What are Textile Fabrics?
Textile fabrics, also known as cloth or fabric, refer to flexible sheets made from fine, long materials (such as yarns, fibers, or filaments) arranged in specific structures (e.g., interlacing, knotting, or connecting). These materials are widely used in clothing, medical, and industrial fields.
Three Structural Relationships in Fabrics
Fabric structure refers to the organizational arrangement of raw materials (fibers, yarns, and filaments) within the fabric. These relationships include interlacing, knotting, and connecting. Understanding these structures is the foundation for learning about fabric types, properties, and functions.
Categories of Fabrics
1. Classification by Structure
– Woven Fabrics: Known for their stable structure, lack of elasticity (unless elastic fibers are added), smooth surface, and durability. Examples include chiffon, Oxford cloth, denim, twill, Categories of Fabrics
flannel, and satin.
– Knitted Fabrics: Created by loops of yarn. They are soft, elastic, breathable, and comfortable. Common types are jersey, velvet, mesh fabric, and bird’s eye cloth.
– Non-Woven Fabrics: These include needle-punched materials and are characterized by being moisture-proof, breathable, lightweight, flame-resistant, recyclable, and affordable. They are used in insulation, masks, clothing, and medical materials.
2. Classification by Warp and Weft Directions
Warp and weft refer to the two yarn systems in woven fabrics. Differentiating them is essential for analyzing fabric characteristics:
– The warp runs parallel to the fabric edge, while the weft is perpendicular.
– Warp yarns often contain sizing, whereas weft yarns do not.
– The warp is typically denser and may have distinctive marks or be made of stronger or twisted yarns.
Examples of specific identification methods:
– If one yarn set is plied and the other single, the plied yarn is usually the warp.
– Striped patterns usually follow the warp direction.
– In interwoven materials (e.g., cotton-wool blends), cotton often serves as the warp.
