A17
Typical Properties of
Representative Textile
Fibers
A17-1
q
2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
A17
Typical Properties of
Representative Textile
Fibers
A17-1
q
2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Typical Properties of Representative Textile Fibers
Fiber/Chemical Name
Specific
Gravity
Breaking Tenacity
a
(g/denier)
Elongation at Break (%)
Water Absorbed
at 708F, 65%
rel. Humidity (%)
Thermal Stability
Standard
Wet
Standard
Wet
1. Acetate/cellulose acetate
(a) Diacetate
1.32
1.2–1.4
0.8–1.0
25–45
35–50
6.4
(a) Sticks at 175–2058C; softens,
205–2308C; Melts, 2608C
(b) Triacetate
1.3
1.1–1.3
0.8–1.0
26–40
30–40
3.2
(b) Melts at 3008C
2. Acrylic/polyacrylonitrile
1.17
2.0–2.7
1.6–2.2
34–50
34–60
1.5
Shrinks 5% at 2538C
3. Aramid/aromatic
polyamide
(a) Kevlar (Du Pont)
1.44
21.7
21.7
2.5–4
2.5–4
4.5–7
(a) Decomposes at 5008C
(b) Nomex (Du Pont)
1.38
4.0–5.3
3.0–4.1
22–32
20–30
6.5
(b) Decomposes at 3708C
4. Cotton/a-cellulose
1.54
3.0–4.9
3.0–5.4
3–10
7–8.5
Decomposes at 1508C
5. Fluorocarbon/poly(tetra-
fluoroethylele)
2.1
0.9–2.0
0.9–2.0
19–140
19–140
Nil
Melts at about 2888C
6. Glass/silica, silicates
2.49–2.55
9.6–19.9
6.7–19.9
3.1–5.3
2.2–5.3
Nil
Softens at 730–8508C; does not burn
7. Nylon/aliphatic polyamide
(a) Nylon-6
1.14
4.0–9.0
3.7–8.2
16–50
19–47
2.8–5.0
(a) Melts at 2168C; decomposes, 3158C
(b) Nylon-6,6
1.14
3.0–9.5
2.6–8.0
16–66
18–70
4.2–4.5
(b) Sticks at 2308C melts, 250–2608C
8. Olefin
(a) Polyethylene
(branched)
0.92
1.0–3.0
1.0–3.0
20–80
20–80
Nil
(a) Softens 105–1158C; melts 110–1208C;
shrinks 5% at 758C
(b) Polyethylene (linear)
0.95
3.5–7.0
3.5–7.0
10–45
10–45
Nil
(b) Softens 115–1258C; melts 125–1388C;
Shrinks 5% at 75–808C
(c) Polypropylene
0.90
3.0–8.0
3.0–8.0
14–80
14–80
0.01–0.1
(c) Softens 140–1758C; melts 160–1778C;
shrinks 5% at 100–1308C
9. Polyester/poly(ethylene
terephthalate)
1.38
2.2–9.5
2.2–9.5
12–55
12–55
0.4–0.8
Sticks at 2308C; melts, 2508C
10. Spandex/segmented
polyurethane
1.21
0.7–0.9
—
400–625
—
1.3
Sticks at 2158C
11. Viscose rayon/regenerated
cellulose
(a) Regular
1.46–1.54
0.7–3.2
0.7–1.8
15–30
20–40
11–13
(a) Loses strength at 1508C
(b) High tenacity
3.0–5.7
1.9–4.3
9–26
14–34
—
(b) Decomposes at 175–2408C
12. Wool/protein
1.32
1.0–2.0
0.8–1.8
20–40
11–17
Decomposes at 1308C
a
Tensile strength (MPa)Ztenacity (g/denier)!density (g/cm
3
)!88.3.
Source: Textile World, 128(8), 57, 1978.
q
2006 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
A17
-2
Plastics
T
echnology
Handbook