Fiber Definitions — textile fibers, yarn fibers and fiber properties from Apparel Search
Metallic fibers are fibers used in textiles which are either composed of metal, or fibers of other materials with a metal coating. Metallic fibers are manufactured fibers composed of metal, metallic alloys, plastic-coated metal, metal-coated plastic, or a core completely covered by metal. Having their origin in textile and clothing applications, gold and silver fibers have been used since ancient times as yarns for fabric decoration. More recently, aluminum yarns, aluminized plastic yarns and aluminized nylon yarns have replaced gold and silver.
Metallic fibers are fibers used in textiles which are either composed of metal, or fibers of other materials with a metal coating.
Metallic fibers are manufactured fibers composed of metal, metallic alloys, plastic-coated metal, metal-coated plastic, or a core completely covered by metal. Having their origin in textile and clothing applications, gold and silver fibers have been used since ancient times as yarns for fabric decoration. More recently, aluminum yarns, aluminized plastic yarns, and aluminized nylon yarns have replaced gold and silver. Metal fibers exists in different forms and diameters. Generally, the sector offers metal fiber diameters from 100μm down to 1μm. Metallic fibers exists in both long, continuous fibers as well as short fibers (with a length/diameter ratio of less than 100).
A bundle of endless stainless steel fibers can be converted to yarns by textile spinning processes. There are two forms of yarn: one with a low amount of fibers and one with a high amount of fibers. The former, with a number of filaments of around 275, can be converted into a filament yarn by adding twist to the bundle. Bundles with several thousands of fibers are typically used to convert fibers into spun yarn. That can be done by stretch breaking and subsequent traditional yarn spinning technologies. This results in 100% metal yarns. During the spinning process, tows can be blended and blended yarns can also be produced. Blends with cotton, polyester and wool are possible. Subsequently, metal yarns can be further converted into various textile products using textile processes. Knitting (circular, flat, warp) and weaving are possible, as well as braiding. Blended textile products can be obtained by combining metal yarns with other yarns, or by using yarns that have two kinds of fibers inside and hence are already blends by themselves.
Their uses include decoration and the reduction of static electricity.
The Lurex Company has manufactured metallic fibers in Europe for over fifty years. They produce a wide variety of metallic fiber products including fibers used in apparel fabric, embroidery, braids, knitting, military regalia, trimmings, ropes, cords, and lace surface decoration. The majority of Lurex fibers have a polyamide film covering the metal strand but polyester and viscose are also used.
Learn about Lurex.
| The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/metallic_fiber). 10/11/04 & 12/4/19 |
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The Lurex Company has manufactured metallic fibers in Europe for over fifty years. They produce a wide variety of metallic fiber products including fibers used in apparel fabric, embroidery, braids, knitting, military regalia, trimmings, ropes, cords and lace surface decoration. The majority of Lurex fibers have a polyamide film covering the metal strand, but polyester and viscose are also used. That product range shows how far the metallic fiber has travelled from its ancient origin: gold and silver threads were decoration for the richest cloth, worked by hand, while the modern fiber is an industrial product with specified diameters, film coverings and constructions, sold for embroidery and trimmings as well as for apparel fabric, and even for functional work such as reducing static electricity. The film covering matters because bare metal tarnishes, breaks and irritates skin; a covered strand keeps the metallic appearance while behaving in the mill and against the body more like an ordinary yarn.
A metallic fiber is a manufactured fiber like any other in the glossary, defined by what it is made of: metal, a metallic alloy, plastic-coated metal, metal-coated plastic, or a core completely covered by metal. The definition deliberately covers both extremes, a fiber that is metal through and through, such as a stainless steel filament, and a fiber that is metal only at its surface, such as an aluminized plastic yarn. Between those extremes the maker chooses cost, weight, flexibility and brilliance. The textile processes do not change: knitting, weaving and braiding all accept metal yarns, and blending metal with cotton, polyester or wool inside one yarn produces cloth that is a blend by construction rather than by mixing yarns. Metal in textiles is therefore a fiber choice like any other, made where its particular properties, light reflection, conductivity and permanence of colour, since metal does not dye and cannot fade, are what the product needs.
Metal fibers exist in different forms and diameters, generally from 100 micrometres down to 1 micrometre, and in both long, continuous fibers and short fibers with a length to diameter ratio of less than 100. A bundle of endless stainless steel fibers can be converted to yarns by textile spinning processes.
One yarn form, with around 275 filaments, can be converted into a filament yarn by adding twist to the bundle. Bundles with several thousands of fibers are typically converted into spun yarn by stretch breaking and subsequent traditional yarn spinning technologies, giving 100 percent metal yarns. During spinning, tows can be blended, and blends with cotton, polyester and wool are possible.
Their uses include decoration and the reduction of static electricity. Metal yarns can be converted into textile products by knitting, circular, flat and warp, weaving and braiding, and blended products can be obtained by combining metal yarns with other yarns or by using yarns that already contain two kinds of fibers.