How to live a healthier life

Author: Jia Wenhuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Nowadays, there are a wide variety of clothing colors and styles. How can one choose something that is both satisfactory and suitable? It is first necessary to understand what type of textile fiber they are made from, how they are woven, and what characteristics they possess.
1. The raw materials of clothing—natural fibers and chemical fibers
Clothing fabrics are woven from yarns, and yarns are made from various textile fibers. Textile fibers come in many types, which can be broadly divided into two major categories: natural fibers and chemical fibers. Natural fibers have a long history and include:
Plant fibers—cotton, various types of hemp, etc.;
Animal fibers—wool, camel hair, rabbit hair, silk, etc.;
Mineral fibers—asbestos, glass fiber, metal wire, etc.
Due to the increase in population and the development of economy and culture, natural fibers have long been unable to meet the growing needs of people's clothing. With the advancement of technology, chemical fibers made from polymers were developed. Chemical fibers have grown rapidly and now dominate the clothing industry, largely surpassing natural fibers.
Silkworms and spiders can spin silk because they have a viscous liquid in their stomachs. This liquid flows out through fine pores on their mouths and bellies, quickly hardening upon contact with air, forming shiny silk threads. Clever scientists, after painstaking research and experimentation, have managed to create various types of viscous liquids similar to those spun by silkworms or spiders. These liquids are then extruded through tiny holes called "spinnerets" and treated with special solutions to produce a wide variety of chemical fibers.
Chemical fibers are divided into two major categories based on the source of their polymers:
Man-made fibers—made from natural polymers, including viscose fiber, acetate fiber, and various recycled fibers such as bamboo fiber, Tencel, milk fiber, soybean fiber, and modal fiber.
Synthetic fibers—made from synthetic polymers, belonging to the petrochemical industry, including polyester, acrylic, nylon, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinylon, polypropylene (PP), and spandex.
2. Common chemical fibers
The "big brother" among chemical fibers—viscose fiber—was developed in the early 1920s. It is made from refined pulp of natural cellulose, such as wood, and then processed into fibers. The short fibers of viscose fiber are called rayon, while the long fibers are called silk. Viscose fiber has good moisture absorption, breathability, and drape, and it takes vibrant colors well, making it comfortable to wear. It does not soften or melt; its strength slightly decreases under sunlight; it is more resistant to acid and alkali than cotton but not resistant to mold. However, it has poor wear resistance and a high shrinkage rate. Its wet strength is low, making it unsuitable for repeated washing in water or scrubbing with a board. It also has poor elasticity, so clothing made from it tends to wrinkle easily and may bulge at the elbows and knees, making it unsuitable for outerwear. It is generally used as a lining material for woolen clothing.
The "strongman" and "wear-resistant champion"—nylon (also known as polyamide fiber or "polyester")—was developed by DuPont in the United States during World War II. It was the first chemical fiber ever produced through chemical synthesis. Nylon fibers are not prone to corrosion, damage from insects, or mold. Their wear resistance and strength exceed those of natural fibers and other conventional chemical fibers.