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

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