Saiba as Diferenças entre os Tipos de Tecidos e Fibras

Know the Differences Between Types of Fabrics and Fibers

There are many types of fabrics and fibers in the textile industry that allow for the creation of different clothing styles. Each fabric composition has unique characteristics that help when producing a particular piece of clothing.

Therefore, especially for those who work in this area, it is important to understand the subject in order to know how production performance in the textile segment can increase with quality. In other words: you must understand the correct application of the material in order to manufacture increasingly better clothes, improving the performance of the service that your company provides.

Are you interested in this topic? Then continue reading carefully to learn more about the differences between types of fabrics and fibers!

Linen

Linen is derived from a herbaceous plant and, as it does not contain other fiber mixtures in its composition, it is considered a noble fabric. In addition, it is very resistant — it has a high durability, which increases after each wash — and is much more rigorous than cotton and natural fibers.

Its use in the textile market is quite versatile, given its particularities, such as softness to the touch and visual sophistication. Therefore, linen is ideal for producing dress shirts in low weights, bed or table linen, napkins, etc.

Furthermore, its use in high grammages is ideal for creating items that require more rigid weaving, such as cushions and rugs, among other types of decorative items.

Cotton

Cotton is a white vegetable fiber that is widely used worldwide. Its great popularity is due to the fact that it is:

  1. Highly comfortable, lightweight, smooth and soft to the touch;
  2. Durable even with many washes;
  3. Easy to iron, without damaging the piece;
  4. Easy to acquire other colors through dyeing.


With a composition free of other fabric blends, the material is pure and noble. Because it is soft, it is very comfortable and suitable for bed and table linen, bath or face towels, clothing items and underwear, etc.

Artificial fibers

Some examples of artificial fibers are viscose, acetate and lyocell. These fabrics are manufactured by man, but they contain some natural polymer in their composition that is manipulated to transform them into such threads. The material is considered to be quite resistant, has a pleasant touch and is difficult to wrinkle.

Another positive factor is that it hardly fades. A negative point, on the other hand, is that this type of fiber must be ironed at a low temperature, as it easily accumulates static electricity. Therefore, it is not difficult to burn the piece if you are not careful.

Synthetic fibers

Synthetic fibers are created by man using raw materials from chemical products, such as those from the petrochemical industry. Some examples of fabrics are:

  1. Polyester;
  2. Acrylic;
  3. Polyamide;
  4. Elastane.

The material produced is resistant, hardly fades, dries quickly and wrinkles very little. On the other hand, it can prevent the absorption of perspiration, leaving the garment smelling of sweat. You should also be careful when ironing this fabric — to avoid damaging it with heat, it is best to use low temperatures.

Natural fibers

Natural fibers are taken from nature itself and classified as vegetable, animal or mineral, according to their origin. Thus, it is possible to obtain items made from coconut, wool, silk and cotton, among other materials.

This fabric is practical, durable and resistant. It is also comfortable and has a pleasant touch and flexibility. Two negative points in relation to natural fibers are: they wrinkle easily and can lose their color with wear and tear, washing, etc.

Viscose

Viscose, also known as Javanese silk, is another type of artificial fiber. Its origin lies in the mixture of cellulose, obtained from wood from trees with little resin or from cotton linters, with chemical substances called acetates.

The viscose yarn pattern is ideal for making summer clothes, as it allows for greater air circulation, keeping the wearer cool. Furthermore, because they are quite thin, they have a good drape — the problem is that, despite not being transparent, they often need to be reinforced with linings.

Furthermore, viscose:

  1. It is practical to dye (and compatible with most dyes used in cotton garments, as long as there is no sulfur present);
  2. It has low cost;
  3. Provides a pleasant touch, due to its good texture;
  4. It is easy to iron or wash.

Silk

Silk is one of the most well-known and expensive fabrics in the world, due to its shiny appearance and because it is considered a luxurious item. Its greatest benefit is comfort — both in terms of heat and the way it feels to the user.

More than four thousand years ago, a Chinese empress noticed that an insect produced interesting threads in its cocoon and, by removing them, it was possible to create a beautiful fabric. Thus, silk originates from the cocoons of the silkworm, larvae that later transform into the domestic moth.

The dyeing process begins after weaving, using twills and crepes. It also allows printing and finishing with embroidery, in order to give the piece more elegance. The only contraindication is sunlight, which can end up fading the fabric.

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Wool fabric is great for making winter garments, such as coats, sweaters and blankets. In addition to being highly resistant to wear and tear, it is durable and flexible. It is generally obtained from the hair of sheep, with the exception of cashmere, which is obtained from goats.

Wool is also useful for absorbing moisture and adapting to different spaces, but without losing its original shape. Because it is highly resistant to wrinkles, it is not a difficult material to iron or that requires much ironing.


Polyamide

Polyamide is also known as nylon and is widely used in the manufacture of gym wear, such as leggings or t-shirts, and underwear. This is because it is a very comfortable and lightweight synthetic fabric that allows for greater movement.

Its origin is a synthetic polymer, which means it absorbs little moisture, dries quickly and has good mechanical resistance. Furthermore, the material does not deform easily and is very durable.


Polyester

Polyester, in turn, is a raw material of fossil origin. Despite this, its production process is cheap and offers a lot of versatility to the fabrics, both in terms of colors and the amount of shine of the piece.

The problem is that it does not allow good air circulation nor does it offer resistance to heat. For this reason, it is highly recommended for making winter items, which aim to retain temperatures.


Tencel

Tencel fibers are a new type of viscose made from solvents that are harmless to the human body. In addition, they can be recycled for the most part. The fabric is comfortable, strong, soft, and has a beautiful and elegant appearance, but one of its disadvantages is that the production process is not very cheap.

Did you see how essential it is to have knowledge about fabric composition? By understanding the particularities of the different types of fabrics, you can create pieces with greater quality and beauty. This way, you can make your business evolve with greater quality, satisfying your customers.

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