- Paper
Paper fibers come from the renewable resources of pine trees, cotton, rice and abaca, a form of banana plant
Recent developments in Japan have introduced paper content fabrics with a softer handle
With a high strength & good light fastness, paper textiles are recyclable
Used also for accessories & floor-coverings
- Bast fibre
Fibers such as nettle, jute and ramie are derived from the inner fibrous stem material of certain plants.
Some crops can offer environmental & social benefits for local native farmers and should be encouraged.
Health giving herbs like loubuma from China produce textile fibre plus beneficial herbal remedies and medication
- Leaf fibre
A minority area as only a few plants have the necessary commercial attributes for economic fibre production
Agave, pineapple and banana are sources of supply
From naturally renewable resources, fibers are hard wearing & strong
Uses include floor coverings, fibers for paper, accessories, shoes and rope
- Hemp
Man's oldest cultivated fibre, hemp is a versatile crop where every part has a use
It has natural strength, UV resistance, thermal properties & durability
This naturally renewable resource requires little agricultural assistance
Hemp is now seen in denim and casual sports fabrics, interior and domestic textiles. In non-woven form it is used for insulation in cars
- Seed hair fibres
Cotton is a commercial source of seed hair fiber. these are the more unusual sources
The fine, light & silky short fibers are used for insulation and fibre filling
Coir is hard wearing & abrasion resistant, used for flooring coverings, geotextiles and ropes
They are natural renewable resource, and often grown in areas of limited agricultural potential
- Bio-fibres
Biotechnology is a growing area, as we seek replacements for oil based fibres
Dextrose from plants can create a PLA fibre with an acceptable 360 life cycle
Spider silk is a biologically engineered fibre being investigated via genetic modification
Castor beans, milk, bamboo & soya are all new sources of fibre & polymers
Textiles are also being experimentally 'grown' from fermented yeast bacteria with links to tissue culture.
- Alginate
Produced from brown sea weed, alginate fibers have natural healing properties from the iodine content
Blended with cellulose fibers, fabrics are used in underwear that imparts anti-inflammatory and antiseptic benefits to the skin
In medical applications, non woven alginate fibers hasten blood clotting and encourage healing on damaged skin
They are used as non-woven burn and skin dressings
- Man-made synthetics
Polyethylene, PVC, polypropylene and polyurethane are all forms of synthetics from non renewable oil-based resources
All have properties of high strength, can be heat set, and provide a wide variety of different products for industrial, medical, sports, and medical textiles
Fibers and products can be recyclable
- Peat
Peat fibre is produced form organic plant remains found in Scandinavia peat bogs
They have good thermal properties, UV resistance, are antistatic with natural antiseptic properties
Fabrics have a warm woolen felted handle and are produced organically
Used in woven & knitted fabrics for clothing, blankets, interior products and footwear
- Metal Fibers
Aluminium, copper & steel are the metals used in textiles to impart functional textiles to impart functional and aesthetic properties
Metal-content fibers have the ability to memories a predetermined shape and react to heat
They can assist in protecting against electromagnetic radiation, and are detectable by radar and heat-seeking devices
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