Types of Natural Textile Fibers

The diameter is generally a few micrometers to tens of micrometers, and the length is a hundred times or more than a thousand times larger than the diameter of the elongated substance is called fiber. The fibers that grow or form in nature and are suitable for textiles are called natural fibers. According to their biological properties, they are divided into plant fibers, animal fibers and mineral fibers.

1. Plant Fibre

Plant fiber is the general term for fiber obtained from plants. The main chemical component is cellulose, so it is also called natural cellulose fiber. According to different growing parts on plants, plant fibers can be divided into four types: seed fiber, bast fiber, leaf fiber and fruit fiber.

• Seed fibers are single-cell fibers grown from the epidermal cells of some plant seeds, and are basically composed of cellulose, such as cotton and kapok fibers.
• Bast fiber (stem fiber) is a single fiber or bundle fiber obtained from the phloem of a plant. It is mainly composed of cellulose and its associated biomass and intercellular substance (pectin, hemicellulose, lignin), such as flax, ramie, etc. Hemp fiber.
• Leaf fibers are fibers obtained from the leaves or leaf sheaths of some plants. They are also composed of cellulose and its associated biomass and intercellular substance, such as sisal and abaca.
• Fruit fiber is fiber obtained from the fruits of some plants, and the main ingredient is cellulose, such as coconut fiber.

2. Animal Fibre

Natural fiber obtained from the body or secretions of animals is called animal fiber. The constituent material is protein, so it is also called natural protein fiber, including silk fiber and hair fiber. Silk fibers are fibers secreted by some insect silk glands, especially those secreted by lepidopteran larvae, and some mollusk secretions. All kinds of silk belong to this category. Hair fiber is the fiber grown in animal hair follicles, such as sheep hair, cashmere, camel hair, rabbit hair and so on.

3. Mineral Fiber

Mineral fiber is a fiber obtained from mineral rock with a fibrous structure. It is mainly composed of silicate and is a natural inorganic fiber. Asbestos is a mineral fiber, it does not burn, resistant to high temperatures, good thermal insulation, as used in industrial fire, heat insulation material and the like.