Natural and Artificial Fibres

Dr.
Muhammad Alam
Ph.D. Politecnico di Torino
 Introduction to Fibers
 Types of Fibers
 Classification of Natural Fibers
 Synthetic or Artificial Fibers
 Introduction to Steel Fibers
 Types of Steel Fibers
 Modern Materials
 Fibers may be defined as any hair-like raw material directly
obtained from animal, plants, or mineral.
 A natural fiber may be further defined as an agglomeration of
cells in which the diameter is negligible in comparison with
the length.
 Fiber (from Latin: fibra) is a natural or man-made substance
that is significantly longer than it is wide. Fibers are often used
in the manufacture of other materials.
 Natural
◦ Originate from natural sources
◦ Plants (cellulosic) or animals (protein)
 Manufactured, synthetic, or man-made (terms

interchangeable)
◦ Originate from chemical sources
◦ May also be from regenerated or recycled sources
 Natural Fibers:
 are obtained from plants and animals.
 Cellulosic (from plants)
For example Absorbent Cotton
 Obtained from cotton plants
 Protein (from animals)

◦ For example Silk
 Obtained from Silkworms

 SYNONYMS: Raw cotton, purified cotton.
 GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE: United States, Egypt, some
parts of Africa, and India
 CHARACTERISTICS:
 Color: White
◦ Odour: Odorless
◦ Taste: Tasteless
◦ Shape: These are fine filament like that of hair, which are
Soft and unicellular
◦ Size: 2.2-4.6 cm in length and 20-35 micron diameter
◦
 CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS:
◦ It consists of 90% of cellulose, 7-8% of moisture, fat and oil
0.5% and cell content about 0.5%. Purified cotton has almost
cellulose and 6-7% of moisture.
 USES:
◦ Cotton is used as a filtering medium and in surgical
instruments. Absorbent cotton absorbs blood, mucus, and
prevents infections in wounds.
 GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE: China, France , Iran, Italy,
Japan, and India
 CHARACTERISTICS:
◦ Color: Yellow
◦ Size : 5 to 25 microns in diameter and 1,200 meter in length
◦ Appearance: Fine, solid, smooth to touch.
◦ Solubility: Soluble in sulphuric acid.
◦ Extra features: Hygroscopic in nature and has good elasticity
and tensile strength.
 CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Silk consists of two main
proteins, sericin and fibroin, (70–80% fibroin and 20–30%
sericin).The fibroin being the structural center of the silk, and
serecin being the sticky material surrounding it.
 USES:
◦ Silk sheets are used for luxury purposes because of the
material’s softness .
◦ Silk was originally used for parachutes for its strength and
elastic properties; however nylon is more commonly used
today.
 The fibers made by human beings are called synthetic fibers. A
synthetic fiber is a type of chain of small units joined together.
Artificial Fibers
 Rayon / Artificial silk
 Nylon
Rayon / Artificial silk Nylon

 Rayon was the first man-made fiber from a natural base
material. Rayon is prepared from cellulose. Rayon has silk like
appearance hence it known as artificial silk.
 Uses : Rayon is mixed with cotton to make bed sheets or
mixed with wool to make carpets.
Rayon or artificial silk

 Nylon was first developed by American scientist, Wallace H.
de Nemours & its company in 1935. It is a strongest synthetic
plastic material which can be moulded to any shape. People
believed that nylon has been
named since its products were simultaneously launched in new
York and London.
Nylon
 Nylon fiber is used for fine sarees, thread, ropes,
fishing nets, carpets, rain coat, swim wear,
parachutes, umbrella etc.
Nylon
 During the past 30 years, attempts have been made to
enhance strength of reinforced concrete beams by bonding
steel fibers to beam in terms of flexural or shear strength.
The concrete construction field has shown a growing
interest in the advantages of introduction of fiber
reinforcement in structural elements. Among the different
fibers available, e.g. steel, glass, and natural
fibers, the steel fiber is probably the most investigated and
most commonly used.
 Some of the potential benefits of steel fibers in concrete are
deflections control and more strength than ordinary concrete.
 Fiber Reinforced Polymer:
◦ Fiber reinforced polymers are combinations of two materials
in which one of the material is called the reinforcing phase,
is in the form of fibers, sheets, or particles, and is embedded
in the other material called the matrix phase e.g polymer
matrix.
◦ The reinforcing phase consist of fibers which provide
strength and stiffness.
 Fiber Reinforced Polymer Uses:
◦ Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) are composites used in
almost every type of advanced engineering structure, with
their usage ranging from aircraft, helicopters, boats, , sports
goods and automobiles.
◦ Also used in civil engineering infrastructure such as bridges
and buildings.

 The main advantages of FRP:
◦ Light weight- easy to handle and transport.
◦ high strength to weight ratio .
◦ Corrosion resistant-will not corrode
◦ Non magnetic.
◦ Deflections control purpose can be used.
◦ Environmentally safe-
 http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2123
 https://www.slideshare.net/saurabh11102000/7-natural-fibers
 https://www.slideshare.net/suruchibehera/synthetic-fibres-43046126
 https://www.slideshare.net/AhsanHabib105/steel-fiber-reinforced-concrete-
70556367

Natural and Artificial Fibres

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Natural and Artificial Fibres

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Natural and Artificial Fibres

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dr.

 Manufactured, synthetic, or man-made (terms

 Protein (from animals)

Rayon / Artificial silk Nylon

Rayon or artificial silk

You might also like