Textile product made out of mixture of two or more fibers

A blend is a mixture of two or more fibers. In yarn spinning, different compositions, lengths, diameters, or colors may be combined to create a blend.[1] Blended textiles are fabrics or yarns produced with a combination of two or more types of different fibers, or yarns to obtain desired traits and aesthetics. Blending is possible at various stages of textile manufacturing.[2] The term, blend, refers to spun fibers or a fabric composed of such fibers.[1][3] There are several synonymous terms: a combination yarn is made up of two strands of different fibers twisted together to form a ply;[1] a mixture or mixed cloth refers to blended cloths in which different types of yarns are used in warp and weft sides.[4][5]

Union or union fabric was a 19th century term for a blended fabric. It is no longer used.[6]

History

[

edit

]

Blending in textiles is an old practice which became more widespread after around 1980. Recognizing the growing popularity of blends, the Wool Bureau introduced the "Wool blend" mark in 1970 for blends containing a high percentage of wool.[1]: 21  Viyella was the first branded blended textile, and it is the oldest blended flannel structure. It features a twill weave of wool and cotton, and due to the cotton content, it can be washed more easily than an all-wool flannel.[1]: 311 

• An admixture of silk and cotton from Hindustan called Mashru is one of the earliest forms of "mixed cloth,"[7] . In the 12th century A.D., the industry was under the influence of Muslims. While Muslim men were not allowed to wear pure silk due to a religious admonition, a silk-and-cotton blend they made was permitted. It was known as "Mashru."[8] [9] Mashru was the name given to a group of mixed fabrics. Mashru is an Arabic word that literally means "permitted."[10]
• Siamoise was a 17th-century cotton and linen material.[11]

Fibers for blends

[

edit

]

Spun fibers

[

edit

]

Any fiber has the potential to contribute to a blended fabric depending upon the intended use.[12]: 6  Continuous testing is carried out to determine the best fiber blends and the percentages that are best suited to specific uses. Polyester is the most frequently used synthetic fibre, it has earned the name, "workhorse" fiber of the industry. The staple form of the Polyester fibers has been referred as "big mixer" because of its compatibility in blending. Polyester imparts many properties without affecting the properties of other fibers.[1]: 74 

Bicomponent fibers

[

edit

]

Bicomponent fiber are the fibers produced by mixing two different polymers to achieve the properties of both fibers. For example, Polyester and Nylon may be mixed together in extrusion. The polymers in the bicomponent may have entirely different physical and chemical properties.[13]

Advantages

[

edit

]

Products with blends, mixtures, and combinations may have properties that differ from those obtained with a single fiber. Blending may add value and may reduce the cost of the product.[1][3] For example, cotton is most often mixed with other fibers, particularly synthetics. This blending can be used to make cotton-like fabrics with improved functionality such as wrinkle resistance and dimensional stability. The addition of spandex to cotton improves the stretch of the product.[14]

Spinning advantages

[

edit

]

Uniformity

[

edit

]

Blending is also used to describe the process of combining small amounts of the same fibers from various lots to produce a uniform result. The process is known as "blending" in spinning.[3] The blending of similar kinds of fibers or different fibers is possible at various stages of yarn spinning, such as the blow room, draw frame, and roving.[15][1]: 145 

Spinning weak fibers

[

edit

]

Blending helps in spinning those fibers which are weak and difficult to spin. For example, milkweed fibers lack strength and cohesion.[14]: 72 

Core spun yarns

[

edit

]

In core spun yarns; a filament yarn is wrapped with staple fibers. Spandex filament may be wrapped with cotton fibers to form a core spun yarn. These yarns are called "composite yarns."[1]: 97, 145 

Functional advantages

[

edit

]

Comfort

[

edit

]

Blends help in reducing the discomfort of certain synthetic clothing. Synthetic fibers, such as polyester, have a moisture regain rate of only 0.4'0.8 percent. Poor absorbency reduces the comfort of clothing that comes into direct contact with the skin. Blending polyester with absorbent fibers such as cotton improves the wearing comfort. Polyester-cotton blended clothing is more comfortable to wear in humid climates than polyester alone.[1]: 79 

A heavy pair of jeans made of 100% cotton that weigh 14 oz (396.9 g) can be cut down to 11 oz (311.8 g), without compromising durability, by changing the composition to a blend of polyester 50% with cotton or nylon 20%.[12]

Aesthetic advantages

[

edit

]

Blends help to create a variety of aesthetic effects.:

Plated fabrics

[

edit

]

Blending is also used to create many weaving and knitting structures, such as plated fabrics.[16]

Burnt out patterns

[

edit

]

Devoré is a pattern-making technique that involves dissolving cellulosic fibers in acids. Typically, a polyester-cotton blend is used for this purpose.[17]

Heather or melange fabrics

[

edit

]

Heather is a term used to describe a color effect created by combining two or more different colored fibers or yarns in a fabric.[18] Grey melange, marl and gaspe are examples of blending fibers and yarns.

Cross-dyed fabrics

[

edit

]

Blends are also used for cross-dyed fabrics. When dyeing fabric with two different classes of dyes in a blend, it is possible to dye both parts in completely different colors. It is called "cross-dyeing."[19]

Economical products

[

edit

]

Besides contributing to comfort and functionality, blends can produce economical materials.

• Camel hair can be blended with sheep wool. Camel hair provides better thermal insulation per weight, and it is finer and more expensive than cotton, so a camelhair-sheepwool blend produces a lighter and warmer blend than sheepwool alone.[1]

  : 30 

• Cotton is frequently blended with polyester; the blend is more economical than a 100% cotton product.[20]
• Cashmere (an expensive wool) and sheep wool are sometimes blended together to make the product cost-effective.[21]

Nonwoven fabric advantages

[

edit

]

Nonwoven fabrics of various types can be manufactured using a blending process. A polyester and viscose blend is used in baby wipes. For different items, distinct weight ratios are used.[22]

See also

[

edit

]

References

[

edit

]

Home

>

Unearthed

>

 What Is Nylon (And What to Consider Before Buying it)

PUBLICATION

What Is Nylon (And What to Consider Before Buying it)

By Vinita Baravkar

Fabric Rundown: What Is Nylon and Is it Sustainable?

When it was first produced in the early 20th century, nylon took the textile world by storm.

Though most of us own at least some products made from nylon, you may still be wondering what exactly nylon is, how it’s manufactured, and what impact it has on your health and the environment.

This article will give you a quick rundown on all things nylon — arming you with the knowledge to make informed decisions while buying fabrics for yourself and your family.

What is Nylon?

One of the most popularly used fabrics in the fashion industry, nylon is a synthetic, man-made fibre sourced from petrochemicals or crude oil extracts.

When synthetic polymers are linked with a compound called amide, the resulting material is a thermoplastic polymer — otherwise known as nylon.

All being a thermo-softening material means, is that at a certain high temperature nylon fibres are malleable and solidify once again when cooled down.

This gives the fibre durability and stretchiness which makes it a preferable material in the textile industry to make apparel, activewear, swimwear and other technical garments.

Now let's look at how nylon first came about.

A Brief History of Nylon

Fun fact: Nylon was the world's first fabric to be made in a lab.

In 1935, American organic chemist Wallace Carothers invented nylon while working at DuPont, a chemical manufacturing company.

By the end of 1935, the fibre was patented by DuPont. Nylon was all set to be launched to the world.

The first commercial use for this fibre was the nylon-bristled toothbrush developed in 1938.

After making its debut in 1939 at the World’s Fair in New York, nylon was touted as the new replacement to silk.

It was a success with the fashion industry, which soon started using nylon extensively to make women's hosiery.

This is how the term "nylon" became synonymous to "stockings".

As nylon became a staple in women's fashion and grew in popularity, another rising industry saw its potential for a critical event — World War 2.

The military equipment industry sought out nylon in making parachutes for soldiers. In fact, nylon was also used in other wartime essentials like ropes, flak jackets, mosquito nets and even aircraft fuel tanks.

Soon enough, nylon changed the world of fabrics forever.

How is Nylon Made?

To put it simply, nylon fabric is a type of plastic that's derived from petroleum.

Scientifically, nylon is a polymer — which means it is made up of a long chain of monomers (or single-carbon molecules).

Its production is a long and arduous process that is both chemically and energy-intensive at each step.

Below are the steps on how nylon is made:

Step 1: Extraction

The production begins by extracting a certain compound called diamine from crude oil (i.e. petroleum).

Step 2: Polymerization

Next, two sets of molecules are combined together to create a polymer. The previously extracted diamine monomer is mixed with adipic acid. The result is a thick crystallised polymer or "nylon salts".

These are commonly known as nylon 6, 6 or simply 6-6. The name is based on the number of carbon atoms between the two acid and amine groups.

Step 3: Heating

Once the crystals are dissolved in water, they are acidified and heated to create a strong chain, which is impossible to break even at a chemical level. This is where nylon gets its strength and durability from.

Manufacturers use a special machine to heat the nylon polymers to a specific high temperature. The polymer molecules combine together to form a molten substance which leads to the next step: spinning.

Step 4: Spinning

The molten substance formed is spun in a mechanical spinneret which separates thin fibre strands and exposes them to the air. The exposed strands harden instantly. They are then wound into bobbins and stretched to create the strength and elasticity that nylon is known for.

Step 5: Spooling

The fibre’s filaments are unwound and then rewound onto a spool in a process called drawing which aligns the nylon molecules into a parallel structure. The resulting fibre strands are multipurpose threads that can be woven or bound as they are, or they can be combined and further melted.

Step 6: Manufacturing

Finally, the fibres are ready and depending on the end use, can either be woven or fused together to form various products. The hotter the melting temperature, the more seamless and shinier the end product.

What is Nylon Used for?

Across the world, nylon is used extensively in various industries.

Every year, 8 million pounds of nylon is produced globally.

In fact, nylon accounts for 12% of the world's synthetic fibre usage.

Most of the world's nylon is manufactured in Asian countries such as China, India and Taiwan.

From toothbrush bristles, carpets and car parts to guitar strings and military-grade equipment, nylon has found its way into most daily-use and industrial items.

While it started with women's stockings, nylon is now a key component in making gloves, leggings, jackets, shorts, umbrellas and even boots.

The fabric is cheap, stretchy and durable — making it a hit with the manufacturers.

Nylon Vs. Polyester

Since nylon and polyester are both man-made, it can be easy to get confused between the two fabrics.

Both fabrics are synthetic, lightweight, and durable.

However, manufacturing nylon is a more expensive process than that of polyester. This results in an overall higher price point of nylon for the end consumer.

Nylon also tends to be more durable and weather-resistant — which explains why it's commonly used in outdoor apparel and outerwear.

Below is a table comparing the two synthetic fabrics: