Module 2

From fibres to yarn

Unit 3

Types of fibres

Unit 4

Yarn production

UNIT 3. Types of fibres

I Read and remember the translation of words and word-combinations

1. interlacing [ɪntə 'leɪsɪŋ] – перетинання

2. strand [strænd] – пасмо

3. regenerate [rɪ'ʤen(ə)reɪt] – відновлювати

4. spinneret ['spɪnəret] – філь’єра

5. staple fibre [steɪpl faɪbə] – штапельне волокно

6. filament fibre ['fɪləmənt faɪbə] – філаментарне волокно

7. surface ['sə:fɪs] – поверхня

8. twist [twɪst] – скручування

II Read the following words and word-combinations which will help you to understand the text

1. entangling [ɪn'tæŋɡl] – переплутування

2. reformation [refə'meɪʃən] – перетворення, покращення

3. finger [fɪŋɡə] – палець

4. tiny [taɪnɪ] – маленький

5. stick up [stɪk ʌp] – стирчати

6. nap surface [næp sə:fɪs] – ворсиста поверхня

7. deliberately [dɪ 'lɪbərɪtlɪ] – навмисно, свідомо

8. unravel [ʌn'rævəl] – розплутувати

9. liquid ['lɪkwɪd] – рідина

10. hole [həul] – дірка, отвір

III Read and translate the following text

Fibre classification

Textile fabrics are structures produced by interlacing or entangling yarns or fibres in some manner. In turn, textile yarns are continuous strands made up of textile fibres, the basic physical structures or elements which make up textile products.

Textile fibres are normally broken down into two main classes, natural and man-made fibres. All fibres which come from natural sources (animals, plants, etc.) and do not require fibre formation or reformation are natural fibres. Natural fibres include the protein fibre s such as wool and silk, the cellulose fibre s such as cotton and linen, and the mineral fibre asbestos. Man-made fibres are fibre s formed by chemical synthesis or the polymers from natural sources dissolved and regenerated after passage through a spinneret to form fibres. Those fibres made by chemical synthesis are often called synthetic fibres, while fibres regenerated from natural polymer sources are called regenerated fibres or natural polymer fibres. In other words, all synthetic fibres and regenerated fibres are man-made fibres.

There are two configurations of fibres: staple fibres and filament fibres.

• Staple fibres are of comparatively short length – for example, cotton and wool fibres.

• A filament is a fibre of indefinite length – for example silk.

All natural fibres except silk are short staple fibres, though linen fibres are longer than wool and cotton. You can tell whether a fabric is made from staple fibres or not by holding it over your finger at eye level. If there are tiny hair-like fibres sticking up from the surface, it has been made of staple fibre. At eye level you can also tell which is the right and wrong side of wool, cotton, or linen fabric. Unless a nap surface has been deliberately raised on the right side, the side with the most fibres sticking up is the wrong side; the right side is the smoother side.

Some fibres are not short staple fibres but are produced as a continuous filament, and therefore have a smooth surface. The only natural filament fibre is silk. The fibres are unravelled from several cocoons and slightly twisted to hold them together forming a filament silk yarn.

The production of manufactured fibres is similar to silk. Fibres and yarns are produced as part of the same process. The chemicals used to make the fibres are turned into a thick liquid which is forced through tiny holes in a spinneret.