CLOTHING AND TEXTILE
CLOTHING AND TEXTILE:Textile fibres
Are used for making clothing materials and fabrics that are used for.
- covering and protecting body from extreme weather conditions to maintain body temperature.
- keep us dry when wet e.g towels.
- to look attractive
- Fabrics are made from yarn.
- Yarn is from fibres twisted together woven/spun to make threads,
NB:- Source of fibres
- natural
- man made
- artificial
Classification of fibres
Def:- hair like unit of raw materials from which cloths are made, e.g – cloth
- wool
- silk
- polyester
- Natural fibres
- Man made fibres
CLOTHING AND TEXTILE
Natural fibre
From parts of plants e.f
- cotton
- flax
- animals e.g sheep and silkworm
Go through many processes then are spun or twisted together making yarn that makes fabric e.g cotton, linen, wool.
- Man made fibres
- Produced through chemical treatment of raw materials e.g petroleum extracts and by products of coal.
- They are treated chemically to form fine filament/threads, are twisted together and stretched giving them strength and elasticity.
Classification using a diagram
Properties of common textile fibres
Natural fibres
- Cottone.g gingham, lawn, calinq and flannelette, jinju, poplic, khaki, toweling and corduroy –
- it is easy to handle,
- inexpensive,
- strong and hard wearing so widely used
Uses:
- for warm wear it is a good conductor of heat, – for making beddings,
- underwear, it doesn’t generate static electricity,
- towels and sportsmen it absorbs sweat
- curtains,
- hospital bed sheets stands high temperature,
- upholstery clothing of all kinds,
- used for making sewing embroidery threads,
- uniforms because it stands frequent washing and stain removal.
CLOTHING AND TEXTILE
Desirable properties
It is absorbent so used for making clothes worn next to the body e.g
- underwears,
- nightdresses,
- sportswear
- doesn’t generate static electricity,
- absorbed moisture evaporates fast so makes the fabric dry faster. Therefore it is suitable for hot climate because it is cool,
- withstands mild alkalis, detergents and stain removing agents,
- some are warm because they are treated to make them fluffy in order to trap air,
- a good conductor of heat,
- it is strong a strong when wet so can’t be scrubbed,
- it is mothproof,
- can be mixed with other fibres to lower the cost and improve wearing quality because it is strong hard weaving and expensive.
- it stands high temperature so suitable for use in hospitals,
- it takes dyes readily.
CLOTHING AND TEXTILE
Undesirable properties
- develops mildew when left damp for long,
- gets dirty easily,
- it creases though when blended with rest it becomes more crease resistant,
- destroyed by storing aids,
- shrinks if not treated,
- lacks luster
- burns readily when exposed to a flame, – weakened by long exposure to sun.
Physical identification
- when burnt flares up yellow flame produced leaves grey ash and smells like paper.
NB:- Behaves differently when mixed with others.
- Linen
From inside stalk of flax plan: Examples: Damack, toweling, a dress fabric, canvas. It is stronger
Uses:
- for table linen table mats, tray clothes,
- for handkerchiefs and church linen,
- for button and embroidery thread since it is strong and durable, – quality classes, face towels, scarves.
Desirable properties of linen
- strong than cotton
- highly absorbent,
- it is cool to wear because moisture evaporate faster so suits summer dresses and bed sheets.
- it is smooth that makes if shiny and attractive,
- it is a good conductor of heat so suits warm weather,
- it is resistant to sunlight than cotton so suits making curtains,
Undesirable properties
- creases easily though can be treated to become crease resistant,
- grays more readily,
- develops mildew stains if left damp for long, – weakened by acids and alkalis.
Physical identification of linen
- flares up,
- burns with yellow flame, – leaves grey ash.
3) Wool
From fleece of merino sheep. Can also be from goats, camels and rabbits.
Uses:
for making warm clothing e.g sweaters, suits, jackets, shawls and blankets, overalls.
NB:- Needs special care e.g
- washing with warm soapy water and maintaining temperature even for making.
- using a mild detergent,
- drying flat to prevent stretching,
- attacked by moths so keep away by using mothballs.
Desirable properties of wool
- has good elasticity – stretches well and goes to original shape and size,
- is absorbent – absorb water to 50% without feeling wet,
- it is warm because of the overlapping scales around fibres,
- it is wrinkle resistant,
- is soft, non-inflammable and dyes well.
CLOTHING AND TEXTILE
Undesirable properties of wool
- damaged by alkalis so should be washed by mild soap,
- damaged by rubbing and high temperature,
- shrinks easily and felts,
- it shouldn’t be soaked during laundering because it is weak,
- can pull out of shape,
- gets mildew stains if stored while damp,
- attacked by moth and silver fish.
Physical identification of wool
- smoulders and turns into black bead
- gives smell of burnt hair/feathers.
4) Silk e.g taffeta, chiffer, georgette, orguza, velvet
- from silkworm,
- it is soft, warm and strong
- has long threads and fine,
- it is expensive.
Uses:
- dress fabrics, furnishings, shirts, blouses and neckties
Desirable properties of silk
- it is soft and drapes well,
- Has a lovely sheen and pleasant to handle therefore suits luxurious underwear,
- A good insulator, warm in winter and cool in summer,
- very strong and fine,
- elastic so wears well and therefore suitable for sewing thread,
- sheds creases easily so suitable for travel,
- dyes easily, absorbent.
Undesirable properties of silk
- sensitive to alkalis, therefore suits mild detergents during laundry,
- it is weak when wet so shouldn’t be carelessly when washing,
- it is very strong, its elastic, grease resistant and drapes well, damaged by alkali and acids,
- non-inflammable,
- resistant to mildew, fungi and moth,
- affected by strong sunlight,
- not easy to remove sweat stains and therefore garments have to be prevented from perspiration.
Physical identification
- smoulders and runs into a black bead,
- the bead is crushable,
- smells like burning hair.
CLOTHING AND TEXTILE
MAN-MADE FIBRES (ARTIFICIAL FIBRES)
Viscose rayon
- it is used for various kinds of fabrics,
- mixed with other fibres e.g wool, cotton to improve qualities, to make outer wear, underwear, linings, table linen and household furnishings,
- used for a variety of clothes, furnishing carpets and other household items.
Desirable properties of viscose rayon
- highly absorbent, bends to retain moisture so takes long to dry,
- a good conductor of heat so cool to wear,
- weaker when wet,
- flammable,
- soft and drapes well,
- mothproof,
- mildew proof though develops when wet,
- strong (very),
- takes dyes,
- mellows and rots when exposed to light,
- weakened b acids but not alkalis,
- weak when wet and damaged by long exposure to the sun,
- creases badly and doesn’t shed crease.
Physical identification of viscose rayon
- burns,
- leaves grey ash,
SYNTHETIC FIBRES (Are made from petroleum products and natural gases) Nylon
- from chemicals, air, waste and coal,
- used in form of continous filament and shape of fibre
- staple fibre used alone/blended with others e.g wool/cotton.
Desirable properties of nylon
- not affected by alkalis/weak acids,
- thermoplastic can be permanently pleated,
- doesn’t shrinks/stretch, – needs little/no ironing,
- doesn’t conduct heat,
- dyes easily,
- acting in those made of spun nylon, crease
- resistant so mixed with others to increase resistance,
- smooth,
- resists abrasion and when blended with rest it increases their resistance,
- it is very finer, extremely strong, elastic and light weight,
- affected by household bleaches,
- very strong when dry and wet,
- it is veviatide can be produced in a variety of texture, thickness and finishes,
- not absorbent,
- hangs to the body,
- resistant to moth and mildew,
NB;- stockings, dress fabric, furnishings, lingeries and outwear. e.g of nylon, jersey and satin.
CLOTHING AND TEXTILE
Physical identification
- if burnt it runs away from flame,
- melts into a hard bead,
- under microscope it looks like glass rods stretched with parallel wavy lines.
5) Polyester
Desirable qualities of polyester
- very strong with slightly less strength when wet,
- easy to launder and dries quickly,
- needs no ironing/little,
- crease resistant but can be permanently pleated,
- smooth, soft and drapes well,
- not damaged by dry cleaning agents, alkalis and acids of not too much,
- not damaged by light and sunlight so suits curtains,
- mothproof and resistant to mildew,
- flame resistant,
- has a high affinity of dyes.
Undesirable properties of polyester
- high temperature damage it and therefore use low ironing temperature,
- bright / dull depending on desired effect,
- produces static electricity,
- resistant to abrasion, heat and sunlight and allusive acids,
- frays easily,
- can be blended with other fabrics,
- only absorbent if blended with other fibres,
- stain and dirt are easily removed.
Uses: to make dress fabrics, suiting materials and household furnishings e.g jersey, terylene suiting, polyester
Physical identification
- when burnt it is forced into a hard bead,
- difficult to light but eventually burns with a yellow flame,
- give an aromatic smell
Asbestos eg drinsotile
From natural rock;
- non inflammable,
- resistant to chemicals, insect and micro-organisms.
Uses:
- make theatre curtains,
- protective clothing e.g overalls for fire officers,
- insulator in manufacture of electric appliance
Acrylics
Desirable properties
- drapes well,
- easy to sew
- warm and soft,
- shrink resistant,
- doesn’t stretch,
- soft and luxurious,
- has a low ability to absorb moisture and therefore dries faster,
- resistant and sheds off creases easily,
- not harmed by bleaches,
- not affected by sun so suits curtains,
- can be permanently pleaded and so can be blended with rest to make them easy to be pleaded, – light in weight,
- not affected by mildew, moths and makes other fibres mothproof if blended with them, – resistant to soiling,
- easy to dye,
- can be blended with other fabrics to add desirable qualities.
Undesirable properties
- clings to the body because it produces static electricity,
Uses:
- making warm clothes, sweater, blankets and coats and household furnishings e.g carpets and rugs,
Physical identification
burns leaving a tar like black bead and shrivels away from the flame,
dissolves in concentrated nitric acid.
CLOTHING AND TEXTILE
ALL HOMESCIENCE NOTES FORM 1-4 WITH TOPICAL QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
PRIMARY NOTES, SCHEMES OF WORK AND EXAMINATIONS