What is Fibre and Properties of Fibre forming Polymers

Table of Contents

  • What is Polymer? 
  • What is Fibre? 
  • How Fibres are formed from Polymers
  • Properties of the polymer necessary for fibre formation. 

What is Polymer? 


As we know, Polymer is the long chain having high molecular weight, which is generally made by adding monomers unit one by one through the Addition Or Condensation Polymerization. Monomers which are with low molecular weight. From the word 'Polymer' we can see that it is the combination of both 'Poly' and 'mers' (i.e Monomers)


What is Fibre? 


Fibre is a solid material having relatively long length and very thin thickness or diameter. 
It is a meterial for which the length is very much as compare to it's diameter and this comparison that is the ratio of length and width is known as Aspect ratio. 

So, Aspect ratio = (Length of fibre/ width of fibre) 


In generally, the ratio lies in between 100:1 which indicates good quality of the fibres
That means the high value of Aspect ratio indicates th long fibres and the low value of aspect ratio indicates the short fibres. 

Fibres are very flexible but having good strength. Its cross section is varying from circular, elliptical, to bean shaped and other complex geometry. 

How Fibres are formed from the Polymers? 

Fibers can be formed from polymers through a process called "spinning." In this process, the polymer is melted and then extruded through a small opening or nozzle, called a spinneret. The molten polymer is then cooled and stretched, or drawn, to orient the polymer chains and align them in a particular direction. This stretching also helps to increase the strength and stiffness of the fibers.

The spinning process can be carried out using different methods, depending on the type of fiber being produced. For example, in the case of synthetic fibers such as nylon or polyester, the polymer is dissolved in a solvent and then forced through the spinneret. The solvent is then evaporated, leaving behind the solid fiber.

In the case of natural fibers such as cotton or wool, the fibers are formed from proteins or cellulose, respectively, which are naturally occurring polymers. In these cases, the fibers are formed through a biological process within the organism that produces them.

Overall, the spinning process is a critical step in the production of fibers from polymers, and it can greatly influence the properties of the resulting fibers, such as their strength, flexibility, and durability.

Properties of the polymer necessary for fibre formation. 

The properties of the polymer necessary for fibre formation are as follows:-

  1. Molecular weight: - The polymer should have high molecular weight. If the molecular chain is high in weight then it will be long and it will be able to create longer fibre. To produce a fibre of adequate strength, the length of polymer molecule in the range of 100 nm is required. Due to shorter length many more cellulosic material can not be used to form textile fibre. 
  2. Linearity:- Linear polymer will form sufficient crystalline region, permitting an adequate number of inter chain force of attraction to occur within the polymer system. If the polymers are branched then they will not be able to form crystalline region which may cause of weak fibre. 
  3. Intermolecular force of attraction:- In between the polymeric chains so many intermolecular force of attraction occurs. This intermolecular force of attraction influence the quality of the fibre. Like, Hydrogen bonds are made in between the negatively charged Oxygen and Positively charged Hydrogen, Van der Waals' force acts in between any two molecules. Though they are very weak in nature, they will put impact on the quality of fibre. Beside of this Ionic bonds may be created in between positive charge and negative charge, it is not a bond, it is force of attraction. It is stronger than any other bonds. This occurs in case of wool, silk. In case of wool, there is disulphide bonds which creates cross linkage in between polymeric chain and gives strength to it. 
  4. Crystallinity:- The more the polymeric chains are in compact form, the fibre will be more Crystalline and if the polymeric chains are not highly compact form, then the fibre will be amorphous in nature. In case of Natural Fibre this variation is made by the nature but in case of Synthetic Fibre this variation can be controlled by men. 
  5. Melting point:- When a polymer is highly crystalline that means the intermolecular force of attraction is high. So, its resistance to temperature is high. The Crystallinity of polymer decides the melting point of the fibres. 

Conclusion:-


So, we can see it that from the polymers, the fibres are made that means polymers are the basic building block of fibre. Thus, there are so  many properties of the polymer that is needed for the formation of the polymer. Based on the polymeric structure the strength of that fibre is decided. 

Reference:-

  1. McGraw-Hill Science & Technology Encyclopedia 2005
  2. Muhammad Aleem Ahmed, Textile Fiber, Applied Chemistry Research Centre
  3. Billie J. Collier, Phyllis G. Tortora, Understanding Textiles Sixth Edition, Prentice Hall, 2001

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