to carpet beetles	clothing; decorative fabrics
coir 	seed hair	Cocos nucifera 	 	12-20 cm 	 	stiff and elastic (like horsehair) 	coarse brown fibers 	resistant to water 	 	ropes,brushes, mats
cotton 	seed hair	Gossypium hirsutum 	narrow, twisted ribbon 	1.6-6.0 cm 	 	high tensile strength; poor elasticity; elongation = 5-10% 	usually white; turns blue when treated with iodine and sulphuric acid	good heat conductivity; poor electrical conductivity; density=1.54-1.56; absorbs water, dries slowly; moisture regain=7.0-8.0%	may mildew, not attacked by moths; degraded by acids, resistant to alkalis 	textiles, cordage
kapok 	seed hair	Ceiba pentandra 	cross section is oval or circular 	20-32 mm 	20 	resilient, lightweight 	silky; turns yellow when treated with iodine and sulphuric acid 	resists water, buoyant, fries quickly 	 	stuffing (mattresses, pillows, life preservers)
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
natural fibers; natural fibre (Br.); fibre naturelle (Fr.);fibra natural (Esp.); natuurlijke vezel (Ned);
== For easy printing and to download ==
==Resources and Citations==
* Wikipedia: Natural fiber Access Oct. 2024
* G.Cook, Handbook of Textile Fibres:I. Natural Fibres, 5th edition, Merrow Publishing Co., Durham, England, 1984.
* The Dictionary of Paper, American Paper Institute, New York, Fourth Edition, 1980
* Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Dictionary of Fiber & Textile Technology (older version called Man-made Fiber and Textile Dictionary, 1965), Hoechst Celanese Corporation, Charlotte NC, 1990
* Mary-Lou Florian, Dale Paul Kronkright, Ruth E. Norton, The Conservation of Artifacts Made from Plant Materials, The Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles, 1990
* Rosalie Rosso King, Textile Identification, Conservation, and Preservation, Noyes Publications, Park Ridge, NJ, 1985
* Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
* Fairchild's Dictionary of Textiles, Phyllis G.Tortora, Robert S. Merkel (eds.), Fairchild Publications, New York City, 7th edition, 1996
* Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online, https://www.getty.edu/research/tools/vocabulary/aat/, J. Paul Getty Trust, Los Angeles, 2000
* A.Lucas, J.R.Harris, Ancient Egyptian Materials and Industries, Edward Arnold Publishers Ltd., London, 4th edition, 1962
Category:Materials databaseCategory:MWGCategory:ComparisonsCategory: Sheet, Fabric