Natural and natural polymer fibres
Natural and natural polymer fibres
Typical properties of selected fibres
| Cotton | Wool | Viscose Rayon |
Cellulose Triacetate |
Lyocell | |
| Specific Gravity (g cm-3) |
1.54 | 1.28—1.32 | 1.51 | 1.32 | 1.51 |
| Tenacity (cN/dtex): Dry Wet |
1.5—2.1 1.3—1.8 |
0.9—1.5 0.7—1.4 |
1.8—2.2 0.9—1.2 |
1.1—1.2 0.6—0.7 |
4.0—4.4 3.4—3.8 |
| Tensile Strength (Mpa) |
230 | 120—200 | 685—850 | — | — |
| Elongation at break (%) |
8 | 23—35 | 6—10 | 20—25 | 14—16 |
| Shrinkage at 150°C (%) |
0 | — | 0 | — | — |
| Melting point (°C) |
>230 | chars | >240 | 290—300 | <240 |
| Absorbency (%) | 7—8 | 13—15 | high | 3—4.5 | high |
| Limiting Oxygen Index |
0.18 | 0.25 | — | — | — |
| Heat Resistance (°C) |
<150 | <120 | <150 | <150 | <150 |
| Flammability | flammable | self extinguish | flammable | moderate | flammable |
| Acid Resistance | poor | limited | poor | limited | poor |
| Alkali Resistance | limited | poor/limited | limited | limited | poor |
| Resistance to Organic Solvents |
good | good | poor | soluble | good |
| Resistance to Oxidising Agents |
limited | poor | good | — | good |
| Biological Resistance |
poor | poor | poor | good | poor |
| Abrasion Resistance |
good | moderate | good—mod | poor | good—mod |
| Resistance to Sunlight |
fair | fair | limited | good | moderate |
| Dye Affinity | good | good | good | limited | good |